• Monuments Men
• Operation Albumen
• Special Operations Executive (SOE)

Date of birth:

April 12th, 1911 (Hobart/Tasmania, Australia)

Date of death:

March 31st, 1955

Service number:

137479

Nationality:

Australian

Thomas Dunbabin was the son of journalist Thomas Dunbabin Sr. He excelled academically at Sydney Church of England Grammar School and later at the University of Sydney, earning top honors in classical languages.

He continued his studies at Oxford’s Corpus Christi College, winning the Haigh Prize and becoming Reader in Classical Archaeology and Fellow of All Souls, specializing in Greek colonization in Italy. In 1936, while assistant director of the British School at Athens, he became engaged to Adelaide Doreen Delacour. They married in 1937 and had two children.

In 1940, Dunbabin was a cadet officer at 168th O.C.T.U.

During WWII, Dunbabin served as a lieutenant colonel in the SOE, operating behind enemy lines in Crete. Known by the codename “Yanni,” he became senior British liaison officer to the resistance in 1942, earning the DSO for his efforts. He played a key role in maintaining unity among rival partisan groups and participated in the capture of German General Heinrich Kreipe in 1944. He also played a key role in keeping the Tympaki aerodrome from operating. In 1945, Dunbabin was transferred to Athens where he worked as the director of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section in Greece.

After the war, he returned to Oxford as Reader in Classical Archaeology. His research on oriental influences in early Greek culture led to his major work, The Western Greeks (1948). A memoir of his wartime experiences was published in 2015.

Thomas Dunbabin died of pancreatic cancer on 31 March 1955, aged 43, survived by his wife, children, and father.

Promotions:
13 June 1940: Lieutenant
1 January 1949: Major (Hon. Lt. Col.)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Captain

Unit:

Force 136, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

October 15th, 1942

"CRETE: This officer was infiltrated to the Island in April, 1942, and he is still there.

He is working under extreme difficulties in territory occupied by GERMAN and ITALIAN forces.

Most valuable reports have been received from him and he has been responsible for maintaining the closest cooperation with the local inhabitants and for carrying out subversive activities against the enemy who has been compelled to keep large forces in the Centre of the Island."

[It is requested that, should the award be made, there should be no publicity for security reasons]

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit:

Force 136, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

January 16th, 1948

• Photo 1: Monuments Men and Women Foundation
• - DSO recommendation
  - The London Gazette 13-10-1942
  - The London Gazette 16-01-1948
  - The London Gazette 25-6-1940
  - The London Gazette 20-5-1949
  - The London Gazette 18-2-1941
  - National Archives

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Tympaki Airbase

Tympaki - Kriti

Operation Albumen

Monuments Men

Special Operations Executive (SOE)