Thread: Lieutenant-Commander Claude Michael Bullstrode CUMBERLEGE

He was a brave man - I wonder if there are any graves ... I suppose not ... it was an awful place !

Flossenburg KZ Site

Lieutenant-Commander Claude Michael Bullstrode CUMBERLEGE
DSO and Bar, RD, RNR

served with the Special Operations Executive and Special Boat Squadron during World War II and became a legend operating a Greek caique, smuggling resistance fighters and escapees in the Eastern Mediterranean. In November 1941, on one trip alone, in his boat Hedgehog, he took 86 soldiers off Crete despite the attempts of the Germans to seal off the coast with daily sea and air patrols.

He was awarded his first DSO for gallantry in his work during the evacuation of Greece and Crete, and was in action at the Corinth Canal, also being Mentioned in Despatches by Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham GCB DSO, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean.

Numb 37805

FOURTH SUPPLEMENT TO

The London Gazette

Of FRIDAY, the 29th of NOVEMBER, 1946

TUESDAY, 3 DECEMBER, 1946

ADMIRALTY.

Whitehall, S.W.1.;

3rd December, 1946.

The KING has been graciously pleased to

approve the following Reward and Awards.

For great gallantry, and determination of the highest order

in clandestine operations behind the enemy lines

in Greece in January and February, 1943:

Bar to the Distinguished Service Order

Acting Lieutenant-Commander

Claude Michael Bullstrode CUMBERLEGE,

D.S.O., R.D.,

Royal Naval Reserve (Retired).

(This Appointment to be dated 21st February,1944)

His Majesty King George of the Hellenes awarded him the Greek War Medal in 1943.

He was captured and executed – at the age of 39 - at the infamous Flossenbürg Concentration Camp, near the borders of Germany with Czechoslovakia and Austria, on 10 April 1945 – 13 days before its liberation by the 90th Infantry Division of General George S. Patton Jr’s US 3rd Army, and one month before the war ended.

Claude L Cumberlege