The Hornet's Sting_ The Amazing Untold Story of World War II Spy Thomas Sneum - Mark Ryan [59]
How much of this was reported to Rabagliati is not known. But it seems unlikely that Scrivener cut his own throat by relaying the full extent of his and Sneum’s hedonism. Besides, on many of their nights out they bumped into none other than Flight Lieutenant Otto Gregory, Tommy’s erstwhile interrogator in Battersea. Since Gregory was attached to the SIS it may have been no coincidence that their paths kept crossing, but if the dashing flight lieutenant was on a reconnaissance mission to see what Sneum was getting up to, he certainly didn’t seem to find it an arduous task. In fact, despite being ten years older, his capacity for fun seemed to surpass even Tommy’s. Sneum recalled:
Gregory had the most beautiful girlfriends you could imagine. He also had a lot of effeminate men hanging around him, and people used to say he was bisexual. If he was, he never tried anything with me, and I liked him for daring to be so different. He was rather wealthy and I’ve heard he was one of the biggest playboys in London. In that respect we were different. I’ve never been a playboy. I did what I did in earnest.
Although that was a joke, Tommy did remain deadly serious in all his dealings by day, as he continued to take part in conferences with Rabagliati about the Danish situation and the dangerous task ahead. The older man gradually won Sneum’s confidence, even though he didn’t always tell his fledgling spy what he wanted to hear. And Tommy seemed to impress his new boss, even though Mrs Scrivener complained vociferously about the wild young Dane. The fun-loving pilot and worldly spymaster did their best to ignore the old woman, which contributed to such an excellent rapport that one day Rabagliati asked a very specific question: ‘How highly do you rate Christian Michael Rottboell?’
Tommy remembered later how he answered: ‘I liked Rottboell, he was an awfully nice chap. But it was his natural way to be as honest as he could be, he couldn’t lie or do anything underhand. That’s what I told Rabagliati.’
The colonel looked horrified at Sneum’s reply, and screwed up his face. ‘Rottboell can’t lie? But you have to lie. It’s the only way to survive in this game. If you ever bump into him again, don’t tell him anything.’
Of course, Rabagliati had not merely been making conversation when he’d posed the question. Rottboell had ignored Sneum’s instruction to wait for contact from England. Instead, he had used his political connections to reach Sweden by boat and had headed straight for the British Legation, where he had met Ronald Turnbull. On 28 July, the SOE field chief for Denmark had sent his immediate boss in London, Commander Ralph Hollingworth, the following communication:
Young Danish officer named Christian Rottboell visited me this morning with the following story.
He and friends Sneum and Pedersen, former a pilot, have made plans to extricate themselves and 20 flying officers from Denmark.
Sneum and Pedersen flew off in Moth from Flyn one month ago, in an attempt to reach England. They had agreed with Rottboell to send code message on BBC after arrival indicating day and time when RAF Flying Boat could pick up 20 Danes from Tissoe Lake South East of Kallundberg on Sjaelland, which lies in wooded district free from German troops.
Sneum himself visited Air Attaché here some months ago and was handed on to [BLANKED OUT] from CO. This confirmed.
Rottboell says he is nephew of Consul General in England, said to be keen vigorous young man.
Can you check this story? Think I could use R inside Denmark. He has visa for only two days so please reply immediately if you have any knowledge of the matter.
R says they have been listening for message on BBC but nothing comes through.
Suggest checking with Consul General if Nephew is tallying with Brown-Blond