Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare Second World War clandestine operations M.M. group of five awarded to Lance-Sergeant G. A. Hanson, Royal Signals, a wireless operator in S.O.E’s Force 133 in the Cyclades - indeed the only S.O.E. operative to work on the Island of Naxos for a period of 8 months, where the 650-strong German garrison carried out a relentless round of searches: attired in civilian clothes, and working in a theatre of war where enemy reprisals were swift, brutal and commonplace, the thought of capture was not a topic to dwell upon

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (14413586 L. Sjt. G. A. Hanson, R. Signals); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, extremely fine (5) £3000-3500

M.M. London Gazette 18 October 1945. The original recommendation - for a D.C.M. - states:

‘Lance-Sergeant Hanson was infiltrated by sea to the Island of Naxos in the Cyclades on 29 April 1944, where he remained until he returned to the Middle East on 2 January 1945. For a consecutive period of eight months he undertook the duties of wireless operator on a particularly hazardous, difficult and arduous operation on Naxos island.

As the only Englishman on the Island, he worked amongst unfamiliar people and amidst strange surroundings, showing an adaptability to circumstances which was of paramount importance to the success of the operation. Moreover, until the surrender of the German garrison in October 1944, he operated his set behind the enemy’s lines while dressed in civilian clothes. Faced as he was by continual danger and privitation, he displayed at all times a courage, initiative and endurance which emphasised his moral qualities as a soldier.

His tasks were threefold. Not only was he responsible for helping the leader to organise a resistance group of patriotic civilians to fight the Germans, and to organise sabotage of the enemy’s lines of communication, base installations and supply vessels, but in addition it was his duty to transmit to H.Q. the intelligence he received so that the garrison would be constantly exposed to aggression by land, sea and air forces.

In spite of periods of sudden and prolonged movement, or of monotonous lying in hiding, necessitated by the persistence and relentlessness of the German search parties, these tasks were undertaken and perservered with until they were concluded.

Not only does the final subjection and surrender of the enemy on the Island bear obvious testimony to the efficiency and accuracy of his work, but it was entirely due to his liaison with his leader and the extremely high standard of his wireless communication with H.Q. that this result was possible.

For the courage, devotion to duty and unfailing adaptability which he displayed in circumstances of continuous hardship and danger, it is most strongly recommended that Lance-Sergeant Hanson be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.’

George Arthur Hanson, who was born in Sweden in June 1921, was recommended for his award by Lieutenant-Colonel Count Julian A. Dobrski, O.B.E., M.C., alias Lieutenant-Colonel Julian A. Dolbey, C.O. of Force 133’s H.Q. in Cairo - he also recommended Hanson for a Greek award (accompanying research refers). Interestingly, Dobrski’s wartime papers and correspondence now reside in the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives at King’s College, London, documentation that might well throw further light on Hanson’s gallant activities on Naxos.

The latter was employed as a Prison Officer post-war and died in Southfields, Wandsworth in March 1993.