No. 5 Troop, 'C' Company, No. 2 Commando, pinned down by mortar fire during the advance on Spilje, 29 July 1944

Photograph, World War Two, Balkans (1941-1945), 1944.

In July 1944, the Albanian partisans were in need of weapons, and the decision was made to try to establish a beach head at Mirara, south of the Linguetta Peninsula, through which arms could be supplied. To achieve this the German garrison of 150 troops at Spilje first had to be overcome. This was achieved by No. 2 Commando under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Webb. Embarking from Bari in Italy, they succeeding in landing and accounted for most of the garrison defenders.