The Spy Who Loved: The Secrets and Lives of Christine Granville

by Clare Mulley

  44 Bines, Operation Freston, p. 21.

  45 TNA, HS9/612, SO2 ‘vetting forms’ (13.11.1944).

  46 PUMST, correspondence Perkins/Tabor (23.11.1944).

  47 TNA, HS9/612, MPP/PD/897 (14.11.1944).

  48 Andrzej Kowerski-Kennedy quote in Masson, Christine: A Search, p. 220.

  49 Duncan Stuart, official historian, Special Forces Club (December 2010).

  50 Col Henry Threlfall, quoted in Bailey, Forgotten Voices, p. 258.

  51 TNA, HS4/184, Col Threlfall’s reports on Air Operations from Mediterranean Theatre, Memo to SOM Liaison Staff (12.1.1945).

  52 TNA, HS9/612, ‘Miss Granville, Christine. Financial Arrangements’ (1.12.1944); also HS9/612 (4.12.1944).

  53 Wazacz, No Ordinary Countess.

  54 TNA, HS9/612, ‘FIN/FD/10332’ (25.11.1944).

  55 Ibid., ‘MPF/GEN/473’ (2.12.1944).

  56 Ibid., ‘Folkestone – SOE sub-mission to Polish Home Forces’ (26.12.1944); and ibid., ‘Operation Folkestone’ receipt (23.12.1944).

  57 Kasparek, ‘Krystyna Skarbek’, unpublished manuscript (2011), p. 6.

  58 Kemp, No Colours or Crest, p. 250.

  59 Marks, Between Silk and Cyanide, p. 85; also Kemp, No Colours or Crest, p. 250.

  60 TNA, HS9/612, MPP/PD/1021 (26.12.1944).

  61 Ibid., ‘Folkestone – SOE sub-mission to Polish Home Forces’ (26.12.1944).

  62 Bines, Operation Freston, p. 55.

  63 Peter Solly-Flood quoted in Peszke, The Polish Underground Army, p. 177.

  64 IWM, Gubbins papers, 2/11, Foreword to The Silent and Unseen.

  65 Wilkinson and Astley, Gubbins and SOE, p. 227.

  66 Stanisław Kujawinski quoted in Bailey, Forgotten Voices, p. 264.

  67 Pawley, In Obedience, p. 115.

  68 Tucholski, Cichociemni 1941–1945, p. 260; also HS7/183, SOE History 131, Polish Section, ‘List of Operators dispatched to Poland from Great Britain and Middle East’ (nd).

  69 TNA, HS4/311, L.dz.2986 (31.12.1944); see also Patrick Howarth, interviewed by Jeff Bines, August 2001.

  70 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 278.

  71 Peter D. Stachura, ‘Towards Yalta and Beyond’, in Stachura (ed.), The Poles in Britain 1940–2000, p. 8.

  72 TNA, HS9/612, Draft citation for Kristina Giżycka (Christine Granville) (nd).

  73 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 281.

  74 Bines, The Polish Country Section of the SOE, p. 188; also TNA, HS7/ 183, ‘History: Poland’ (nd).

  75 Celt, By Parachute to Warsaw, p. 20.

  76 Jenkins, A Pacifist.

  77 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 281.

  78 Binney, Women Who Lived for Danger, p. 104.

  79 Martyn Cox, Peter Murray Lee, ‘Our Secret War’ interviews (nd).

  80 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 283.

  81 Ibid.

  82 Cole/Moss papers, correspondence between Harold Perkins and Christine Granville (15.3.1945); copy in TNA, HS9/612.

  83 TNA, HS9/612, Granville to Perkins (25.3.1945).

  84 Ibid.

  85 Ibid.

  86 Cole/Moss papers, Granville/Perkins (15.3.1945); copy in TNA, HS9/ 612.

  87 Pope, ‘Remembering Richard’, p. 98.

  88 TNA, HS9/612, Granville to Perkins (25.3.1945).

  89 Binney, Women Who Lived for Danger, p. 107.

  90 Ibid.

  91 Fielding, Hide and Seek, p. 254.

  15: SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN

  1 Richard Usborne, ‘Our Secret Service’, in Howarth (ed.), Special Operations, pp. 225–6.

  2 Stafford, Secret Agent p. 186.

  3 IWM, Sound Archive, 26813, June Kerr Darton.

  4 Margaret Pawley, Cairo-based FANY, and Ann Bonsor, FANY in Algiers, interviews (December 2010).

  5 Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, O’Regan papers, Leonard Hamilton/Patrick O’Regan correspondence (27.5.1945).

  6 Fielding, Hide and Seek, p. 254.

  7 Pittsburg Post-Gazette, Dorothy Thompson, ‘Major Questions Unanswered by Churchill’ (2.3.1945).

  8 TNA, HS9/612, ‘Citation in respect of Miss Mary Christine Granville’ (10.12.1944).

  9 Wazacz, No Ordinary Countess.

  10 The Telegraph, ‘Pearl Cornioley’, Obituary (26.2.2008).

  11 TNA, HS9/612 (22.1.1945).

  12 Ibid. (nd).

  13 Jenkins, A Pacifist, p. 245.

  14 TNA, HS9/612, ‘F/O C. Granville, Honorary Commission, WAAF’ (5.5.1945).

  15 Ibid., ‘Miss Christine Granville’ (22.6.1945).

  16 Cole/Moss papers, Granville to Gubbins (nd).

  17 TNA, HS9/612, Perkins to Granville (15.3.1945).

  18 Vera Long, Harold Perkins’s secretary, interviewed by Jeff Bines (2000).

  19 Cole/Moss papers, Granville to Gubbins (nd).

  20 TNA, HS9/612, ‘Citation in respect of Miss Mary Christine Granville’ (10.12.1944).

  21 Ibid., Telegram 8140 (11.3.1945).

  22 Ibid. (22.11.1945).

  23 Ibid. (3.12.1945).

  24 Cole/Moss papers, Michael JTP to Christine Granville (27.6.1945).

  25 IWM, Cammaerts papers, ‘Conversation between M. Francis Cammaerts, DSO, and Professor David Dilkes at Le Pouget’ (17.9.2002).

  26 Cole/Moss papers, Granville to Gubbins (nd).

  27 TNA, HS9/612, ‘Christine Granville’ (25.9.1944).

  28 Ibid., ‘Christine Granville’ (30.9.1944).

  29 Cole/Moss papers, Granville to Gubbins (nd).

  30 Fielding, Hide and Seek, p. 254.

  31 TNA, HS9/612, ‘Miss Mary Christine Granville’ (26.1.1945).

  32 Ibid.

  33 TNA, HS9/612, ‘Christine Granville’ (19.6.1944).

  34 Ibid. (27.11.1945).

  35 Ibid. (22.11.1945), also (17.11.1945).

  36 Marks, Between Silk and Cyanide, p. 593; also Wilkinson and Astley, Gubbins and SOE, p. 237.

  37 Stafford, Secret Agent, p. 236.

  38 TNA, HO382/44, Giżycka Krystyna, ‘Application for a certificate of naturalisation’ (1.12.1945).

  39 Cole/Moss papers, Lord Selborne/Home Secretary correspondence (3.1.1946).

  40 Cole/Moss papers, Mr Chuter Ede/Lord Selborne correspondence (1.2.1946).

  41 Cole/Moss papers, internal Home Office note (12.2.1946).

  42 Cole/Moss papers, Perkins/Granville correspondence (nd).

  43 TNA, HS9/258/5, File 8, AD/B to CD (9.3.1945).

  44 Ibid., File 7, F to AD/E (27.3.1945).

  45 Dorothy Wakely, personal letter (April 2011).

  46 Ibid.

  47 TNA, HS9/830/3, JS Nichols memo (29.6.1945).

  48 Cole/Moss papers, ‘Legal permission to Contract a Marriage’ (1.8.1946).

  49 Cole/Moss papers, Perkins/Granville correspondence (19.9.1946).

  50 Picture Post, Bill Stanley Moss, ‘Christine the Brave: Postscript’ (4.10.1952), p. 31.

  51 Ibid.

  52 TNA, HS9/612 (nd).

  53 News Chronicle, Cairo, Victor Azam, ‘Shyest Secret Agent’ (23.5.1947); also Picture Post, [Bill] Stanley Moss, ‘Christine the Brave: Postscript’ (4.10.1952), p. 31.

  54 Cole/Moss, Perkins/Granville correspondence (nd).

  55 Ibid.

  56 Cole/Moss, Perkins/Granville correspondence (7.11.1946).

  57 Ibid.

  58 Ibid. (4.12.1946).

  59 Ibid. (nd).

  60 Ibid. (28.12.1946).

  61 Ibid. (17.1.1947).

  62 The London Gazette, Third Supplement (16.5.1947).

  63 Cole/Moss papers, Perkins/Granville correspondence (21.5.1947).

  64 Pope, ‘Remembering Richard’, p. 122.

  65 Jenkins, A Pacifist, p. 292.

  66 TNA, HS9/612, ‘Report on Christine Granville, known as Pauline’ (22.10.1944).

  67 Cole/Moss papers, Cammaerts/Granville correspondence (17.4.1947).

  68 Ibid. (12
.11.1948).

  69 O’Malley papers, Granville/Sir Owen correspondence (10.4.1947).

  70 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 262.

  71 Wazacz, No Ordinary Countess, Anna Czyzewska interview.

  72 O’Malley papers, Granville/Sir Owen (10.4.1947); also Cole/Moss papers, Sir Owen/Granville (19.7.1948).

  73 O’Malley papers, Granville/Sir Owen (10.4.1947).

  74 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 286.

  75 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 239.

  76 Granville’s medals, mounted in their Spink and Son box, have been loaned for safe keeping to the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, London.

  77 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 240.

  78 Ibid., p. 241.

  79 Ibid., p. 263.

  80 Cole/Moss papers, Threlfall to Granville (4.4.1948).

  81 Ibid., Crawley to Granville (4.12.1947).

  82 Ibid., Sir Owen O’Malley to Granville (4 March, probably 1947).

  83 O’Malley papers, Granville/Sir Owen (10.4.1947).

  84 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 285.

  85 Cole/Moss papers, Sir Owen O’Malley to Granville (19.7.1948).

  86 Ibid.

  87 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 287.

  16: DEEP WATER

  1 Michael Joseph, Charles: The Story of a Friendship (1943).

  2 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 244.

  3 Ibid.

  4 Jan Ledóchowski, interview (April 2011).

  5 Mackiewicz, Two Ladies Die, pp. 321–5.

  6 Ibid.

  7 Krzysztof Dubinski, ‘Like Dynamite’, Beauty magazine (nd).

  8 Diana Hall, daughter of Richard Truszkowski, diary entry for 13.6.1949, private correspondence (May 2011).

  9 Maryś Skarbek, interview (April 2011).

  10 James Gleeson, ‘Stabbed Heroine Told Her Story’, Daily Express (17.6.1952).

  11 Christine Isabelle Cole, interview (May 2011).

  12 Ibid.

  13 Evan McGilvary, ‘General Stanisław Maczek and Post-war Britain’, in Stachura (ed.), The Poles in Britain 1940–2000, p. 64.

  14 Jeff Bines, interview (July 2011).

  15 Mieczkowski, Horizons, p. 124.

  16 Kasparek, ‘Krystyna Skarbek’, unpublished manuscript, p. 6.

  17 Eva Hryniewicz, widow of Shelbourne Hotel manager, telephone interview (February 2011).

  18 Daniel Farson, ‘Riddle of the Woman Pimpernel’, Observer Magazine (20.10.1974).

  19 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 242.

  20 Izabela Muszkowska, telephone interview (June 2011).

  21 Ian Sayer private archive, cheque signed by Christine Granville (2.3.1950); also Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, Christine Granville’s appointments diary (1949).

  22 Izabela Muszkowska, telephone interview (June 2011).

  23 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 290.

  24 Daily Express, James Gleeson, ‘Stabbed Heroine Told Her Story’ (17.6.1952).

  25 Ibid.

  26 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 292.

  27 Howarth, Undercover, p. 84; also Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. xx.

  28 Jenkins, A Pacifist, p. 245.

  29 Ada Tarnowska, telephone interview (June 2011).

  30 Izabela Muszkowska, telephone interview (June 2011).

  31 Maria Nurowska, interview (June 2011).

  32 Bill Stanley Moss, ‘What Makes a First-Class Secret Agent’, unknown publication (June 1952).

  33 Andrzej Kowerski-Kennedy, quoted in Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 237.

  34 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 246.

  35 Cole/Moss papers, telegram George Michailov to Andrzej Kowerski (nd).

  36 Maria Pienkowska, interview (June 2011).

  37 Jan Larecki, interview (June 2011).

  38 Cole/Moss papers, Union-Castle Mail Steamship, Stewardess Uniform guidelines.

  39 TNA, PRI COM 9/1634, Muldowney/Prison Commission and Home Office papers, hospital case paper (16.6.1952).

  40 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 298.

  41 Arthur W. Jacobs, ‘The Little Man Who Loved a Heroine’, Evening Standard (11.9.1952).

  42 TNA, PRI COM 9/1634, Muldowney/Prison Commission and Home Office papers, hospital case paper (16.6.1952); also ibid., JCM Matheson, Principal Medical officer, Brixton prison, to Dr D Hill, Maudsley Hospital (21.8.1952).

  43 TNA, PRI COM 9/1634, ‘Hospital case papers’ (16.6.1952).

  44 Ibid., Muldowney/Prison Commission and Home Office papers, hospital case paper (17.9.1952).

  45 H. M. Edinburgh, letter, ‘The Strange Stewardess’, Picture Post (4.10.1952).

  46 Cole/Moss papers, Mrs MacKinnon to Christine Granville (12.9.1951).

  47 Ibid., letter to Christine Granville (c.September 1951).

  48 Ibid., Aidan Crawley, MP, North Bucks, reference for Christine Granville (1.10.1951).

  49 Ibid., Patrick Howarth Ministry of Local Government and Planning, reference for Christine Granville (15.10.1951).

  50 Ibid., Francis Cammaerts, Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, reference for Christine Granville (15.10.1951).

  51 Teresa Robinska, daughter of Countess Przezdziecka, the Shelbourne Hotel cook, telephone interview (March 2011).

  52 Ibid.

  53 TNA, DPP2/2169, Director of Public Prosecutions, case papers, Muldowney, ‘Statement of Witness, Andrew Kennedy’ (11.7.1952).

  54 Tarnowski, The Last Mazurka, p. 302.

  55 Bill Stanley Moss, ‘Christine the Brave: Postscript’, Picture Post (4.10.1952), p. 31.

  56 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 248.

  57 Wladimir Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Skarbek-Granville’, p. 303.

  58 Ibid.

  59 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 249.

  60 Jenkins, A Pacifist, p. 246; and Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 249.

  61 O’Malley papers, correspondence Kate O’Malley to Sir Owen and Ann Bridge (c.24.6.1952); also Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. 249.

  62 Ibid, p. 251.

  63 O’Malley papers, correspondence Kate O’Malley/Sir Owen and Ann Bridge (24.6.1952).

  64 TNA, PRI COM 9/1634, Muldowney/Prison Commission and Home Office papers, hospital case paper (17.9.1952).

  65 TNA, DPP2/2169, Director of Public Prosecutions, case papers, Muldowney, ‘Statement of Witness, Dennis George Muldowney’ (c.June 1952).

  66 O’Malley papers, correspondence Kate O’Malley/Sir Owen and Ann Bridge (24.6.1952).

  67 TNA, DPP2/2169, Director of Public Prosecutions, case papers, Muldowney, ‘Statement of Witness, Ann (Hanka) Nicolle, Ships Stewardess’ (12.8.1952).

  68 Ibid., ‘Statement of Witness, Andrew Kennedy’ (11.7.1952).

  69 Ibid., ‘Statement of Witness, Ludwig Popiel (18.6.1952).

  70 Ibid., ‘Statement of Witness, Ludwig Popiel (18.6.1952).

  71 Ibid., ‘Statement of Witness, Ludwig Popiel (18.6.1952).

  72 Bill Stanley Moss, ‘Christine the Brave: Postscript’, Picture Post (4.10.1952), p. 31.

  17: BRUTAL END

  1 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. xx.

  2 The Spectator, Patrick Leigh Fermor, ‘The One-Legged Parachutist: Send for a Blacksmith!’ (1.1.1989).

  3 Masson, Christine: SOE Agent, p. xx.

  4 Wazacz, No Ordinary Countess.

  5 Maria Pienkowska, Andrzej Kowerski’s niece, interview (June 2011).

  6 TNA, PRI COM 9/1634, ‘Hospital case paper’ (16.6.1952).

  7 TNA, DPP2/2169, Muldowney, ‘Jósef Tadeusz Kojdecki’ (15.6.1952).

  8 Ibid., Muldowney, ‘Statements of persons not called at Magistrates Court: Irena Krasuska’ (16.6.1952).

  9 Ibid., ‘Michal Perlak’ (16.7.1952).

  10 Eva Hryniewicz, widow of the manager at the Shelbourne Hotel, telephone interview (February 2011).

  11 TNA, D
PP2/2169, Muldowney, ‘G Jennings, Chief Superintendent ‘F’, Metropolitan Police Report, Kensington Station ‘F’ Division (23.6.1952).

  12 Ibid., ‘Central Criminal Court’ (9.9.1952).

  13 Ibid., ‘Andrew Kennedy’ (16.6.1952).

  14 O’Malley papers, Kate O’Malley to Sir Owen and Ann Bridge (24.6.1952).

  15 Jenkins, A Pacifist, p. 254.

  16 IWM, Gubbins papers, 5/1–31, ‘Miss C Granville, GM, OBE’ (nd); also The Times, Colin Gubbins, ‘Christine Granville’ (21.6.1952).

  17 Daily Mirror, pp. 6–7, ‘Drama of Quiet Countess Who Was British Secret Service Agent’ (17.6.1952).

  18 General Register Office, Death certificate of Christine Granville (3.10.1952).

  19 Patrick Leigh Fermor, ‘The One-Legged Parachutist: Send for a Blacksmith!’, the Spectator (1.1.1989).

  20 Pope, ‘Remembering Richard’.

  EPILOGUE

  1 Daily Express, ‘Stabbed Heroine Told Her Story’ (17.6.1952); ‘The Ego of a Murderer’ (12.9.1952); Daily Mirror, ‘Drama of Quiet Countess who was British Secret Agent’ (17.6.1952); ‘Heroine dared me three times to kill her’ (2.7.1952); ‘The man who built his dream world around a Countess – and killed her’ (19.9.1952).

  2 TNA, DPP2/2169, Muldowney, ‘Criminal Court Proceedings’ (4.7.1952).

  3 Ibid., ‘Andrew Kennedy’ (16.6.1952).

  4 Ibid., ‘Aidan Crawley to Hartley Shawcross’ (7.7.1952).

  5 Ibid., ‘Central Criminal Court’ (9.9.1952).

  6 Ibid., ‘Central Criminal Court’ (9.9.1952).

  7 Daily Mail, ‘Kindness Led to Murder: Christine Granville’s Mistake Ended in Death’ (12.9.1952); Evening Standard, Arthur W. Jacobs, ‘The Little Man Who Loved a Heroine’ (11.9.1952).

  8 O’Malley papers, Kate O’Malley/Sir Owen and Ann Bridge (24.6.1952).

  9 Daily Express, ‘Stabbed Heroine Told Her Story’ (17.6.1952).

  10 Karol Zbyszewski, ‘Famous Agent’ (18.10.1975); also Daniel Huillier, Vercors veteran, interview (July 2011).

  11 O’Malley papers, Kate O’Malley to Sir Owen O’Malley (4.3.1953).

  12 Picture Post, Bill Stanley Moss, ‘Christine the Brave’ (13.9.1952 – 4.10.1952).

  13 Wazacz, No Ordinary Countess, Francis Cammaerts interview.

  14 Moss, Gold Is Where You Find It, p. 17.

  15 Christine Isabelle Cole, daughter of Zofia Tarnowska and Bill Stanley Moss, interview (May 2011). The whereabouts of Moss’s manuscript is unknown.

  16 Jan Ledóchowski, ‘Christine Granville’, p. 21.