My Grandfather Major Bill Potts escaped from the Germans having been captured at St Valery in 1940. He escaped via Marseilles with the French Foreign Legion to Algiers and from there made his way to Casablanca staying with a French Gaullist identity unknown but was a manager of the Bank of Morocco. This would be August-September 1940. He was frequenting a place called the British Club in Casablanca which was full of Americans and expats beyond military age. A few spy's in there too! I have been trying to identify where this building was and if it still exists? Anyone got any ideas? He was subsequently arrested and interned in Medouna before escaping again. And this was before Humphrey Bogart arrived!!!!!
I have posted this on the general page but it also lends itself here, My Grandfather Major Bill Potts escaped from the Germans having been captured at St Valery in 1940. He escaped via Marseilles with the French Foreign Legion to Algiers and from there made his way to Casablanca staying with a French Gaullist identity unknown but was a manager of the Bank of Morocco. This would be August-September 1940. He was frequenting a place called the British Club in Casablanca which was full of Americans and expats beyond military age. A few spy's in there too! Notably a British spy who was organising the escapes of British soldiers mostly from the 51st Highland Division. The American Consul Mr Herbert Gould and the Belgian Consul Mr Brabanson were also actively involved I have been trying to identify where this building was and if it still exists? Anyone got any ideas? He was subsequently arrested and interned in Medouna before escaping again. And this was before Humphrey Bogart arrived!!!!!
Always recommended to keep to just one post, some folks may respond to one, someone else to the other, duplication and we are all too easily confused! The British Club Casablanca 1940?
Hello, I noted your contribution of some time ago to: BBC - WW2 People's War - Retreat to Dunkirk: With the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and presume you have followed up at the National Archives: Recommendation for Award for Potts, William Charles Wilkinson Rank: Major ... | The National Archives Did you come across a MI 9 interrogation report for evaders and escapers for your grandfather, which very likely would have listed the said 'Club'? I thought Casablanca might have featured in some of my MI 9 books, but nil listed. According to Amanda Mouttaki, Morocco doesn’t have a lot of preserved memorials or sites. But, if you want to see World War Two sites in Morocco today you can: Imperial Hotel – This hotel was requisitioned by the American forces and served as General Patton’s headquarters and operation base after the invasion. The ANFA Hotel – The Casablanca Conference was held at this hotel. It was the first war conference between the Allied powers. Beach at Port Lyautey and Casbah – Allied landing happened on the beaches here. The Casbah is from the 17th century and was used by the French to hold American prisoners during the invasion. Hotel Miramar Fadala – After the invasion of Fadala it was at the Hotel Miramar that General Patton accepted the French surrender. The hotel is inaccessible today but can be seen from the outside. The REAL Story of Casablanca in 1942 where you might have expected an English Club to have been mentioned ...... perhaps a nickname for one of these? As for your French Gaullist assisting evaders from 51 (Highland) Division, I wondered if you meant Pierre Boudet, but I don't think he's a 'fit' for you; short bio etc at: Iain Laird's Family History Project - The Heroes of St Valéry with more in similar vein at: https://ukarmourers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Dick-Newmans-Escape.pdf inter alia. Keep us posted.
Perhaps a local / city history museum or society exists? There is an English Club, but on examination that is an English language school. Though you could ask them!
There was certainly a club known at The British Club extant in Casablanca in the early 1990s. I cannot recall its exact location but I am sure you will find it listed in telephone directories of the era. As an aside, the Liberation Report of another St Valery escaper, Corp. L Wilson, noted that "In December 1942, I was allowed to go to Casablanca where I stayed in the British Club. While there I worked as an interpreter with the US Army and obtained a British uniform from the British Consulate.” So, clearly a safe refuge for many years. Happy Hunting!
I used to live in the same road as the British Club in the early 1980s, and was a member! It was in Ain Diab but I cannot remember the name of the road
Chester, If you hover over LizW's avatar it shows when she last logged in, it was June 2024. You have access to the Private Message (PM) option having added more than five post. On her Avatar use @Start a Conversation'. Hopefully she will respond.
Yes, Ain Diab! In fact, I believe it was on Boulevard Méditerranée and lay somewhere between the two main roads to the seafront.
Could this now be the Churchill Club which is on the same street, apparently you are expected to speak English there? Would this have been there in 1940, apparently it was part of the British Council or Consulate? See Casablanca's Exclusive Churchill Club Map Google Maps
That I do not know I am afraid :-( It definitely was not the site of the British Consulate or British Council library in 1993 and 1994 when I visited - the British Club was quite separate from any British government body, even if their staff might have been members. Looking at your link, that location could well have been the British Club site but, alas, I do not know if that was also its site during WW2.
