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Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings. Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings. Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings. Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings. Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings. Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings. Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings. Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings. Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings. Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings.

Superb, Rare, Original Special Operations Executive WW2 SOE Original SOE Agent’s 'Suitcase' Radio, Morse Code Signal Receiver A 'Receiver RX', & His Para Wings.

Original items that were used by an ultra secret British Special Operations Executive agent during clandestine operations in German occupied territory. It is accompanied with the original service ‘parachute wings’ of British WW2 Military Medal SOE hero, Sgt. Thomas Edward Vasey Handley,. SOE Agent signals operator and sergeant of Force 133 SOE, and original SOE morse code receiver. Sgt. Handley was eventually captured serving on a top secret mission, tortured and executed by the SS. During World War II, he served with remarkable heroism and distinction, after volunteering for the Special Operations Executive. An effort for which he paid for with his life. We are also offering with his para wings the original SOE agents 'suitcase' radio, morse code signal receiver, a 'Receiver RX'.
The receiver is usually mounted, hidden in a suitcase, or, in a small metal so called 'container box' that was dropped by parachute behind enemy lines. Unfortunately most SOE transmitters and receivers were damaged, and or lost, by this method. It is fitted if combined in the hidden suitcase, below the transmitter and it is the smaller of the two parts. The entire coverage from 3.1 to 15.2 MHz is divided over three ranges that are selected by the WAVEBAND-selector at the left.

To the right of the band-selector is the tuning knob that has two wheels: one for coarse and one for fine tuning. Above the tuning knob is the scale readout that has a magnifying plexiglass lens over it. The official designator is Type 3 Mk.II but the radio is also known as Type B Mk.II, B.II and B2.

Handley's Unit: Force 133 SOE
Rank: Sergeant
Number: 2352299

Serving with the Royal Signals from 1940, it is believed Sergeant Handley was an early volunteer for Commando and operational paratroop training. While serving in the Middle East he was recruited by the Cairo office of Special Operations Executive. In 1943 he took part in Operation Locksmith, a mission intended to block the Corinth Canal. The four man operation was led by Lieutenant Commander C M B Cumberlege, DSO and bar, Royal Navy Reserve. The mission objective was to sink heavy shipping by means of magnetic mines, thus creating block ships. In January the team was landed in uniform by submarine near Poros, Greece, with over two tons of munitions and explosives. While Handley maintained communications with Cairo, ultimately Cumberlege and one other, despite interventions by Italian and German forces, managed to deposit the mines as intended. However it appears the explosives either failed to detonate, or were otherwise ineffectual, as no major vessels were sunk.

Thereafter the team faced treachery from hostile locals, and were ultimately involved in a fire fight with a German patrol which resulted in the capture of one of their radios, complete with secret code books. The detail of what transpired next is unclear, however it is known is that Handley received a message, almost certainly sent by the Germans using the captured wireless set, advising the team of a rendezvous with a Royal Navy submarine. The meeting was a trap which finally lead to the capture of the SOE personnel. Whilst his comrades were sent to prison at Athens, it appears Handley under duress was forced by the Germans to send false messages back to SOE Cairo. However Handley, at great personal risk, managed to insert covert `tells` into these communications alerting Cairo of his compromised situation. Upon being `caught at his own game` taken from the recommendation for Handley`s MM he too was sent to Athens. The men were brutally treated, though contrary to Hitler`s infamous `Commando Order` that captured Allied commandos be summarily executed, were taken to Germany and ultimately imprisoned in the Zellenbau of Sachsenhausen concentration camp. There they were murdered in early 1945.

Handley was awarded the Military Medal while a prisoner of war. The recommendation for the award reads as follows.

MOST SECRET

Sjt Handley as W/T operator with two others under command of Lieut Cumberlege RNR was landed on 14th January ?43 by submarine on the mainland near Poros. Within three days he had successfully opened up wireless communication with Cairo, which he maintained unbroken until mid June.

On 25 Jan the party's hideout was betrayed by a Greek fisherman and quickly, by night, they had to move to a new hideout, laboriously carrying, in several journeys, two tons of mines and explosives, etc, with which they were burdened.

Sjt Handley remained at his post operating the wireless set throughout the time Lieut Cumberlege and CSM Steele were carrying out the operation against the Corinth Canal and the operation of his set was exemplary.
Soon after the return of Cumberlege and Steele from the operation, that is on the 9th April 43, Handley and another were surprised and captured by the enemy. Cumberlege and Steele managed to shoot their way out. From then until mid June Handley continued to operate the set to Cairo for the enemy. He passed over many messages which were an enemy attempt to find out what the partys object had been. Clearly this indicated that the enemy had been sending the messages covertly?..

According to an account by Harry Day:

Cumberlege and his Army sergeants, including Handley, after two years in the Bunker, were taken to Station Z where they were told to strip for medical examination. One by one they passed into they where a gramophone played gaudy music. As each stood against the height? measuring apparatus and the slide touched his head, he was automatically shot in the back of the neck by a pistol hidden in the slide.

Thomas Edward Handley was awarded the Military Medal. We show in the gallery his medal group that was sold by his family, with his photo and paperwork in 2014. They are not included with this sale. Please Note his Para wings are clearly visible on his tunic below his right shoulder in his photograph in tropical uniform in the gallery. Photgraphs of this receiver show it within its metal protective case and also the outer case removed to show the internal valves etc. Another photo in the gallery of a complete SOE suitcase radio in the Imperial War Museum. Two items for sale, not including his medals, photo of his medal shown for illustration purposes only.

Code: 21537