Description
Object description
Privately published memoir (174pp plus illustrations), written circa 1985, covering his experiences during 1943 - 1944, initially serving as a Lieutenant with the East African Pioneers of the Rhodesian Army before volunteering for the Greek section of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) (July 1943), initially based in Palestine where he was interviewed and underwent physical training and parachute instruction, then to Cairo for briefings until being dropped into Greece to act as a liaison officer with ELAS (October 1943), describing his arrival near Neraida and orders to proceed to Karpenisi to act as second in command of that area, conferences at the local ELAS Headquarters, his attempts to look after a party of several thousand Italian soldiers, his journey by foot to Galaxhidi near the Gulf of Corinth to deliver important information to British officers of Force 133, his return to Neraida where he contracted Malaria, their retreat north to Mavreli in the face of a German advance (December 1943), Christmas celebrations in the mountains, receiving supply drops by aircraft, his work distributing relief money to Greek villages which had been burnt by the German occupiers (February 1944), their move to new quarters at Ano Milia (April 1944) and the provision of medical relief to the Greeks, his involvement in operations against the withdrawing German Army including the ambush of a truck convoy (August 1944), destroying the bridge at Vourba and blowing up trains and railway tracks in the area around Mount Olympus (September - October 1944), then finally his move to Salonika (November 1944) days after the German occupiers had left; the book includes a colour photograph taken of him in later life. Also held as part of the collection are a Safe Conduct certificate (1p, undated but Second World War) containing translations in German, Italian and Polish; four printed tourist guides, 'A soldier's guide to Florence', 'Guide to Venice, 1945 Edition, with 24 illustrations and one map of the town', 'The Monuments of Greece, Vol I, Athens & Attica' and 'Vol II, The Peoloponnese'; and a copy of the printed booklet 'Royal Armoured Corps: The Italian Campaign, 3 Sep 1943 - 2 May 1945' (98pp, 1945) containing many illustrations by Eric Manning.
Content description
Privately published memoir (174pp plus illustrations), written circa 1985, covering his experiences during 1943 - 1944, initially serving as a Lieutenant with the East African Pioneers of the Rhodesian Army before volunteering for the Greek section of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) (July 1943), initially based in Palestine where he was interviewed and underwent physical training and parachute instruction, then to Cairo for briefings until being dropped into Greece to act as a liaison officer with ELAS (October 1943), describing his arrival near Neraida and orders to proceed to Karpenisi to act as second in command of that area, conferences at the local ELAS Headquarters, his attempts to look after a party of several thousand Italian soldiers, his journey by foot to Galaxhidi near the Gulf of Corinth to deliver important information to British officers of Force 133, his return to Neraida where he contracted Malaria, their retreat north to Mavreli in the face of a German advance (December 1943), Christmas celebrations in the mountains, receiving supply drops by aircraft, his work distributing relief money to Greek villages which had been burnt by the German occupiers (February 1944), their move to new quarters at Ano Milia (April 1944) and the provision of medical relief to the Greeks, his involvement in operations against the withdrawing German Army including the ambush of a truck convoy (August 1944), destroying the bridge at Vourba and blowing up trains and railway tracks in the area around Mount Olympus (September - October 1944), then finally his move to Salonika (November 1944) days after the German occupiers had left; the book includes a colour photograph taken of him in later life. Also held as part of the collection are a Safe Conduct certificate (1p, undated but Second World War) containing translations in German, Italian and Polish; four printed tourist guides, 'A soldier's guide to Florence', 'Guide to Venice, 1945 Edition, with 24 illustrations and one map of the town', 'The Monuments of Greece, Vol I, Athens & Attica' and 'Vol II, The Peoloponnese'; and a copy of the printed booklet 'Royal Armoured Corps: The Italian Campaign, 3 Sep 1943 - 2 May 1945' (98pp, 1945) containing many illustrations by Eric Manning.
History note
Cataloguer APR
History note
Catalogue date 2008-01-14