Award MBE 67973 Capt. C.A.G. Burney, F Section SOE, No. 12 Commando

brithm · Oct 1, 2022

The bravery displayed by the SOE (British-led Special Operations Executive) and Allied special agents, who were murdered at Buchenwald in September and October 1944, has haunted me - it was a death sentence that I managed to escape by just two days. The discreet support by Capt. Christopher Burney, SOE, during our incarceration and his key role in our rescue by the Luftwaffe enabled 166 Allied airmen to survive and be moved to Stalag Luft III.
Christopher Burney Archives - Stew Ross Discovers

Award Member of the British Empire (Military) Capt. Christopher Arthur Geoffrey Burney (67973) No. 12 Commando South Wales Borderers transferred to SOE F Section Autogiro F Section codenamed 'Charles'. Parachuted 30th-31st May 1942 near Le Mans with Charles Grover-Williams to organise Autogyro Circuit arrested 15th August 1942 Paris, year in Fresnes prison.

This officer was parachuted into France on 30th May 1942 as sub-organisers to a circuit in the occupied zone. After 2½ months of clandestine activity, he was arrested by the Gestapo on the 15th August 1942. He had little time to achieve any concrete results, but he made several useful contacts which were later developed and he travelled constantly throughout norther-western France studying resistance possibility.

After his arrest, BURNEY was severely interrogated and beaten up by the Gestapo. He stood up to these hardships with the greatest courage and endurance and did not give away any vital information. He was kept in solitary confinement in Fresnes prison until the 24th January 1944, when he was transferred to the Buchenwald concentration camp, where he spent fifteen months undergoing severe hardships. Throughout this period he showed qualities of endurance and unselfishness of a very high order and played a large part in keeping up the morale of his fellow prisoners. Je was released from Buchenwald when the camp was over-run by the American forces in April 1945.

For his courage in undertaking a hazardous clandestine mission in occupied France and for his fortitude and self-sacrifice during his 2½ years in captivity, it is recommended that this officer be awarded the Military Cross
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WO 373/98/324
Christopher Burney | Military Wiki | Fandom

FO 950/2124 Nazi persecution claim: Mr Christopher Arthur Geoffrey Burney MBE

Bibliography

The Dungeon Democracy, 1946, Burney's controversial account of life in Buchenwald

Solitary Confinement, 1951, his account of 15 months in Fresnes Prison

Descent from Ararat, 1962, an existentialist fable

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Award MBE 67973 Capt. C.A.G. Burney, F Section SOE, No. 12 Commando

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Award MBE 67973 Capt. C.A.G. Burney, F Section SOE, No. 12 Commando

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