COLONEL BRITTON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 197, 2 June 1945, Page 3

COLONEL BRITTON

IDENTITY NOW REVEALED. MEMBER OF 8.8. C. STAFF MAN WHO POPULARISED “V” SIGN. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, June 1. The 8.8. C. has disclosed the identity of Colonel Britton, the mystery radio leader who played an important part in building the resistance movement in Europe in the dark days of the Avar, and Avho popularised the “V” sign. He is Mr Douglas E. Ritchie, director of the European Ncavs Department of the 8.8. C. Mr Ritchie Avas chairman of the committee set up to co-ordinate resistance broadcasts, and he was chosen to broadcast messages in English before they Avere repeated in a Continental language suitable to the particular broadcast. His broadcasts on the “V” sign Avere followed by the “V” sound, which caused serious alarm among the Germans and even led to the closing of certain areas of the French coast Avhere invasion Avas feared. They also attempted to counter the effect of the broadcasts by claiming that the “V” signs chalked on walls and pavements in Europe represented faith in German victory. After the actual invasion of Europe, Mr Ritchie’s voice Avas still heard broadcasting messages to the resistance groups on the Continent.