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Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Second World War
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The Suffolk Golding Mission - A Considerable Service (Paperback)
Loot Price: R382
Discovery Miles 3 820
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The Suffolk Golding Mission - A Considerable Service (Paperback)
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Loot Price R382
Discovery Miles 3 820
Expected to ship within 10 - 15 working days
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Early in 1940 a swashbuckling aristocrat and a member of Military
Intelligence, with their secretaries, went to Paris as agents of
the British Government. They left on 10 June, when Paris was
declared an 'open city'; taking with them many records and details
of scientists who wished to continue their work in the UK. At
Bordeaux staff at the British Embassy introduced them to the master
of a tramp steamer, one of 180 merchant ships standing by to
evacuate troops and civilians in the three weeks after Dunkirk.
Thirty three scientists were embarked, many with their immediate
family. Two Belgians joined with a fortune in gem diamonds packed
in two wooden crates. Two more French scientists boarded; bringing
all of the 'heavy water' (deuterium oxide - a nuclear moderator)
that then existed. Six hundred tons of machine tools were also
loaded. The ship escaped from Bordeaux three days before the city
fell and carried the passengers and cargo to safety at Falmouth,
where there were ninety six other refugee ships. A special train
took the passengers, and the most valuable items, to London. The
diamonds were put into the vaults of a bank controlled by De Beers
and most of the heavy water was stored beneath the library of
Windsor Castle, with the Crown Jewels and with the King's
knowledge. The House of Commons was only told of the 'Mission' when
in secret session; there was no publicity and no awards were made.
The Earl, his secretary and their driver, formed a successful bomb
disposal team. They lost their lives in May 1941, when their thirty
fifth bomb detonated prematurely. The Earl was awarded the George
Cross and his companions were 'Commended for Bravery.' Much of the
rescue was witnessed by a young naval lieutenant on his first
overseas assignment. After the war he became an author and it is
probable that the colourful characters involved in this mission
first gave him the idea for one of the most famous fictional agents
of the twentieth century. In 1943 Twentieth Century Fox wanted to
make a film about 'The Incredible Earl of Suffolk', but were
prevented from doing so by Lady Suffolk and the British government.
Fox would have first heard of the story when a brief mention of the
Earl's exploits appeared in press reports of his death. In 1973 the
BBC made a four part series about him; they do not seem to have
obtained copies of the official records, which were released at
about that time. Much of the material for this book came from the
British National Archives at Kew, near London; from the descendants
of several of those involved and from researchers elsewhere in
Europe.
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