Corporal Spencer Francis Tachon
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3324/173
Name: 812180 Cpl. Tachon, Spencer Francis.
Unit: 23rd Field Regiment, R.A., attached 51st (Highland) Division.
Left: Brussels, 20th October 1944.
Arrived: U.K., 20th October 1944.
Date of Birth: 8th June 1914.
Army Service: Since 30th May 1931.
Peacetime Profession: Regular soldier.
Private Address: 71 Mill Lane, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
I enlisted in the Royal Artillery on 30 May 31 and served until May 34. I was then placed on the reserve list until 1 Sep 39 when I was mobilised. During this time I was employed as registrar in the Air Ministry at 22 Gordon Square, LONDON. On 30 Sep 39 I was sent to FRANCE and served as Regimental interpreter and Battery Intelligence clerk with the 23rd Field Regt, R.A. On 6 Jun 40 my C.O. (I do not remember his name as he had only recently been attached to the regiment) received a letter from MARGATE confirming my transfer to the Field Security Police. At this time HOLLAND was invaded and I, therefore, remained with the 23rd Field Regt., until the surrender of the 51st (H) Div at ST. VALERY-EN-CAUX on 12 Jun 40.
We were marched from ST. VALERY to a sorting station about 20 km away where officers and other ranks were separated. The other ranks, who were in poor physical condition were then lined up again. Escorted by German soldiers on bicycles they were made to run to the next camp which was about 16 km away. We arrived at this camp about midnight and were told that no food was available. We set out again about 0500 hrs the next morning and marched about 26 km to the next camp. From this day onwards we received one ladle of soup each morning and night and sometimes a slice of bread. We suffered most from lack of water.
After we had been marching for four or five days we arrived at a camp in DOULLENS (N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 5 N 18). This camp had at one time been a large quarry. About 200 yds from the quarry there was a building that had been a prison and was now used to house the wounded. On learning about the hospital I made my way there. I did this by telling the guard I was an interpreter at the hospital and had come with the M.O. to see some of the sick. I speak fluent French and fairly good German. I was accepted by the French medical officers as an interpreter but six days later I made my way back to the main camp and moved with an outgoing column to ST. POL. I did this because conditions in the hospital were so appalling that I felt I could not stand them.
I left ST. POL (Sheet 5, H 11) by truck and was taken to CASERNE ST. RUTH at LILLE (Sheet 21, H 63). This was a hospital where about 60 British wounded were accommodated. I was again taken before the French medical officers who engaged me as an interpreter. At first civilians were permitted to enter the hospital and many of them brought with them food and clothing. By mixing with these people I was to procure addresses where escapers could be accommodated. While at ST. RUTH I was approached by Gnr. ROBERTS, regiment not known. (Note: This may be Pte ROBERTS, G. 5 K.O.R.R., (S.P.G.(B)428) who was in the CASERNE ST. RUTH about this time. He does not mention TACHON in his report) ROBERTS wanted assistance with escape plans. I gave him and four of his friends every help I could. I made a skeleton key for their cell, advised them how to get out, and gave them addresses of people who were likely to help them.
About mid Aug 40 all the wounded at ST. RUTH were transferred to the 21st British Field Hospital situated at Faculte Catholique, Boulevard VAUBAN, LILLE. Those who were fit were sent to GERMANY. At this hospital I met Lt.Col. WILSON, R.A.M.C., Major KIMBELL, R.A.M.C., and Major CHAPEL. These officers said that they would employ me as a hospital orderly. In the hospital grounds there was a small unoccupied concierge's lodge that had a window looking out on to a side street. As this seemed to offer an excellent opportunity for outside contact it was suggested that the lodge should be used as the officers kitchen. This suggestion was finally approved and Major CHAPEL insisted that I should give him my word of honour not to attempt to escape.
This window became the centre of much activity; hundreds of parcels were passed into the building, many letters were sent in and out and many useful contacts with outsiders were established. This "traffic" was later discovered by the Germans and, after warning me of the consequences, the window was shut and a sentry was posted at the corner of the street. However, the "traffic" continued but on a much reduced scale. The daily news which I received from a helper and translated before passing on to the hospital personnel never failed to arrived.
Early in Sep I was told that a flight sergeant (name and squadron not remembered) who was shot down in a Spitfire over the French coast and wounded in the leg was anxious to escape. I planned, unsuccessfully, to get him away via the window. I then arranged to use the garden gate as the exit. I chose a favourable opportunity when the sentry was out of the guard room took the key of the gate. I unlocked the gates but kept them closed by jamming wood under one door. I fitted the flight sergeant up with civilian clothes and arranged for outsiders to meet him on the corner of the street with bicycles. This plan worked perfectly and I was able to replace the key where I had found it. I had previously arranged that this patient should not be reported missing until three days after his departure. Then only did I spread the rumour that I had seen him walk out of the main entrance. This story was believed and consequently the guard was changed and a stricter watch was kept on the main doors. The garden gate, however, remained an exit for further escapes.
On 1 Oct I was approached by Capt. IRVINE-ROBERTSON, 7 Argyll and Sutherland Hrs., and Lieut GRIFFIN, 2 Dorsets (S/P.G.(F)176/7) both of whom desired to escape. I prepared plans for them and on 4 Oct gave them an address of a friend who was awaiting them. I let them out to the street by the side door, for which I had improvised a key with outside help (Note: Neither IRVINE-ROBERTSON nor GRIFFIN mention their method of escape nor TACHON's name. They did, however, escape on 4 Oct).
On 2 Oct I assisted Lieut. J.M. LANGLEY, 2 Coldstream Guards (S/P.G.(B)213). He was also sent to my friend's house.
On 5 Oct I told Major CHAPEL that I wished to withdraw by parole not to escape. On that day I got out through the window dressed in civilian clothes that I had kept hidden away. I went to stay with a helper in LILLE and remained at this address until 1 Jun. Before leaving the hospital I had been given the address of someone who could put me in touch with Intelligence agents. I visited this woman on several occasions and after I had given her my personal particulars she introduced me to a middle aged gentleman who said he would take me to meet his "chief" from whom I would receive orders and instructions. This man, who spoke good English, did not disclose his identity. Each time I visited the woman who had taken my personal details I took with me information of intelligence value that I had collected in the area. I was assisted in this work by another woman.
From this time until 3 Sep 44 I worked with and organised several groups of the F.F.I. (A detailed account of my work is given in Appendix C to this report.) From 3 Sep until 18 Oct 44 I was employed by Major MUIR who was No.84 Town Major of LILLE. I handed a reference not of recommendation from Major MUIR to I.S.9(W) on 22 Oct 44. I left BRUSSELS for the U.K. on 21 Oct.