Personal Account of Maurice Southgate, SOE Agent

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by ParadeAntiques, Aug 3, 2012.

  1. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    Hello everyone, hope you're all well.

    A year ago we acquired the diary of Special Operations Executive, Maurice Southgate. He was an English national who lived in France pre-war with his French wife. With the coming of War, he served with the BEF and was evacuated from France at Dunkirk. In England he went on to work in the Air Ministry, administrating Polish Pilots, until early 1942, before he eventually joined the SOE and coordinated the French resistance in southwest France. More can be found of him on Maurice Southgate - Special Operations Executive (SOE) Agents in France

    The diary spans from 1940-42 during his time as an RAF co-ordinator. We soon sold the diary, but we managed to make a translation first, as it was originally in French. It's a fantastic account, full of humour, insight and historic detail. We are planning to release it weekly in parts on our new blog for everyone to read.

    The introductory article and part 1 has just been posted and can be seen here: Maurice Southgate, SOE - Parade Antiques Blog.

    I hope its of interest to your active and diverse community, I look forward to hearing your thoughts :)
     
    CL1 likes this.
  2. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    "The next day I take two hours to get to work; what damage. Houses destroyed or on fire. Plaster dust catches your eyes and throat. Glass and rubble all over the streets and buses still trying to get to their destinations. London and the Londoners are incredible. They work when the bombs fall and are even able to sleep through it."

    Part two of the fascinating WWII diary of Maurice Southgate, definitely worth a read
     
  3. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    25 July 1940
    'In the news today: “The French government, sick of seeing England try and grab their colonies has seen fit to kick out all British subjects.” On the other hand, their Indochina bases are given to the Japanese. Yesterday our losses were quite serious, 15 bombers lost on the attack against Brest and La Palice, as well as 10 fighters. The Russians are holding on.'

    The third part of SOE agent Maurice Southgate's diary. This entry details his experiences in wartime Britain, during the summer of 1940.

    Southgate's Diary, Part 3 - Parade Antiques Blog
     
  4. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    Need time to read these but look fascinating.
     
  5. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    Need time to read these but look fascinating.

    Thank you :)

    It is a great account, and Southgate's interesting outlook on events and life comes through well in his writing.
     
  6. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    Thank you :)

    It is a great account, and Southgate's interesting outlook on events and life comes through well in his writing.

    I've stuck these to the top of the sub-forum so they don't get lost.
     
  7. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    I've stuck these to the top of the sub-forum so they don't get lost.

    Thank you very much
     
  8. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    27th July 1941
    'Clear sky outside, ideal bombing weather, if the Germans knew. They haven’t been over for several weeks (10 to be exact). We do not forget them however, every night two large German towns get some of our medicine, not counting canals, railways and not forgetting their shipping.'

    Part 4 is up! :)

    Southgate's Diary, Part 4 - July 1940 - Parade Antiques Blog
     
  9. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    "...London and the Londoners are incredible. They work when the bombs fall and are even able to sleep through it."

    I like Maurice :D
     
  10. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    I like Maurice :D

    Definitely, his social commentary is fantastic!
     
    Paul Reed likes this.
  11. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Top marks for making this available to a wider audience.
     
  12. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    PA - did you keep scans of the diary too?

    I was wondering about the transcription
    (which I'm sure many here would be happy
    to assist with) as I have searched for 'Berekville'
    as Maurice mentioned an attack by fisherman from
    that village (or organisation?) in Pt4 and I can not
    find a location which matches that place name

    As Paul says, very well done for making it public
    and raising awareness of Maurice and his work


    Also - Pt3 and Pt4 show 1940 as the diary date
    but your blog transcription labels it 1941
     
  13. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    Hi all, sorry for the delay been away from the computer for a few days.

    Top marks for making this available to a wider audience.

    No problem, happy to do it :)

    PA - did you keep scans of the diary too?

    I was wondering about the transcription
    (which I'm sure many here would be happy
    to assist with) as I have searched for 'Berekville'
    as Maurice mentioned an attack by fisherman from
    that village (or organisation?) in Pt4 and I can not
    find a location which matches that place name

    As Paul says, very well done for making it public
    and raising awareness of Maurice and his work


    Also - Pt3 and Pt4 show 1940 as the diary date
    but your blog transcription labels it 1941

    We have taken photographs of all the pages before we sold it, and I have attached the relevant section. There has been a mistake made by us when typing it up from the translation notes, as it was meant to read German post not port. After a bit of research, we now believe that the town may be Berck, Pas de Calais.

    As for the wrong years, that is a bit embarrassing! Sorted now, thanks for pointing that out.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    Brilliant, Berck makes more sense!

    thanks again
     
  15. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    "This, by the way, is a true story : “Squadron Pilots, billeted at what had been a school for girls, discovered a bell push over which was the notice – Anyone requiring a mistress during the night will ring the bell 3 times” – They put it out of order the first night."

    Southgate's WW2 Diary, Part 5 - July 1941 - Parade Antiques Blog

    Apologies, bit late this week!

    Have a great weekend everyone.
     
  16. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    "in the office I am involved in serious politics, very serious politics even, and we have to defeat the Nazi’s at any cost. I cannot put more to paper. In tonight’s news, I have heard that Berlin has been severely bombed last night and I suppose London will get it today or tomorrow."

    Southgate's Diary, Part 6 - 3-5st August 1941 - Parade Antiques Blog

    Enjoy :)
     
  17. ParadeAntiques

    ParadeAntiques Junior Member

    Well there has been a bit of delay on this one. We are still trying to get them out weekly but we had a raft race to prepare for in aid of the RNLI so by the time we had built the thing and got on with the race we are a bit behind. Apologies.

    Part 7 is up for your reading pleasure, you have our word next week will not be so tardy.

    Southgate's Diary, Part 7 - 10-12th August 1941 - Parade Antiques Blog
     

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