I heard today that Wales-based publisher Y Lolfa (with assistance from the Welsh Books Council) will publish my 100,000 word biography of Neath-born Henry Coombe-Tennant in 2021. I am delighted! Henry led a remarkable life - born in Cadoxton,Neath in 1913, Eton, Cambridge (double-first), China, Welsh Guards, captured at Boulogne 1940. escaped over the wire from Warburg 1942, got back to the UK via Spain and Gibraltar. SOE 1944, parachuted into the Ardennes August 1944 as a Jedburgh team leader, at the war's end roamed around Germany identifying SOE agents in displaced persons camps. Then Palestine with the Welsh Guards, military mission to Saudi Arabia (where he followed in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia and became the first non-Bedouin to climb Jabel Rum). Took part in the Vigil on the death of King George VI in 1952. NATO in the mid-50's. MI6 (our man in Baghdad) in the late 50's/early 60's. Retired. Became a monk. Died 1989. The fact that had the least impact on his life was the most remarkable. His mother, Winifred Coombe Tennant (don't ask about the missing hyphen...family trait), was (secretly) a noted psychic medium. and believed that her contacts in the spirit world would guide Henry to become the New Messiah! Amazing, but true though it never happened.... Winifred Coombe Tennant - Wikipedia The voluminous family archive curated by his mother (plus records at Kew, Downside Abbey etc) provided the material to tell the full story of his remarkable life. Over the moon, as they say! Bernard
