Leslie Fernandez
Encyclopedia
Captain Leslie Percival Fernandez OBE
, MM
, C de G
, (22 March 1918 – 16 July 2009) was an officer in Special Forces
during the Second World War who had risen from the ranks. He was notable for having trained Violette Szabó
, made famous by the 1958 film Carve Her Name with Pride
starring Virginia McKenna
, on which he was an advisor.
Fernandez started the war with the Royal Signals but soon transferred to the Army Physical Training Corps
, which brought him into contact with SOE agents.
In early 1943, as a Colour Sergeant Major
, he moved to Military Operations 1 based in Algiers to train for sabotage operations in southern France. In July 1944, Fernandez was dropped by US Air Force Liberator
onto a plateau above Barcelonette, near Digne on the French-Italian border. The area has a strategically important pass called the Col de Larche
(Italian Maddalena Pass) between the Cottian Alps
and the Maritime Alps
. Work to disrupt the possibility of a German counterattack against the US forces on the French side included blowing up the road in the Col de Larche, which remained blocked for two years. For this, Fernandez was awarded the Military Medal.
In December 1944, Fernandez received an Emergency Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with Special Forces and worked with the Italian partisans as a British Liaison Officer. He was also BLO with the 6th Airborne Division in the Baltic
before joining as Staff Officer PT to the 1st Allied Airborne
Group HQ in London.
In 1947 he was listed as an officer with the rank of Lieutenant with the Regular Army Reserve of Officers with the Devonshire Regiment as poart of the Wessex Brigade
. He received an extension on the reserve list as Captain on 18 December 1950, which was renewed on 25 February 1954. He resigned his commission on 1 July 1959, retaining the honorary rank of Captain.
Meanwhile, Fernandez had joined the British Foreign Service in intelligence, working mainly in Africa and the Middle East. He became Her Majesty
's Consul
at Seville
on 4 July 1969 and later Algeciras
when he was appointed OBE. On retirement from diplomatic service
he joined a shipping company.
LESLEY FERNANDEZ was parachuted at Seyne les Alpes above Barcelonnette as quoted in the article above.His war surname was then RODOLPHE (Today more than 60 years later all those who new and fought with "Rodolphe" remember him very well and have great admiration for all he did in the Ubaye valley to help the FFI) He was picked up by French partisans and met CHARLOTTE FRANQUEBALME. She was their link and would bring up through the mountains food and material to the resistance.War, fear and the wonderful partisan team bought them together. They had a civil wedding in July 1945 in Marseilles and left for England by boat. A priest happened to be on the same journey and proceeded to a religious wedding.This is a most beautiful romantic story. Rosemary their first child was born in 1946, then came Nicholas in 1949 followed by Leslie in 1951. They divorced in 1957 and although Charlotte came back to France Lesley did see his children and made them travel throughout the world as he had entered by then the diplomatic service.First trip on school holiday to Iran. Then Rosemary spent more than a year in KUWAIT and had an incredible journey return with him through the desert, Saudi Arabia, Jordany, Syria, Lebanon etc. Nicholas and Leslie spend also their school holidays in Kuwait. Lesley married in 1963 Elizabeth Covington who had two children from a previous union with Eric Howard. Lesley and Elizabeth never had children together. I am Rosemary Fernandez and in the name of my brother and sister am very proud to write this article in memory of our father.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Leslie_Fernandez"
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
, C de G
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, (22 March 1918 – 16 July 2009) was an officer in Special Forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
during the Second World War who had risen from the ranks. He was notable for having trained Violette Szabó
Violette Szabo
Violette Reine Elizabeth Bushell Szabo, GC, was a Second World War French-British secret agent.-Early life and marriage:...
, made famous by the 1958 film Carve Her Name with Pride
Carve Her Name with Pride
Carve Her Name with Pride is a 1958 British drama film based on the book of the same name by R.J. Minney. Set during World War II, the film is based on the true story of the heroism of Special Operations Executive agent Violette Szabo, with Virginia McKenna in the lead role.The film includes the...
starring Virginia McKenna
Virginia McKenna
Virginia A. McKenna OBE is a British stage and screen actress, author and wildlife campaigner.-Early career:McKenna trained as an actress at the Central School of Speech and Drama then worked on stage in London's West End theatres before making her motion picture debut in 1952...
, on which he was an advisor.
Fernandez started the war with the Royal Signals but soon transferred to the Army Physical Training Corps
Army Physical Training Corps
The Royal Army Physical Training Corps is the British Army corps responsible for physical fitness and physical education. Its members are all Royal Army Physical Training Corps Instructors ....
, which brought him into contact with SOE agents.
In early 1943, as a Colour Sergeant Major
Colour Sergeant
Colour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
, he moved to Military Operations 1 based in Algiers to train for sabotage operations in southern France. In July 1944, Fernandez was dropped by US Air Force Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
onto a plateau above Barcelonette, near Digne on the French-Italian border. The area has a strategically important pass called the Col de Larche
Maddalena Pass
The Maddalena Pass is a high mountain pass between the Cottian Alps and the Maritime Alps, located on the border between Italy and France. It connects Barcelonnette in France with Cuneo in Italy...
(Italian Maddalena Pass) between the Cottian Alps
Cottian Alps
The Cottian Alps are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between France and Italy...
and the Maritime Alps
Maritime Alps
The Maritime Alps are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between the French département Alpes-Maritimes and the Italian province of Cuneo. The Col de Tende separates them from the Ligurian Alps; the Maddalena Pass separates them from the Cottian Alps...
. Work to disrupt the possibility of a German counterattack against the US forces on the French side included blowing up the road in the Col de Larche, which remained blocked for two years. For this, Fernandez was awarded the Military Medal.
In December 1944, Fernandez received an Emergency Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with Special Forces and worked with the Italian partisans as a British Liaison Officer. He was also BLO with the 6th Airborne Division in the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
before joining as Staff Officer PT to the 1st Allied Airborne
First Allied Airborne Army
The First Allied Airborne Army was an Allied formation formed on 2 August 1944 by the order of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The formation was part of the Allied Expeditionary Force and controlled all Allied airborne forces in Western...
Group HQ in London.
In 1947 he was listed as an officer with the rank of Lieutenant with the Regular Army Reserve of Officers with the Devonshire Regiment as poart of the Wessex Brigade
Wessex Brigade
The Wessex Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the regular infantry battalions of the Wessex area of south and south west England....
. He received an extension on the reserve list as Captain on 18 December 1950, which was renewed on 25 February 1954. He resigned his commission on 1 July 1959, retaining the honorary rank of Captain.
Meanwhile, Fernandez had joined the British Foreign Service in intelligence, working mainly in Africa and the Middle East. He became Her Majesty
Majesty
Majesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin maiestas, meaning "greatness".- Origin :Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else...
's Consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
at Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
on 4 July 1969 and later Algeciras
Algeciras
Algeciras is a port city in the south of Spain, and is the largest city on the Bay of Gibraltar . Port of Algeciras is one of the largest ports in Europe and in the world in three categories: container,...
when he was appointed OBE. On retirement from diplomatic service
Diplomatic service
Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to other countries...
he joined a shipping company.
LESLEY FERNANDEZ was parachuted at Seyne les Alpes above Barcelonnette as quoted in the article above.His war surname was then RODOLPHE (Today more than 60 years later all those who new and fought with "Rodolphe" remember him very well and have great admiration for all he did in the Ubaye valley to help the FFI) He was picked up by French partisans and met CHARLOTTE FRANQUEBALME. She was their link and would bring up through the mountains food and material to the resistance.War, fear and the wonderful partisan team bought them together. They had a civil wedding in July 1945 in Marseilles and left for England by boat. A priest happened to be on the same journey and proceeded to a religious wedding.This is a most beautiful romantic story. Rosemary their first child was born in 1946, then came Nicholas in 1949 followed by Leslie in 1951. They divorced in 1957 and although Charlotte came back to France Lesley did see his children and made them travel throughout the world as he had entered by then the diplomatic service.First trip on school holiday to Iran. Then Rosemary spent more than a year in KUWAIT and had an incredible journey return with him through the desert, Saudi Arabia, Jordany, Syria, Lebanon etc. Nicholas and Leslie spend also their school holidays in Kuwait. Lesley married in 1963 Elizabeth Covington who had two children from a previous union with Eric Howard. Lesley and Elizabeth never had children together. I am Rosemary Fernandez and in the name of my brother and sister am very proud to write this article in memory of our father.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Leslie_Fernandez"