Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lance-Corporal

Unit:

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

Awarded on:

August 29th, 1946

"Brydson was captured in NORWAY in April 1940 and taken to STALAG XXA (THORN) where he remained throughout his captivity.
While working in the German P/W Records Office he was able to obtain information on collaborators for the British Men of Confidence.
Later he became Interpretor and Clerk in the clothing store where he made friends with a Polish worker who supplied him with radio parts and escape supplies. This man was a member of the Underground and at BRYDSON's request obtained valuable local military information including stolen German maps. The information was passed back to England by the Senior Warrant Officer. One day this Pole brought an anomyous letter asking if the British P/W would fight besides the Poles when the time came. On instruction from the Senior Warrant Officer BRYDSON sent a reply stating that instruction from England were awaited. He later sent another letter asking for assistance for 2 (...) to which he had a verbal reply. In August 1943 the Gestapo arrested BRYDSON's friend and he had to make a new contact.
In April 1944 BRYDSON was taken to the Gestapo H.Q. and confronted by the wreck of his friend and a written statement together with the 2 letters he had written. He underwent a grueling interrogation for 5 hours but refused to speak as he denied the Gestapo's right to try a soldier.
After 3 weeks solitary confinement he was brought before the Army authorities. He admitted to helping escapers and skillfully played on the rivalry between Gestapo and Wehrmacht. He spent another 7 weeks in solitary confinement and then was acquitted of the charge of espionage through lack of evidence.
By his brains and courage BRYDSON saved not only himself but other British P/W and Poles.
He has been highly commended for his conduct by a Senior Officer and the Senior British Medical Officer at THORN.
He was eventually liberated in April 1945 by the Americans."