Alun Davies is fundraising for ABF The Soldiers' Charity

Alun Davies's Fundraising Page

Heros of Crete

on 14/04/2008

Walking in Crete with a village elder

Photos (1)

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Team members:

Chris Paul - John - Mike

Raising money for

ABF The Soldiers' Charity

Charity Registration No. 211645

We are ABF The Soldiers' Charity. We give lifetime support to serving and retired soldiers and their families. They risk so much for us, but for them, it's "just doing their job". In return, we give them down-to-earth help and friendship, with no hassle or bureaucracy. That's what we've been here to offer for 66 years.

Page owner

Alun Davies

RSS

Raised: 71%

Target: £5,000.00
Raised so far: £3,555.00

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My story

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online. This successful expedition across Crete in April 2008 was used as a fundraising opportunity for the Army Benvolent Fund - please read on.

The expedition, which included 3 former officers of the British Army has just returned from a successful Greek Odyssey in which they followed the footsteps of some wartime heros who were SOE officers and Greek partisans.
On 4 April 1944, William (Billy) Stanley Moss, accompanied by Cretans including Manolis Paterakis and George Tyrakis, were secretly landed at night on the south coast of Crete near Tsoustsouros. They were met by Patrick (Paddy) Leigh Fermor who had parachuted into Crete two months beforehand
The SOE band had come together to pull off an audacious operation that was later to be described as one of the most daring exploits of WW 2, to capture the German Commander General Kreipe and to spirit him off the island to Cairo. This year the expedition slept under the same olive trees and in the same remote caves that the original party used.
Kreipe was abducted on 26th April 1944 as he was being driven from his office in Ano Archanes to his residence at Villa Ariadne, just outside of Heraklion. He was bundled into the back of his car which was then driven off by Billy Moss with Paddy Leigh Fermor posing as the General at his side. Weeks later, after avoiding many German search parties, the party was evacuated from a beach on the south coast of Crete. Both Leigh Fermor and Moss were awarded immediate DSOs on their triumphant return to Cairo.
Paddy Leigh Fermor – now Sir Paddy – is 92 and lives in the Peleponese. He kindly gave his support to this expedition and supplied his original maps used during the abduction.
The party included Artemis Cooper, who is the biographer of Leigh Fermor, who walked part of the route through the mountains and slept in a cave. Her husband Anthony Beevor wrote the authorative “Fall of Crete” which chronicles most accurately the German air invasion and the subsequent defeat of the allies.

Alun and his friends followed this route to celebrate the heroism of the original band of British officers and Greek partisans. He hopes to raise money for The Army Benevolent Fund which is the primary charity of the British Army. This charity cares for the needs of serving soldiers, as well as veterans, and their families. The current level of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has increased the work of this charity immensely and your contributions to this worthy cause are very much appreciated.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Army Benevolent Fund will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. If you can donate on line please do so as it is simpler than sending a cheque in the post.

I am very grateful to you for your support - Good wishes

Alun

	What a fantastic effort for a great cause Donation by Gerry Blythe 28/05/08	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	can I come next time? Donation by Nick RUSSILL 27/05/08	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	INSPIRING PROJECT Donation by BRINLEY GROVES 27/05/08	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	Great idea and cause - best of luck Donation by Andrew Reid-Jones 27/05/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Well done Alun; a good effort and a good cause. Donation by Robert Davies 26/05/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Well done Donation by Malcolm McGreevy 25/05/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Well done and welcome back! Donation by Alan Davies 25/05/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Great tale and effort -- well done! Donation by Sir Alan Cox 25/05/08	£200.00 + £56.41 Gift Aid
	Excellent Idea - well done, brings history to life and raises money for a very good cause! Donation by Martin Berkeley 23/05/08	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	As usual a splendid effort. Donation by Bernard Rees 14/05/08	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Well done! Donation by Scott Waddington 13/05/08	£25.00
	You are a star for raising money like this Donation by David \|Bromhead 07/05/08	£100.00
	Well done Alun,super effort for a great cause. Donation by Brian Lakin 06/05/08	£100.00
	Well done Alun, great effort Donation by Ross Flanigan 29/04/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Amazing story - hope feet ok! Well done. Donation by Annie 28/04/08	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	what a moving thing to do - hope you find the right caves! Donation by rev robin morrison 28/04/08	£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid
	best of luck to you Alun, we're looking forard to hearing about it. Nerys & Rob Donation by Nerys Lloyd-Pierce 21/04/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	I wondered where you had got to! Give us a call on your return. Donation by Dan and Sarah Oxberry 21/04/08	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	I was looking for a walking holiday, should have got in touch Donation by Carol Honey 20/04/08	£20.00
	Wonderful effort. Supported the group that annually jumps to recreate the Battle of Arnhem. What a wonderful journey for you, Godspeed. Donation by Denis Campbell 19/04/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Good heart, good feet, good luck Donation by David Pritchard 18/04/08	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	Very best wishes to you all Donation by Warren Lewis 17/04/08	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	Good luck - a spledid cause! Donation by Gareth Williams 17/04/08	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	Brilliant cause. Good luck and hope to hear your tales when you return Donation by Sarah E Fox 15/04/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Yasoo!! Donation by Jonathan Jones 14/04/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Best of luck. Donation by David and Jemima Myrddin-Evans 14/04/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	All good wishes! Donation by Denis & Sue Balsom 12/04/08	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Good luck ! Donation by Keith Dye 11/04/08	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	WISH I COULD JOIN YOU BUT YOU'D SET TOO FAST A PACE FOR ME. ALL THE BEST Donation by JULIAN ROSSER 11/04/08	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Good luck! Apologies stingy donation, I am raising money myslef ofr a cycle to paris, so have donated quiet heavily this year. Have fun! Jx. Donation by Jonathon Poyner 11/04/08	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

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* Total raised online:	£2,335.00
Offline donations:	£1,220.00
Gift Aid plus supplement:	£589.49

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