I was the guest last night of the nonagenarian Sir Thomas Macpherson of Biallid CBE MC TD DL, at a dinner in the City of London. Sir Tommy's autobiography, Behind Enemy Lines has been published this week, and as he is Britain's most decorated living war hero of the Second World War (three Military Crosses, three Croix de Guerre, and a Legion d'honneur), I am much looking forward to reading it. But I want to share with you just one story of his courage:
On one occasion, Macpherson took decisive action as the Second Motorised SS Infantry Division and the Das Reich Division pushed towards the fragile Normandy beach-head. Unarmed, and accompanied by a doctor and a French officer, he drove a stolen German Red Cross Land Rover through ten miles of enemy-held territory, through machine-gun fire and straight to the Das Reich Division Headquarters where, dressed in full Highland regalia, he warned that he would unleash heavy artillery, and call on the RAF if they did not surrender. In consequence, 23,000 German troops surrendered. It was a bluff that may have saved thousands of lives.
Seated on the other side of me was Dr John Moses, the former Dean of St Paul's' Cathedral who was also fascinating company, with interesting views on the Pope's visit to the UK, the government's problems in the next couple of years, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the state of English cricket. Much enjoyed. I was struck by the fact that the hall was packed, which left me in no doubt that the City is in good fettle and the livery companies are still a force to be reckoned with. No doubt Vince Cable would burn them all to the ground or sell them off.
On one occasion, Macpherson took decisive action as the Second Motorised SS Infantry Division and the Das Reich Division pushed towards the fragile Normandy beach-head. Unarmed, and accompanied by a doctor and a French officer, he drove a stolen German Red Cross Land Rover through ten miles of enemy-held territory, through machine-gun fire and straight to the Das Reich Division Headquarters where, dressed in full Highland regalia, he warned that he would unleash heavy artillery, and call on the RAF if they did not surrender. In consequence, 23,000 German troops surrendered. It was a bluff that may have saved thousands of lives.
Seated on the other side of me was Dr John Moses, the former Dean of St Paul's' Cathedral who was also fascinating company, with interesting views on the Pope's visit to the UK, the government's problems in the next couple of years, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the state of English cricket. Much enjoyed. I was struck by the fact that the hall was packed, which left me in no doubt that the City is in good fettle and the livery companies are still a force to be reckoned with. No doubt Vince Cable would burn them all to the ground or sell them off.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home