Arthur Staggs died on August 22 2013.I have not seen it reported before but his obituary is published in the Telegraph today. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10385710/Arthur-Staggs.html He had a most dangerous task in the field and survived imprisonment at Loos prison.So good was his story and his use of patois from living in the area prewar that he was released by the Germans after a period of two months.He was told he had been mistaken for an English parachutist. He lived to tell the tale after being given up as dead. He was dropped into France with two SOE agents of renown. Gustave Bieler and Michael Trotobas.Both were to lose their lives in the field,the latter still remembered in Lille by the "Rue du Capitaine Michael in Lille".Trotobas drew acclaim when he destroyed the rail engine turntables at the Fives marshaling yard.
Arthur Staggs, R.I.P. In the area in and around Lille he has long been honoured for his heroic deeds during the war. This is a link to an article about Arthur Staggs being awarded the freedom of the city of Lille (1998): http://users.tpg.com.au/berniezz/arthur_awarded_the_freedom_of_li.htm This is a link to the article about Arthur Staggs being awarded the French Legion d'Honneur (2005): http://users.tpg.com.au/berniezz/new_page_1.htm
Martin Langfield, author of The Secret Fire wrote: "Arthur Staggs was the radio operator for the Special Operations Executive’s “Farmer” network in occupied France, working in the region around Lille under the nom de guerre of Albert Foulon. He was kind enough to meet me in February 2008, in the small town of Thame, Oxfordshire, to talk about his memories of clandestine life, and I drew on his recollections to add atmosphere and authenticity to the fictional World War Two “Steeplejack” operation in “The Secret Fire”." See: http://secretfire.wordpress.com/arthur-staggs/ BBC TV Video Interview on his 100th birthday: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-20411329 Edit to add: Actual recording of his .- .-. - .... ..- .-. / ... - .- --. --. ... Morse Code: http://secretfire.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/soe_icw-arthur-staggs-radio-morse-audio2.wav Pray tell me someone... what is it he has to say here? http://morsecode.scphillips.com/jtranslator.html The Morse Code Alphabet
good day harry ree.very senior member.21th.oct.2013,09:01pm.re:arthur staggs soe wireless operator dies.a true hero.may he rest in peace.thank you for posting.regards bernard85