This week, we are pleased to feature Ralph Ford Tredre, a Major in the RAMC, who was assigned a unique and special mission to map out malaria zones on mainland Greece in February 1941. Leading a Malaria Field Laboratory of six men, Ralph undertook a tour throughout Greece over several weeks, ending with his evacuation on 27th April 1941.

His very detailed account, written in late 1941, amounting to many thousands of words, provides insights into the atmosphere at this time and the sense of chaos and encroaching disaster. This account has never been published or shared until now. His grandson, Roger Tredre, has very kindly provided us with a copy of his grandfather’s wartime diaries of his time in Greece. (Please note these diaries are still be published and are the copyright of Ralph’s son Alec Ford Tredre and grandson Roger Ford Tredre). 

Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Ralph’s experiences.  

Read Ralph Ford Tredre’s Story

We are pleased to feature Ernest Chapman aka Kiriakos this week. Ernest was a private soldier who became a real hero for the Greeks. Left stranded in Greece in 1941 and having made several escapes after being captured, he later joined and fought with the partisans who named him Kiriakos. Ernest’s story was ghost written by Don Turner in his book “Kiriakos, a British Partisan in Wartime Greece” and is also included in Edwin Horlington’s book “Tell Them We Were Here”. Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Ernest’s experiences.  

Read Ernest Chapman’s Story

We are pleased to feature Edgar Harrison OBE MC BEM this week. A truly incredible veteran and early member of The Brotherhood, Edgar was awarded the British Empire Medal (Mil) for gallantry at Kalamata; Military Cross for conspicuous service in Yugoslavia; MBE in 1958 for service to communications in Moscow and OBE in 1974 for service to Diplomatic Wireless Communications.  A member of MI6 (Section VIII) Special Communications unit he was Churchill’s personal radio operator. Fellow MI6 operator Geoffrey Pidgeon wrote about Edgar in his book “Edgar Harrison – soldier, patriot and ULTRA Wireless Operator to Winston Churchill”. Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Edgar’s experiences.  

Read Edgar Harrison’s Story

We are pleased to feature Dai Davies this week. Dai (known as DT) Davies OBE was captured during the battle of Crete in 1941 and transported to Austria where he was taken to Stalag 18A. He escaped from the camp and made his way to Hungary but was later recaptured. He escaped again and was recaptured twice more. He was taken to the concentration camp Zemum, near Belgrade, described as ‘hell on earth’. He escaped one last time and joined the Partisans to fight in Yugoslavia. Awarded the Military Medal for his wartime services, DT only spoke about his experiences much later in life and wrote about them in his book ‘All for Freedom: A True Story of Escape from the Nazis’. When you read his story you will find references to his friends Joe Burke and Joe Beckett. 

Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Dai’s  experiences.  

Read Dai Davies Story

We are pleased to feature Eric Bardsley’s story this week. Author of ‘Barbed Wire & Balkans’, Eric was a member of The Brotherhood and regularly attended the UK services. He was a PoW in Wolfsberg and participated in the 2013 Wolfsberg trip. As the only ex PoW and oldest member of the group that weekend, Eric was very warmly welcomed. At the Mayor’s Reception on the Friday night, Eric delivered a speech in German and received a standing ovation. 

A note from our Archive: Eric ‘declined’ to make the march north to the Markt Pongau – Salzberg area as the Russians approached eastern Austria in March 1945.  He and some others stayed hidden in the countryside around Friedberg until it was liberated by the Russians.  He eventually made his way home via Odessa on the Black Sea coast. 

Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Eric’s experiences.  

Read Eric Bardsley’s Story

We are pleased to feature Jack Ansell’s story this week. Jack was a keen member of The Brotherhood and author of the book ‘Khaki and Cowdung’. Jack appeared in a recent BBC VE Day programme where he talked about his time as a PoW including the book of poems he put together on behalf of his fellow PoWs, having found a typewriter discarded by the Germans when they left the camp on 8th May 1945. “Whilst waiting, with several thousand other former British prisoners of war to be repatriated to the United Kingdom, I set up shop with my typewriter. Men came to me with these poems written on scraps of paper for me to type out”. 

Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Jack’s experiences. You will find the book of poems within his PostScript. We also include a link to the article we published last year. 

Read Jack Ansell’s Story

Jack Wentworth Ansell featured in BBC VE Day programme

We are pleased to feature Joe Burke’s story this week. Joe was a very enthusiastic and committed member of The Brotherhood and a real character. In addition to the story of his many escapades during the war, we also include a ‘PostScript’ with photographs taken at the 70th Anniversary Ceremony in Kalamata in 2011. Last, but not least, there is a very moving eulogy which was given at his funeral in 2018. 

Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Joe’s experiences.  

Read Joe Burke’s Story

We are pleased to feature Jock Watt’s story this week. Jock, together with Frank Gill, was a founder member and standard bearer for The Brotherhood of Greek Veterans for many years. Jock had many adventures which are documented in his book ‘A Tankie’s Travels’. His experience in Greece included escaping to Crete from Tolos, having first ‘acquired’ a caique.

This is an extract from the tribute given by Brian Rogers, Secretary of the Nottingham Branch of the RTR Association at Jock’s funeral in January 2018: ” Jock served in France, Greece, and Crete & North Africa between 1937 – 1946 finishing as a Lieutenant, with the Military Medal and Mentioned in Despatches and was presented to our Colonel in Chief, Her Majesty the Queen more than once, a great honour for a great soldier.”

Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Jock’s experiences. We also include a link to the Tribute to Jock posted on this website. 

Read ‘Jock’ Robert Watt’s Story

Tribute to Jock Watt

We are pleased to feature Frank Gill’s story this week. Frank was President of The Brotherhood of Greek Veterans for many years, until he sadly passed away last November, aged 101. As a veteran Frank survived the Hellas, was a prisoner of war, a founder member of The Brotherhood and author of the book ‘A Letter to my Daughter’. 

Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Frank’s experiences. We also include a link to the Tribute posted on this website, not long after Frank passed away.

Read Frank Gill’s story

Tribute to Frank Gill, our President for many years

As many of you are aware, one of the last known surviving veterans, Rifleman John (Jack) Simmonds 9th KRRC (1st Rangers) had his 101st birthday in February this year. In March 1941, 80 years ago this week, Jack arrived in Greece. It is only fitting that Jack’s story should be the first one we feature in this 80th anniversary year.  Please click on the link below and scroll down to STORY where you will be able to read about Jack’s experiences.

Read Jack Simmonds Story