Kris |
Her
parents always said that Amelia was born prematurely
because she just couldn’t wait to get on with
her life. Spoiled rotten by her doting parents, Amelia
could do no wrong.
Even when she was tearing about the countryside on a motorbike laughing loudly
in a most unladylike way with her hair streaming behind her, the neighbours tended
to make allowances, her great beauty stifling any attempts they made to be stern
and unforgiving of her behaviour.
With
a World War threatening to change her carefree way
of life and following the loss of her beloved brother
Peter in 1941, Amelia determined that she would do
something about it and make a difference.
Still incredibly young, Amelia scammed her way into a job in the American embassy
and when rumbled, was immediately recruited by the O.S.S (the precursor to
the C.I.A.).
One of the youngest operatives they had ever recruited, Amelia was sent straight
out to Cairo to charm secrets from both allied and German troops plus political
'persons of interest' in order to keep America 'ahead of the game'.
Her contact in Egypt was the shifty looking owner (pictured) of a well frequented
and famous bar. This is where she primarily operated from as her apartment
was conveniently situated just above the premises.
Her parents continued to believe her cover story, that she was working as a
secretary in London and never knew how much Amelia's contribution was critical
to the Allied success in North Africa and post war politics.
Towards the end of the war, Amelia met her husband Benjamin who managed to
tame her wild ways and they settled down quickly, marrying in 1946 (just ahead
of the birth of their first son, Edward).
Amelia died in 2010 at the grand age of 84, five years after her beloved Ben
and leaving 3 children, 3 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
None of them ever knew anything about her role in the war until after her death
when she left her wartime journals to her great granddaughter Rachel who, wickedly,
reminded her so much of herself at that age!
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