My dad's contribution to WWII

chrisinhouston · 10-22-2009, 10:39 AM

I've been going through all of the stuff I brought home from my parent's home in Atlanta since we now are selling it and found these. My father was in British intelligence during the war. He started out in Churchill's underground bunker marking maps for the PM. Because he spoke fluent Chinese (he grew up there) he was reassigned to the Burma campaign, but Burma fell before he got there and went on to the HQ in Ceylon and later Chungking. Dad came up with this idea to make maps out of silk for British and American pilots and anyone infiltrating behind Japanese lines; he got discarded parachute silk and had all sorts of maps made up. They were light weight and almost indestructible.

Anyway, these are the only 2 I know of. My mother must have made the second one up into a little apron for the kitchen! What a great fucking idea that was! Anyway, I am thinking of contacting the Imperial War Museum in the UK to see if they would be interested in having the unaltered one as I doubt they want the kitchen apron to display. It's a cool family thing to have but what would I really do with it? And would my kids or my grand kids care? It is kind of neat to wonder how many were helped by having these maps.

monster · 10-22-2009, 10:43 AM

Those are fantastic. I would keep them for the grankids, but I'm a hoarder and I love maps. You could send them to me.....

chrisinhouston · 10-22-2009, 10:43 AM

Just for the record, here is a picture of my dad when he was a lieutenant working for the PM. He ended up a major when he was discharged.

monster · 10-22-2009, 10:44 AM

So cool. and i love the apron idea. waste not, want not....

SamIam · 10-22-2009, 10:49 AM

Wow! Those really are nice. I guess if you left the one to a museum, you'd know it was going to be preserved. Who knows what the grandkids might do to it.

Pie · 10-22-2009, 11:00 AM

Awesome stuff, Chris! Your dad is quite handsome, too.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-22-2009, 11:26 AM

Dayum! I'd seen references to those maps in numerous WWII stories, and even in movies, but of course there was never any background on the origins. Thanks for letting us in on that.

I'm sure the Smithsonian would be interested. Even the apron would make an interesting display, with a slant of how everyone after the war was recycling war materiels, or the confidence the enemy had been thoroughly eliminated as a future threat, unlike after WWI.

I wonder if your Mom used that apron when entertaining, to start conversations highlighting Dad's achievements? Your earlier descriptions of them made it sound like they were very supportive of each other.

monster · 10-22-2009, 11:30 AM

that story is IOTD-worthy, really. Thanks for sharing it with us.

glatt · 10-22-2009, 12:31 PM

these are freaking awesome. So they are prototypes? they look a lot like final products to me.

I'd heard of the maps printed on silk too, and always thought it was a great idea. Your dad made a big contribution.

ZenGum · 10-22-2009, 07:12 PM

I've read a book (Official Secret, Christopher Clayton-Hutton) by a chap who worked for British intelligence during WWII.

He was given the job of providing escape and evasion aids for servicemen, and later, of trying to smuggle such items into PoW camps.

He also had maps printed on silk to give to RAF pilots, and later, had them printed on Mulbery-leaf paper because it is very strong and doesn't rustle if you are pat-searched.

His book describes heaps of other clever gagetry - compasses fitted into buttons, magnifying lenses disguised as the stopper in a bottle, stuff like that.

My favourites were these. When the Germans figured out that the Brits were hiding things in buttons, instead of dropping the idea, he simply reversed the thread of the screw, so that attempting to unscrew the button in the normal direction would simply tighten it. And secondly, they simply magnetised the razor blades being issued to soldiers. Swung from a piece of thread, the end with the capital letter of the maker's name would point north. Simple, subtle, almost free; I love it.

This link http://www.mapforum.com/04/escape.htm would probably take you to someone who would LOVE to have those maps.

Frankly, I think you could sell them for a lot of money - they are historical curiosities.

richlevy · 10-22-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

I've read a book (Official Secret, Christopher Clayton-Hutton) by a chap who worked for British intelligence during WWII.

He was given the job of providing escape and evasion aids for servicemen, and later, of trying to smuggle such items into PoW camps.

I think I read the same book. I was wondering if that is Chris's dad. Judging by his Cellar ID, he even has the same first name.

ZenGum · 10-22-2009, 10:39 PM

I don't think it is, Clayton-Hutton spent the entire war in Britain. Perhaps the idea leaked from one to the other, or quite possibly they both came up with the idea independently.

shoot · 10-26-2009, 02:10 AM

My grandpa was a B-17 pilot who flew out of Mendenhal for raids over Germany. I have one of those silk maps he called it an 'escape'map to be used if he was ever shot down.Really neat that you posted those.

Urbane Guerrilla · 10-26-2009, 03:42 AM

The European Theater escape maps were printed more faintly, so as to resemble a rather grimy, used silk handkerchief to a casual search.

TheMercenary · 10-26-2009, 02:37 PM

What a great first hand story! Thanks.

10-22-2009, 10:39 AM	#1
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	My dad's contribution to WWII I've been going through all of the stuff I brought home from my parent's home in Atlanta since we now are selling it and found these. My father was in British intelligence during the war. He started out in Churchill's underground bunker marking maps for the PM. Because he spoke fluent Chinese (he grew up there) he was reassigned to the Burma campaign, but Burma fell before he got there and went on to the HQ in Ceylon and later Chungking. Dad came up with this idea to make maps out of silk for British and American pilots and anyone infiltrating behind Japanese lines; he got discarded parachute silk and had all sorts of maps made up. They were light weight and almost indestructible. Anyway, these are the only 2 I know of. My mother must have made the second one up into a little apron for the kitchen! What a great fucking idea that was! Anyway, I am thinking of contacting the Imperial War Museum in the UK to see if they would be interested in having the unaltered one as I doubt they want the kitchen apron to display. It's a cool family thing to have but what would I really do with it? And would my kids or my grand kids care? It is kind of neat to wonder how many were helped by having these maps. Attached Images

10-22-2009, 10:43 AM	#2
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Those are fantastic. I would keep them for the grankids, but I'm a hoarder and I love maps. You could send them to me..... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-22-2009, 10:43 AM	#3
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	Just for the record, here is a picture of my dad when he was a lieutenant working for the PM. He ended up a major when he was discharged. Attached Images

10-22-2009, 10:44 AM	#4
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	So cool. and i love the apron idea. waste not, want not.... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-22-2009, 11:00 AM	#6
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Awesome stuff, Chris! Your dad is quite handsome, too. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

10-22-2009, 10:49 AM	#5
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	Wow! Those really are nice. I guess if you left the one to a museum, you'd know it was going to be preserved. Who knows what the grandkids might do to it.

10-22-2009, 11:26 AM	#7
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Dayum! I'd seen references to those maps in numerous WWII stories, and even in movies, but of course there was never any background on the origins. Thanks for letting us in on that. I'm sure the Smithsonian would be interested. Even the apron would make an interesting display, with a slant of how everyone after the war was recycling war materiels, or the confidence the enemy had been thoroughly eliminated as a future threat, unlike after WWI. I wonder if your Mom used that apron when entertaining, to start conversations highlighting Dad's achievements? Your earlier descriptions of them made it sound like they were very supportive of each other. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-22-2009, 11:30 AM	#8
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	that story is IOTD-worthy, really. Thanks for sharing it with us. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-22-2009, 12:31 PM	#9
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	these are freaking awesome. So they are prototypes? they look a lot like final products to me. I'd heard of the maps printed on silk too, and always thought it was a great idea. Your dad made a big contribution.

10-22-2009, 07:12 PM	#10
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I've read a book (Official Secret, Christopher Clayton-Hutton) by a chap who worked for British intelligence during WWII. He was given the job of providing escape and evasion aids for servicemen, and later, of trying to smuggle such items into PoW camps. He also had maps printed on silk to give to RAF pilots, and later, had them printed on Mulbery-leaf paper because it is very strong and doesn't rustle if you are pat-searched. His book describes heaps of other clever gagetry - compasses fitted into buttons, magnifying lenses disguised as the stopper in a bottle, stuff like that. My favourites were these. When the Germans figured out that the Brits were hiding things in buttons, instead of dropping the idea, he simply reversed the thread of the screw, so that attempting to unscrew the button in the normal direction would simply tighten it. And secondly, they simply magnetised the razor blades being issued to soldiers. Swung from a piece of thread, the end with the capital letter of the maker's name would point north. Simple, subtle, almost free; I love it. This link http://www.mapforum.com/04/escape.htm would probably take you to someone who would LOVE to have those maps. Frankly, I think you could sell them for a lot of money - they are historical curiosities. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

10-22-2009, 10:39 PM	#12
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I don't think it is, Clayton-Hutton spent the entire war in Britain. Perhaps the idea leaked from one to the other, or quite possibly they both came up with the idea independently. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

10-26-2009, 02:10 AM	#13
shoot Smooth Ruffian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: central KY Posts: 47	My grandpa was a B-17 pilot who flew out of Mendenhal for raids over Germany. I have one of those silk maps he called it an 'escape'map to be used if he was ever shot down.Really neat that you posted those.

10-26-2009, 03:42 AM	#14
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	The European Theater escape maps were printed more faintly, so as to resemble a rather grimy, used silk handkerchief to a casual search. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

10-26-2009, 02:37 PM	#15
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	What a great first hand story! Thanks. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)