2820393 Reginald Alexander TARVES, MM, Royal Signals & Special Operations Executive

Just to add going by what is said in the citation I would bet money Capt Fielding and Tarvres were the same person!
Well looks like I disproved my own theory given dates and places the two were at during WW2 and the last post I made about Tarves pretty much confirmed it, have to say this was a great piece of research for me as it all fell into place along the way with information about both Fielding and Tarves (eventually after a day of looking in books and searching the net) giving light to what was at first look and still is in places rather secretive whats next for me Drew

 

I'll let you know mate

 

Hi Drew
I would be very greatful if you would tell me how i could get my father in law's M.M citation you see he to was on Crete as an S.O.E wireless opperator and was also with Leigh Ferrmor, Tom Dunbabin, Monty Woodhouse, Xan Fielding, i have many of Reg's personal effects that he brought home from Crete, i also have his war records but not his citation Please help Vince

 

Hi Vince,

Whats his full name? I'll see if he is listed on the National Archives online database.

Andy

 

They were not the same person - in SOE the WTOs who were often themost vital component of a mission were often understated in the reports! Xan Fielding later operated in France. I'll see what I have in the databases on Tarves this evening. There is also a DVD called the 11th Day which is well worth a look.

The 11th Day

Creatan Resistance Memorial - Anogia (Greece)

Steven

 

Hi Andy
His name was Reginald Harold Everson No.2320992 Many thanks Vince, do you mind me asking where you are from Andy?

 

London and I live in Leeds

 

Is this him?

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

I'll post the citation up if it is.

 

Hi Andy
Yes thats him
Many thanks
Vince

 

Is this him?

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

I'll post the citation up if it is.
Here is his entry in the London Gazette, I notice the Service number is different from the one posted by Chubby.
The Military Medal.
No. 854739 Sergeant Cyril Victor BENSLEY, Royal
Horse Artillery.
No. 7911803 Trooper William Denton VENABLES,
4th Queen's Own Hussars, Royal Armoured
Corps.
No. 913565 Lance-Sergeant Harry SWAINBANK, Royal
Regiment of Artillery.
No. 1888304 Lance-Corporal Robert Brimer WATSON,
Corps of Royal Engineers.
No. 2320992 Sergeant Reginald Harold EVERSON,
Royal Corps of Signals.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37450/supplements/750/page.pdf

 

Hi Wtid45
I appriciate your help and you are correct the number 2320992 is the right one, (opps my fault) Thanks again for your time.

 

Hi Andy
I'm sorry mate i may have given you the wrong service number as WTID45 pointed out the right number is 2320992 sorry again
Vince

 

Here you go mate, just click on the image to enlarge it:

 

Hi Andy
Can't thank you enough mate thank you very much for you time
regards Vince

 

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/special-forces/38160-crete-kidnap-gang-phylo.html

 

Hay this is my great uncle in real truth he went into a cave in ww2 and saw all of his friends dead so he sent out a radio message to the Germans he waited in this cave for them with a machine gun and killed hundreds he then got given a a medal for this and got put in a book and there was a film made about him I got this story told to me by my grandad so he is my uncle

 

I have just joined the forum and spotted this old post regarding my late friend, Reg.
His MM citation was short on detail, but I can fill in some information.

I had known Reg for about ten years through his son, Neil. Reg never mentioned his war service until I told him I was going to Crete on holiday in 1981. He simply said, "have a look at this book" .
I mentioned his name during the holiday and both he and his comrades were well remembered. At the time, before mass tourism took over, the Cretans were very anti-German, for obvious reasons.

Reg lied about his age to join the army when he ran away from home. He told me that when he joined the partisans, he did exactly what they did - he never washed for over six months. That way, he blended in well. For most of the time he was there, they were constantly in fear for their lives as the Germans never stopped searching for them. The hardships of living in the White mountains in winter with starvation rations cannot be underestimated.

Reg was a brave and humble man, who never talked about his exploits. Happily, he was able to visit Crete again in the mid 1980's where he was feted as a national hero. On his return, he told me that he immediately knew the language again and the local children were astonished that an Englishman could speak with the mountain dialect!


Reg died many years ago and his ashes were scattered in the Highlands where he was born. He gave me several of his mementoes: a cigarette lighter with a hidden compass, his military lock knife, a Cretan lace headdress and his pay book. I passed some of these on to Neil, his son in Australia who had his medals. Sadly Neil died just over a year ago so I assume all the items are now with his former-wife and daughter.

Reg was a fine man.

 

Also, I forgot to mention that Reg was given cardboard tubes of fifty gold sovereigns to use as currency or for bribes.
During one particularly life threatening evasion when he was sure they would be killed, he hid them in a cave and never got the opportunity to return to recover them!

 

Hello and welcome to the forum. Many thanks for the update. I never knew he had a son in Australia, just the son in Wakefield. Oh How those 50 sovereigns will make someone's day if they are ever found

 

Page 4479 | Supplement 35745, 13 October 1942 | London Gazette | The Gazette

Report of award of Military Medal in London Gazette