Charlie Radford: Operations in Enemy Occupied France and Italy

Charlie Radford was a British agent who served with the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II. He was parachuted into France in 1943 and tasked with organizing and leading resistance groups against the German occupation. After being captured and held as a prisoner of war, he escaped and continued his operations in Italy. Radford's story is a gripping account of courage, resilience, and the power of human spirit.

SAS Trooper: Charlie Radford's Operations in Enemy Occupied France and Italy

by Rajesh Thakur

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5622 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	280 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Early Life and Military Career

Charlie Radford was born in London in 1916. He joined the British Army in 1939 and served with the Royal Artillery during the early years of World War II. In 1943, he was recruited by the SOE and trained as a special agent.

Mission to France

In August 1943, Radford was parachuted into France with the mission of organizing and leading resistance groups against the German occupation. He quickly established contact with local resistance leaders and began to build a network of cells throughout the country. Radford's group carried out a number of successful operations, including sabotage attacks on German infrastructure and the rescue of Allied airmen who had been shot down.

Capture and Imprisonment

In December 1943, Radford was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war. He was interrogated and tortured, but he refused to give up any information about his mission or his comrades. Radford was eventually sent to a concentration camp, where he remained until the end of the war.

Escape and Return to Action

In April 1945, Radford escaped from the concentration camp and made his way back to Allied lines. He was immediately sent back into action, this time in Italy. Radford's mission in Italy was to support the Allied advance by organizing and leading resistance groups against the German occupation. He also worked with Italian partisans to sabotage German supply lines and communications.

Post-War Life

After the war, Radford returned to England and resumed his military career. He served in a number of different roles, including as a military attaché in Italy and as the commander of the British Army's Parachute Regiment. Radford retired from the military in 1966 and died in 2001.

Legacy

Charlie Radford was one of the most decorated British agents of World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Free Download (DSO),the Military Cross (MC),and the Croix de Guerre. Radford's story is a testament to the courage, resilience, and the power of human spirit.

Further Reading

• Charlie Radford: SOE's First Agent in France, WW2
• Obituary: Charlie Radford
• Charlie Radford's SOE file

SAS Trooper: Charlie Radford's Operations in Enemy Occupied France and Italy

by Rajesh Thakur

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5622 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	280 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE