大象传媒

In the Summer of 1942 I was a young schoolboy of 8 years, living as an evacuee from London with my mother and four younger siblings in Dartmouth, Devon. We were occupying part of a house in a street called Mount Boone, close to the Naval Colletge and with a large downward sloping garden, giving excellent views of the harbour. On the day in question I was on my own , lying down in the garden sunbathing. Suddenly I noticed a man enter the garden via a side passage and look around furtively; since I was lying down he failed to notice me. Suddenly he pulled out a small camera from indide his coat and began to take snaps of the shipping in the harbour. I can only remember that among other craft there was a British submarine moored there. I was old enough to realise that what the man was doing was wrong and I stood up yelling out "What do you think you're doing?". He turned around at a distance of about 20 feet, looking startled, and without a word quickly ran from the garden.
I rushed indoors and found my father who happened to be visiting us. Having heard my story, he immediately contacted the local police station. Within minutes a police car arrived and I was placed in the front with my father sitting in the back. Since I had obtained a clear look at the intruder it was hoped that I would spot him somewhere in the vicinity.
Frustatingly, driving around for about two hours, I was unable to see this individual and we gave up the idea. The policemen asked me to keep my eye open for the next few days and to report any further sightings but despite my best efforts I saw no more of what I assumed was a German spy.
In terms of further activity I can remember a German reconnaisance plane flying over the harbour a few days later and three of our fighters attacking it. The plane was shot down just offshore and a RAF rescue boat brought the three German aircrew to the landing jetty in the harbour where some other children and I were able to boo them heartily. It was probably a coincidence but, sad to say, the British submarine was lost with all hands shortly afterwards. More recently I have neen intrigued to hear that all German agents landed in Britain were apprehended by the authorities before they could become active. I wonder if that is true!

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