Jordan, William Sydney

Date of birth:: November 20th, 1909
Date of death:: 1983
Service number:: 2627
Nationality:: British

Biography

Before the war William Jordan was a correspondent for the New Zealand Herald.
During WW2 he was parachuted in Greece and the South of France for which he recieved the MC and MBE.
He published his war time experiences named 'Conquest Without Victory' in 1969 which consisted also of criticism of a wartime British policy of arming ruthless and self-seeking Greek communist guerillas.
Post war he became a master atSt. Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney before he travelled to Europe to study Theology to become a priest.

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Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Captain
Unit:: British Military Mission to Greece (BMMG), Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:: October 14th, 1943

Recommendation:
"Capt.Jordan was called upon, at five days notice, to be parachuted as Chief Signals Officer to the main Britsh Mission in Greece. He was dropped by parachute on 19 December 1942, but was severely injured on landing, sustaining four broken ribs, a dislocated elbow and internal injuries.
Despite his injuries and regardless of personal discomfort he immediately applied himslfl to his task, and within a few days a marked improvement in signals communications was apparant. Since that time he has been in sole charge of a wireless station. Seriously understaffed, working at great personal discomfort and under most difficult conditions, with very limited spare parts and tools available he has never faled to produce excellent results. He has on several occasions, been forced to close down and move all his equipment for considerable distances through dificult and hostile country.
By his individual efforts he has been responsible for regular wireless contact being maintained with the hedquarters of the British Mission, thereby rendering invaluable assistance in the planning, direction and control of guerlla operations in enemy occupied Greece.""

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Major
Unit:: British Military Mission to Greece (BMMG), Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:: January 4th, 1945

Recommandtion:
"Maj. Jordan was infiltrated into Greece by parachute on 17 December 1943. From that date until he was finally evacuated on 24 February Maj. Jordan served continuously as a British liaison Officer in both Elas and Zervas territories.
In July 1943 he came under command of Lt-Col. Barnes in Spirus for Operation Animals, which was the code name for the cover operations in Greece for the Sicily landings. During this operation Maj. Jordan was given the responsability of demolishing three important road bridges and a retaining wall on the Yannina - Metsovon Road. Although there was no direct enemy opposition to the carrying-out of his task, time was of primary importance and Maj. Jordan and his party worked continuously for a period of 60 hours without sleep in order to carry out the tasks. After the Animals operations were completed, Maj Jordan was moved into Agrinon as Senior British Liaison Officer in that area. He remaned there during the rest of his time in Greece.
In October 1943 Maj. Jordan was ordered to cut all telephone communications over a distance of 10km on the Arta - Agrinion Road. This he successfully accomplished with the help of the Andartes but as a result of the operation a German company attacked the village in which Maj. Jordan was lying in bed with fever, and shot twelve villagers as reprisal. Maj. Jordan showed great determination and courage when, in spite of his fever, he rallied a small of Andartes, attacked the Germans in the village and drove them off with 26 killed (including the commander) and 37 wounded. The Germans did not return to that village.
In October 1943 Maj. Jordan was in command of a station when it was attacked by Elas Andartes during the Civil war. Lt Hubbard, one of his officers was murdered by the Andartes and had it not been for Maj. Jordan's firmness and courage in handling the situation, it is probable that the remainder of his Mission would also have been killed. Maj. Jordan was evacuated from Greece in February 1944 for reasons of health.
For the inspiring courage and devotion to duty which Maj. Jordan displayed during the whole of the fourteen months he was in Greece, he is recommended for the award of the Military Cross."