Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Military Intelligence Section 9 (MI9), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), Imperial General Staff, War Office, British Government

Awarded on:

September 24th, 1942

Recommendation:
"Having received instructions to look out for himself when the situation became hopeless at KALAMATA on 28/29.4.41, Pte. GEORGIOU made his way to ATHENS on foot with four others, reaching the town on 6.5.41.

Ten days later he was captured, taken to the Gestapo H.Q., interrogated and put into Averoff prison. After ten days he was questioned again and told that he would be shot if he did not admit that he was a Cypriot. He was returned to Averoff prison for four months then sent to SALONIKA P/W Camp.

About 15/20.10.41, while out on fatigue duties, Pte. GEORGIOU escaped with another Cypriot, who was subsequently recaptured, and used as an informer on Cypriot escapers.

Pte. GEORGIOU was sheltered for three weeks in SALONIKA and given money, which took him to YERISSOS. From thence he went South to the Monastery of St. PAUL - hoping to find a ship to escape to TURKEY.

He stayed at the monastery three months, then heard there were British escapers in SALONIKA, so returned there by caique. He found two and brought them back on foot to ST. PAUL's monastery. At KARYES he found L/Cpl. EDWIN CAVILL PEACOCK, No. 328176, Notts. Yeomanry (who has been recommended for a M.M.), when he tried to evacuate by boat.

Pte. GEORGIOU then discovered a caique going to MITYLENE and sailed in March, 1942, with a Greek friend. Owing to bad weather they landed at PSARA instead of MITYLENe, crossed to TURKEY by rowing boat, where they were beaten by the Turks. They escaped, but were recaptured by the Turks, beaten again and put in a rowing boat and told to return to KHIOS. They made their way to CHESME(?), however, and contacted the British Consular authorities at the beginning of April.

Pte. GEORGIOU at once volunteered to return to GREECE and bring back escapers he had left.

After waiting for weeks he embarked on a caique with a crew of three and, having searched all the monasteries on the southers slopes of Mt. ATHOS with the help of the local Greek gendarmes, brought back three British escapers and two cypriots.

This private, thanks to his foresight and courage in returning first to SALONIKA - entirely on his own initiative - and subsequently to GREECE, was responsible not only for his own escape but for that of five others.

It was a firm performance, carried out in face of danger and very great hardship."

Originally recommended for a DCM but downgraded to an immediate MM.
LG 35715/4158
MM received for Escape and Evasion and Special Operations 24 Sept 1942 London Gazette Catalogue ref. WO373/61