Description
Physical description
Soft-topped service dress cap with a cloth-bound rigid peak of khaki barethea. Fitted to the cap is a bronzed cap badge of The South Staffordshire Regiment, upon a cloth backing of khaki cloth. The chinstrap and buttons are missing. The cap is in well-worn and mishapen condition, has mothing to the underside of the peak and the leather sweatband shows evidence of mould.
Label
Service dress cap worn by Major Dennis John Ciclitira.
Of Greek parentage, Ciclitira and his family immigrated to England and settled at Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex. In 1939 he joined the Territorial Army (2/4th Essex Regiment) and in 1940 commissioned into The South Staffordshire Regiment. Following two years of regimental duties he volunteered to serve with the Special Operations Executive (SOE), joining the Greek Office in Cairo. There he supervised the supply of munitions to those in the field, and organized the evacuation to Egypt of those whose activities in occupied Crete had become too dangerous to continue. In December of 1943 he was infiltrated into Crete to take charge of SOE activities on the western part of the island, being located in a mountain hideout near Canea, alone with a radio transmitter.
Later Ciclitira was instrumental in assisting the successful evacuation of General Heinrich Kreipe, following his audacious abduction by British and Greek agents in April 1944. Briefly departing Crete to Cairo with their prize, he later returned in September to resume his undercover activities.
In March 1945 Heraklion had been liberated but there still remained 12,000 German soldiers under arms that had withdrawn to the west of the island, concentrated around Canea. To make matters more complicated, the occupiers still had twelve captured saboteurs with them who remained under threat of execution, and although reluctant to carry out such orders the possibility of the Germans doing so could not be ignored. In an effort to intervene, Ciclitira made contact with the Germans with a view to negotiate a prisoner exchange, where after lengthy complications a deal was eventually struck, resulting in 36 Germans being exchanged for the Cretans.
On 8th May (VE Day), he was instructed to make contact with the German Commander in order to make arrangements for the German surrender, but on walking in to the General Benthag's HQ in civilian clothes to discuss terms, it was realized that protocol would have to be observed and the General flown to the local British headquarters to discuss terms with someone of equal rank. Benthag asked Ciclitira how he proposed to contact such senior British officers, and to his dismay was shown Ciclitira's transmitter, now hidden next door to the German HQ. The volume of radio traffic being sent and received at the HQ was such that is shielded Ciclitira's signals from the German radio detector vehicles!
A collection of documents, photographs and letters are held with the Museum's Department of Documents that relate to Major Ciclitira's service during the Second World War.
History note
Service dress cap worn by Major Dennis John Ciclitira.
Of Greek parentage, Ciclitira and his family immigrated to England and settled at Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex. In 1939 he joined the Territorial Army (2/4th Essex Regiment) and in 1940 commissioned into The South Staffordshire Regiment. Following two years of regimental duties he volunteered to serve with the Special Operations Executive (SOE), joining the Greek Office in Cairo. There he supervised the supply of munitions to those in the field, and organized the evacuation to Egypt of those whose activities in occupied Crete had become too dangerous to continue. In December of 1943 he was infiltrated into Crete to take charge of SOE activities on the western part of the island, being located in a mountain hideout near Canea, alone with a radio transmitter.
Later Ciclitira was instrumental in assisting the successful evacuation of General Heinrich Kreipe, following his audacious abduction by British and Greek agents in April 1944. Briefly departing Crete to Cairo with their prize, he later returned in September to resume his undercover activities.
In March 1945 Heraklion had been liberated but there still remained 12,000 German soldiers under arms that had withdrawn to the west of the island, concentrated around Canea. To make matters more complicated, the occupiers still had twelve captured saboteurs with them who remained under threat of execution, and although reluctant to carry out such orders the possibility of the Germans doing so could not be ignored. In an effort to intervene, Ciclitira made contact with the Germans with a view to negotiate a prisoner exchange, where after lengthy complications a deal was eventually struck, resulting in 36 Germans being exchanged for the Cretans.
On 8th May (VE Day), he was instructed to make contact with the German Commander in order to make arrangements for the German surrender, but on walking in to the General Benthag's HQ in civilian clothes to discuss terms, it was realized that protocol would have to be observed and the General flown to the local British headquarters to discuss terms with someone of equal rank. Benthag asked Ciclitira how he proposed to contact such senior British officers, and to his dismay was shown Ciclitira's transmitter, now hidden next door to the German HQ. The volume of radio traffic being sent and received at the HQ was such that is shielded Ciclitira's signals from the German radio detector vehicles!
A collection of documents, photographs and letters are held with the Museum's Department of Documents that relate to Major Ciclitira's service during the Second World War.