What were Ian Flemings movements in France in June 1940

PokipsiePaddy.
I have typed up Nurse Andrew's account and can send it, the nurses seemed to enjoy shopping and eating and missed several rescue ships! The British Embassy was based at the consulate until just before the fall of Bordeaux. I have a number of other accounts from that period and have written two books which give information about Operation Aerial, which this was. If you give me the subject of the screnplay I will send what I have.
Roy

 

Thank you very much Roy. The subject of the story begins during the fall of France and centers on an Irish chaplain in the British army working with SIS and the resistance throughout the war. He was believed to have been ordered back to Paris by MI6 during Aerial. In April 1940 he was reported to have worked as Chaplain at the American Hospital and possibly at Rothschild Hospital as well since he had some connections with the Rothschilds of London. Shortly after the exodus, he'd been captured and sent to Bordeaux. So I'm trying to establish any actual, likely, and plausible connections he would have had. Wilfred Dunderdale would have been one I suppose since he was station chief in Paris. Anything you can think of would be quite helpful I'm sure. As I'm new to this site, how does one transfer the files? Email or using the site's tools?

 

And yes, I can't help but picture Lucy and Ethel missing the ship due to a good sale. Hah!

 

I’m afraid I have nothing to offer regarding Ian Fleming’s whereabouts. However, as to the Belgian Air Force Major mentioned earlier, I strongly suspect it to be Major Léon RENSON. If that would prove to be the case (I need to check additional sources), it would add a new fascinating dimension to this whole story though.

Allow me to first introduce Léon Renson, as his career path was indeed atypical and quite remarkable.

After having fought during the First World War as a volunteer, he choose to remain in the army and pursued a career as an artillery officer. He eventually transferred to the Military Aviation in 1924 and obtained his observer and later his military pilot license. Noticed for his outstanding competence and organisational skills, he quickly rose through the ranks. Subsequently, at the outbreak of the war, promoted to Major, Renson was Deputy Chief of Staff of the D.A.T. (‘Défense Aérienne du Territoire’ - the Belgian Territorial Air Defense), at the time under command of Lieutenant-General Emile Duvivier.

I asked myself how Renson managed to end up in France with Ian Fleming? Again, I would have to check additional sources to ascertain the following story, but I can’t resist the urge of sharing it with you.

After the Belgian army was forced to capitulate on May 28th 1940, the whole GQG was taken prisoner by the Germans. For a reason as yet unknown, General Duvivier gave three officers, amongst which Renson, permission to attempt escape and try to reach Britain. This in itself is quite puzzling, as Duvivier forbade escaping to everyone else under his command. Those who did part company with the Germans by their own initiative in order to continue the fight in Britain were initially bookmarked as deserters, their legal status only being rectified long after the war ended! Duvivier is also reputed for his famous quote: “Une initiative non commandée est une initiative malheureuse.”

Renson and his two comrades succeeded in eluding the Germans and reached the Dunkirk defense perimeter. Unfortunately, whilst attempting to cross the British lines (by swimming over a canal), one of Renson’s companions got wounded when a British sentry opened fire on them. I don’t know how they managed to pull this off but, amidst the chaos and confusion of the Dunkirk evacuations, all three did eventually reach England. This is quite an achievement considering Belgians were not particularly popular at the time (to say the least). I can imagine that wearing an air force uniform (quite similar to that of the RAF) must not have been a bonus either…

The trio arrived in London on June 1st 1940 and reported to the Belgian Air Attaché. Renson, however, was immediately shipped back to France. It must be during this journey that he must have met Ian Fleming. It seems to me obvious that Renson must have been sent back to France for a specific purpose, no doubt on an important mission. Unfortunately, I failed to learn more regarding the nature of this mission. What is certain, however, is that after this little escapade in France, he again succeeded in escaping the Germans and reach England a second time (quite an achievement in those days!).

Earmarked for a desk job, he nonetheless successfully managed to enlist in the RAF despite his age (42 years old). In order to achieve this, he ‘purposely underestimated’ his age and trafficked his identity papers (no-one was fooled, especially not his Belgian comrades).

On the night of November 11th 1943, F/O Renson and F/O Baldwin (Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VI V8515 belonging to 141 Sqn) were KIA during an ‘intruder mission against Hoya. Both were buried in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery.

KR,
Christian

 

PP,
I have posted Nurse Andrew's account on this site under Resources, you will also see a link under recent posts. Once you have had a look at that we can discuss what other information you require.

 

Hello Christian,
I will go back through my records, especially Bruno Comer's account about the saving of the Belgian diamonds as the name Major Renson 'rings a bell' - though we may have talked about this before? I will also list Ian Flemings movements in France in June 1940, stripping out the fables that have arisen
KR
Roy

 

Here is one I made earlier (hopefully) and Major Renson is in it. So I will now scan Paul Timbal's account to see more about hime.
KR
Roy
Ian Fleming 'first tripper'.docx

 

Will have a look at this tonight. Thanks again!

 

Hypothetical here: but could the heavy water have been in transport hidden in the Champaign bottles? would be a good way to hide it.


Edit: A few potentially useful dates - Citations for some of these have not been checked.

01/05/1940 - Frank Foley leaves Norway from Molde. - He potentially working with Ian's Brother / MIR prior to this.

07/06/1940 - Norwegian king leaves Tromso with 104 others. (105 total).

10/06/1940 - UK sets up spy’s in USA to push propaganda (passport office).

18/06/1940 - heavy water is moved to Bordeaux port where it is taken to the UK by the earl of Suffolk (Jack Howard) and Frank Folie. Folie then travelled overland to the Pyrenees. Jack Howard had a colleague Major A. V. Golding who was with him in France. (They apparently left France together on the 10th of June but seem to have come back 18 days later).

21/06/1940-William Stephenson (Ian Flemings boss at the time?) is sent to the USA by Churchill joins the passport office in the Rockefeller center.

 

Hello Roy,

Perhaps another piece of the jigsaw...

Your reference states: "On 13 June 1940 a M. Paul Timbal, the Managing Director of the Antwerp Diamond Bank, flew back to France after a series of meetings with Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, the Chairman of de Beers. Among the others on the plane were a ‘British Naval Lieutenant and his orderly’. Because Paris was expected to fall shortly they were diverted to a deserted airfield at Châteaudun, near Chartres. "

So, in essence, the party arrived by plane, which must have had the necessary range to cross the Channel. As the plane must also have had enough space required to accommodate some passengers, I assume that it must have been multi-engined. It would also preferably had to be fast enough.

By applying a process of elimination, I came to conclude that the only types that could fit the bill are the Bristol Blenheim, the AW.27 Ensign or the DH.89 Dragon Rapide. As it happens, there were Blenheims (belonging to 53 Squadron) operating in that very same neighbourhood (mainly Chartres) around that very same timeframe. It's a longshot, but it might perhaps prove productive to check 53 Sqn's ORB for a ferry-flight between France and the UK?

As to me, when it comes to 53 Squadron in May-June 1940, my preferred reference source is Alastair Panton's excellent book 'Six Weeks of Blenheim Summer'. Though there is no mention of M. Timbal, Ian Fleming or their friends in the book, it nonetheless provides a good idea of the 'ambiance' that prevailed there (département Eure-et-Loir) at the time. Panton, then Flight Lieutenant commanding a Blenheim reconnaissance fight, also learns us that on June 16th, a German spearhead force had been spotted "more or less as expected, a mile or two south-west of Chartres" (p.137). The book also learns us that there was a RAF HQ active in a château near La Flèche (between Le Mans and Tours) where a Lysander and a Tiger Moth were spotted on the grounds.

I know this is all somewhat circumstantial, but it may provide some clues.

KR,
Christian

 

No tthe heavy water was taken in two aircraft from Norway to Scotland by a team from the Duexieme Bureau led by a Lt Allier. My Major Foley was in Bordeaux at the same time as the Suffolk Golding Mission, he was not involved. I can't see when the Broompark sailed from Bordeaux, but as she arrived in Falmouth in the morning of the 21 JUne, it must have been about the 18th. There is no record of Jack Howard returning to France, he took the heavy water to Windsor Castle on the 9 July, where it was stored alongside the Crown Jewels. Hope that helps

 

Hi Christian,
Thanks, I hadn't got that far. I know the flight was mainly to ship several senior British officers to France.
KR
Roy

 

Another piece of the jigsaw...

Please find hereunder a few paragraphs I selected and translated form the book ‘Meesters van het diamant – De Belgische diamantsector tijdens het nazibewind’ by M. Eric Laureys (ISBN: 9789020962185). Unfortunately, the book doesn’t mention Fleming nor Major Renson. I trust, however, it may provide additional context to M. Paul Timbal’s whereabouts in France.

“The Phoney War and the subsequent invasion of the Wehrmacht on Friday May 10th, 1940 led to great tensions within the Belgian diamond sector. The discord was mainly about the destination for a possible relocation. The disagreement drove all the underlying contradictions within the sector to a climax.

Basically, there were three major groups involved: on the one hand, the General Diamond Workers' Union (ADB), the Syndicate of the Belgian Diamond Industry (SBD), Romi Goldmuntz and the city of Antwerp that were in favour of a move to London. These were opposed by the Société Générale de Belgique (SGB) , the Forminière (Société internationale forestière et minière du Congo), the Antwerp Diamond Bank (BDA) and the Federation of Belgian Diamond Exchanges, which favoured France as a place of refuge. Finally, the Association of Belgians Diamond Industries (VBD) believed that the sector should remain in Belgium.

The motives advocated by each of these three groups spoke volumes about where there respective interests lay.” (p.151)

Initially, the partisans of a move to France gained the upper hand. Cognac (near Bordeaux) was chosen as relocation site.

“One of the reasons for this choice was that the Banque Transatlantique de Paris, a shareholder of the BDA, was also to be relocated to Cognac. The BDA could therefor use this bank in order to ensure continued financing of the diamond trade. It is not ruled out that the leadership of the SGB reasoned that Cognac would not suited to become a permanent place of residence for a cosmopolitan and wealthy group of Jewish diamond dealers, which increased the chance of their return to Belgium.” (p. 156)

“Though the authorities in charge of the evacuation of the Belgian diamond sector to Cognac may have been surprised by the Blitzkrieg, the account of the evacuation to Cognac, however, is a clear testimony to their nonchalance. Blinded by their own self-righteousness and paralysed by their urge to push one's own self-interests to the point of absurdity, the Société Générale de Belgique and the responsible ministers (Balthazar and De Vleeschauwer) failed to keep touch with reality. As a result, instead of relying on prearranged measures taken in Antwerp and London, the Belgian diamond sector instead got caught up in a chaotic exodus to France.” (p.157)

“The General Diamond Workers' Union (ADB) and the Syndicate of the Belgians Diamond Industry (SBD) already informed the diamond dealers and diamond workers of their intentions in January 1940. Nevertheless, on the on the day of the German attack, virtually no preparations had been made. It took four days of frantic meetings at the Antwerp town hall (from May 10th to May 14th), to get the show on the road. What should have taken a few weeks now had to be completed in less than a week. Eventually, on May 14th, after hearing that the government was leaving Brussels, the ADB decided to move to De Panne and, from there on, to Cognac.”

Thousand of diamond merchants and workers, mainly Antwerp Jews, left for the already overpopulated Belgian coastal region where they mainly gathered near De Panne. There, the slogan 'we’ll meet in Cognac' was frequently heard. Upon crossing the border, diamond dealers were exempt to declare their goods ; some even received a gendarmerie escort. About 3000 diamond merchants and 2000 workers made the journey to Cognac.” (p.157)

“Most of them reached Cognac between May 18 and 22, 1940. Although the town had hosted Belgian refugees during the First World War, there were no accommodations available. The mayor of Cognac exhorted the refugees to travel on to 65 km further west to Royan at the mouth of the Gironde. This fashionable seaside resort had meanwhile been earmarked by the French government as designated base of operation for the diamond trade.” (p.158)

“On June 10, 1940 John Williams and Paul Timbal were summoned by Ernest Oppenheimer to London in order to discuss option. Oppenheimer wanted the Belgian diamond industry to resume activities as soon as possible, preferably in the United Kingdom. Officially though, he claimed that the Belgian diamond industry was completely free to choose where it would settle.

Not everything was left to chance though... Oppenheimer anticipated 20,000 British Pounds to cover the costs of the establishment in the United Kingdom. With another 30,000 British pounds, Oppenheimer wanted to equip a factory, which would remain the property of De Beers. This factory would be closed after the war. If the industry preferred France, the diamond dealers would have to finance their infrastructures and machinery themselves.

Timbal left on June 13, 1940 to France to present Oppenheimer's proposal to the Belgian government. He also reported to Cattier (representing the SGB and chairman of the Diamond Advisory Committee) . Meanwhile, Oppenheimer and Bull of the Ministry of Economic Warfare (MEW) met the various (British) ministers who would become involved in a possible transfer from the Belgian diamond industry. For example, the Ministry of Shipping was approached to arrange and provide transport for approximately 2000 diamond dealers and diamond cutters.

Apparently, the number of people to provide transport for was grossly underestimated.

On June 16, Oppenheimer received a telegram from Timbal. The Belgian government agreed to the transfer of the Belgian diamond sector to the United Kingdom. British ships set sail to pick up the diamond merchants in Verdon near Royan.

Precisely during that period a discord arose between the French and British authorities. On June 17, Marshal Petain requested a ceasefire (with the Germans) and rejected the invitation from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to jointly continue to fight from North Africa. As a result, the French commander of the 18th region did not allow the British to dock at Verdon.” (p.158)

Voilà, I hope you'll also enjoy this little takeaway It would seem that diamonds are indeed forever

KR,
Christian

 

A pre-war aerial photo of Châteaudun. Note in the upper left the airfield where M. Timbal, Sir Oppenheimer, a ‘British Naval Lieutenant and his orderly’ (and perhaps also Ian Fleming and Major Renson) presumably landed in June 1940. I now understand why 53 Squadron preferred operating from Chartres: apart from the airstrip, there are no infrastructures present nor anywhere to hide the planes.

 

I think I should reconsider the hypothesis I formulated in my earlier post regarding the aircraft that might have been involved: given the nature of the passengers, using a Bristol Blenheim for transport of VIPs such as the Sir Ernest Oppenheimer seems indeed a bit farfetched. I probably got carried away a bit by the cloak-and-dagger dimension of this thread. Besides, though technically feasible, I could find no trance of any RAF Blenheim ever being converted for passenger transport.

Conclusion: the only remaining alternative is 24 Squadron, the 'usual suspect ' when it comes to (VIP) air transport from-to the continent in May-June 1940. They used a great variety of aircraft listed here.

 

Fascinating read. Very helpful to understanding what that trip must have been like. Would be quite grateful to discuss other information that might be helpful and available.

 

Christian,
That is most interesting and the figures tie in with a memo that Paul Timbal quotes in his report, for instance:
"will be prepared to spend between £20,000 .- and £30, 000. - in equipping a factory which will remain the property of De Beers.....". It would seem that Ernst Oppenheimer, De Beers, and for that matter the British Government, totally overestimated their ability to evacuate the diamond dealers and cutters, and for that matter everyone else. Timbal was told by the Embassy staff in Bordeaux that there could be no ship space for these people and one of the rescue ships, in this case carrying over 3,000 Polish people ran out of food and water on the trip back.

Can you find a copy of Bruno Comer's book - Paul J.Timbal, "Why the Belgian Diamonds Never Fell into Enemy Hands. ..." I think you would find it very interesting.

KR

Roy

 

As to the faith of the Belgian/Jewish diamond industry workers and their families that were left stranded in nazi-occupied Royan, I would recommend following account: My American Story by Claudine Bacher.

 

That is interesting. One paragraph in Pauk Timbal's account had always saddened me;
Mrs Leoplold Goldmuntz then said, "Why leave ...for the first time since we left Antwerp, we have comfortable lodgings. Besides, I have just given all my washing to the laundry" I have wondered what happened to her.