A spy in the family
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340019)
Rockingham, Australia
November 16, 2017 6:30am CST
@JamesHxstatic wrote recently about his former professor who had been a spy during the Vietnam war. You can catch up here: http://www.mylot.com/post/3126861/i-know-a-real-former-spy-he-was-my-literature-prof-at-the-u-of
We found out only recently that one of Vince’s uncles (by marriage) had been a spy during World War II. The uncle (we’ll call him Michael) had been born in Egypt to Greek parents. They migrated to Australia in 1920 and in the 1930s Michael enlisted and was posted to the Middle East. Because of his knowledge of the language and culture, he played a vital role in Crete as a liaison between the remaining Allied forces and the local resistance.
When the Germans overran the island, he was forced to stay behind due to the large number of evacuees. He became an operative for the British intelligence and had a price put on his head by the Germans. Eventually he and several other Australians were evacuated by submarine, escaping to Alexandria.
The photo is of the Amiens Cathedral in France. Much of this building was protected by sandbags during the war and there is still a pump in the top of the building which was placed there in case of fire.
33 people like this
37 responses
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@topffer (42156)
• France
16 Nov 17
@YrNemo The one I met was telling that he had trained spies for the equivalent of the CIA in France. I do not know if it was true, as I met him in a bar
. But, thinking at it, it was plausible, and I started to look differently at my colleagues doing excavations in foreign countries
.
. But, thinking at it, it was plausible, and I started to look differently at my colleagues doing excavations in foreign countries.5 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Nov 17
Sounds like material for a book!
7 people like this
@Madshadi (8840)
• Brussels, Belgium
17 Nov 17
@JudyEv there was a history book about Partisans in a local library I used to read as a kid in former Yugoslavia. I couldn't find that book again ever. And my mother also told me a bit.
That looks enormous in the picture. And very beautiful.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471506)
• Switzerland
17 Nov 17
@JudyEv We also had resistance fighters in Italy, they were a thorn in the side of Germans but also of most Italian population, even if now they are depicted as hero. They stay hidden up in the mountains. They came down for commando missions, to kill a few Germans and then they came back to the mountains. The Germans killed 10 civilians for every German soldier killed. Those poor civilians were normal people and innocent. Most Italians do not like our "Partigiani", because they had family members killed thanks to those "coward fighters".
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 17
@FayeHazel Dozens and dozens no doubt. Sometimes an old diary gets found in an attic somewhere and another story sees the light of day.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
17 Nov 17
@JudyEv So true, I wonder what all fascinating stories have been lost to time
2 people like this
@YrNemo (20255)
•
16 Nov 17
A beautiful church there! Don't know how they built it all those years ago, perhaps from lots of adoration and faith! Re: spies, they are/were a special breed. Glad to have no spy in my circle or family. It sounds sad to be removed once their IDs were found out (from movies I watched or books I read!).
4 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46951)
• India
19 Nov 17
@JudyEv May be historically too, they could have something similar to scaffoldings
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
16 Nov 17
This is a plot for the movies. How thrilling that espionage was. Must be an adventure escaping via submarine. The protagonist was exactly the operative needed.
Love this story.
3 people like this
@1creekgirl (41427)
• United States
16 Nov 17
How great to have such an exciting and brave relative in your husband's family!
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Nov 17
Really interesting Judy, and thanks for the mention. Those who spied on the Axis powers in WW II and anytime really when people go undercover to subvert an enemy must be very brave.
4 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
16 Nov 17
This is the real thing... Having read and reread those
spy novels I can think what a dangerous thing it must have been
3 people like this
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
16 Nov 17
Such a neat story to share with everyone. No spies that I know of in my family.
2 people like this
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
17 Nov 17
@JudyEv It is still a very interesting story. One that can be passed down from generation to generation.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
18 Nov 17
he played a brave heroic role in the war that you should all certainly be very proud of
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Nov 17
What an interesting story. Had to be dangerous for him.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Nov 17
@JudyEv - Did he escape, or was he there until the end of the war? I've always loved learning about WWII.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Nov 17
@teamfreak16 It seems he was there for about a year after the Germans over-ran the island but eventually he and several other Australians were evacuated by submarine.
2 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
17 Nov 17
How I wish I could be that spy also he he
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Nov 17
@ilocosboy And the getting caught and the torture and imprisonment.
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
17 Nov 17
the adventure and the excitement and the thrilling.
2 people like this
