The Line to Freedom

Andrew was recruited into the British Secret Intelligence Service in 1939 for his linguistic talents and other qualities while working in the banking sector in the City of London. From the beginning of WWII, he worked full-time for the Service. His first mission was to witness the attempted assassination of Hitler in Munich in November 1939, followed by three further missions: sabotaging a German train carrying armaments deep inside enemy territory with a colleague; assisting in the evacuation of BEF soldiers during the Dunkirk operation aboard one of the ‘small ships’; and working with the Royal Navy to help bring the Norwegian king and his cabinet from Tromsø to exile in London. After extensive commando-style training in Scotland, lengthy Royal Navy officer training, and instruction as a parachutist, Andrew was dropped into northeast France in late May 1941. This highly risky mission involved collaborating with the French Resistance. Following several smaller, but equally dangerous, missions, he was sent to Sardinia to work with the Partisans in July 1941. His objective: to thwart the Italian Air Force from bombing Allied convoys heading to Malta. On returning to England, Andrew assumed the identity of a missing French Resistance operative and was dropped back into France. There, he joined multiple groups on a perilous mission, narrowly escaping the Wehrmacht and the Abwehr before making his way back to England via Spain. This is a compelling narrative, rich with exciting and lesser-covered themes in spy fiction. The writer’s attention to detail and meticulous research offers readers a vivid and comprehensive insight into the complex and colorful world of intelligence during WWII.