Secret Agent, Unsung Hero

Young Australian teacher Bruce Dowding arrived in Paris in 1938, planning only to improve his understanding of French language and culture. Secret Agent, Unsung Hero draws on decades of research to reveal, for the first time, his coming of age as a leader in escape and evasion during World War II. Dowding helped exfiltrate hundreds of Allied servicemen from occupied France and paid the ultimate price. He was beheaded by the Nazis just after his 29th birthday in 1943.

Authors:

Peter Dowding is the nephew of Bruce Dowding. He is a prominent Australian lawyer and a former Western Australian Premier. Ken Spillman holds a PhD in history and is a prolific Australian author. His work spans many genres.

Selling Points:

• Uses first-hand accounts to evoke life in France before, during and after the German invasion.
• Dissects the early history of Allied escape and evasion during World War II, highlighting the contribution of Spanish exiles and French Resistants.
• Unravels ties between MI9's exfiltration network and Varian Fry's American project rescuing Jewish intellectuals, artists, and musicians.
• Sheds new light on the duplicity of one of history's most famous traitors, Harold 'Paul' Cole.
• Examines the life of prisoners after the Nacht und Nebel decree and the Nazis' secret use of the guillotine.
• Brings from the shadows a forgotten Australian hero, denied France's highest national honour by his own government's negligence.

Includes 40 black and white illustrations.