Colonial Police SOE to Palestine Police - Bill Pilikington an Enigma

[Deelibob]

I thought that this group to amongst other things a Colonial Policeman(albeit a specialised one) may be of interest to fellow medal collectors.

I met Bill many times in Liverpool and he would regale me and others with his tales of Daring do, from training her Majesty Princess Elizabeth in Martial Arts during WWII to His work in the SOE, including killing an old lady who was about to give him breakfast ( and betray him) and as Scaffold Officer at executions, once producing from a supermarket bag a rope noose complete with metal eyelet and label with deceased's name thereon. He would say very little of his covert work in Palestine and a close friend of his informed me that Bill was still on a hit list. Much has been written on Bill and Roy Farran (Author of Winged Dagger) and can be accessed on the internet, a read I recommend.

The photo is of Bill being invested with the BEM for his work for Charity as a Ghost Hunter, he would spend the night at haunted locations for monies donated to charity in Altrincham.

The medal are DCM a copy and named to Bill as a Pte in RE,BEM,39-45 star,Africa Star with 1st Army Clasp,Defence Medal, War Medal with mention in Despatch leaf, General Service Medal clasp Palestine to Bill as Pte in RE, Civil Defence Medal for service as Aux.Fireman,St Johns LS&GC with 3 clasps to Bill as a Superintendent.

It has been difficult to trace records of the DCM but it has to be remembered that many were gazetted to a pseudonym to protect identity. His service with Ferran and in Palestine Police is verified.