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By courtesy of Egyptian State Broadcasting and the BBC the story of King George of Hellenes escape from Crete is told by the commander of the New Zealand platoon who escorted the King of Greece, Prince Peter, The Greek Prime Minister, The Head of the Bank of Greece together with other members of the Royal Party across Crete.
Lieutenant W. H. Ryan was ordered by the General officer Commanding to guard the King's residence and if necessary move with him if it was decided to remove him from Crete.
The King was shifted into the Prime Ministers house and the next morning troop-carrying gliders and paratroops came. It became necessary to move the party to the hills. A patrol was sent back to the house to check out what had happened. The main party had a sleep while they waited for the patrol to return. The patrol advised on its return that the whole area was in German hands so a decision was made to go across the 8000ft mountains to the south coast.
DAT117 Tk29