Oliver Churchill
| William Oliver Churchill | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1914 , Sweden |
| Died | 1997 (aged 82–83) Cambridge, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Major |
| Service number | 96284 |
| Unit |
The Worcestershire Regiment Special Operations Executive |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Military Cross |
William Oliver Churchill, DSO, MC (1914–1997) was a Special Operations Executive (SOE) officer during the Second World War. Shortly after the Italians had switched allegiance to the Allies in September 1943, he was parachuted into German occupied Corfu to inform the Italian commander that the Allies would support him. In August 1944, he was parachuted into northern Italy behind German lines to act as British Liaison Officer with the partisan leaders.
He was the younger brother of Walter Churchill and Peter Churchill.
His father was William Algernon Churchill (1865–1947), a British Consul who served in Mozambique, Amsterdam, Pará in Brazil, Stockholm, Milan, Palermo, and Algiers. His father was also an art connoisseur, and author of what is still the standard reference work on early European paper and papermaking, Watermarks in Paper. His mother was Violet (née Myers).
Oliver was born in Stockholm in 1914 and educated at Stowe School and Cambridge University where he read Modern Languages at King's College, after which he studied architecture at Cambridge before his studies were interrupted by the war.
As war became imminent, Churchill joined the Territorial Army and was soon called up to the Worcestershire Regiment. Oliver, like his brother, Peter, joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE). In December 1941, he was posted to Malta and the Middle East to train Italian partisans. He was later involved in clandestine, behind-the-lines work in Greece and Italy. His nom de guerre was Anthony Peters.
Operation Acheron In early September 1943 the Italian Armed Forces surrendered and transferred their allegiance from the Axis Powers to the Allies. General Eisenhower considered Corfu of importance to the Allies in the Balkan campaign and decided to immediately send a small force to reinforce the Italian troops against German invasion. Churchill and a radio operator, Signalman Harrison, were briefed to contact the Italian commander in Corfu and inform him of the Allies' intention to reinforce the Italians and to ensure the Italian resistance continued until the Allied troops arrived. Churchill was briefed: ‘Little was known of the situation in Corfu. Fighting was to be expected anywhere. We might be fired on by either or both sides.’
...
Wikipedia