• Operation Postmaster (1942)
• Special Operations Executive (SOE)

Date of birth:

January 1st, 1905 (London, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

April 12th, 1995 (Isle of Wight, United Kingdom)

Service number:

108938

Nationality:

British

Born in 1905, Winter was an engineer by trade before enlisting in the British Army in 1939 at the age of 34. Despite his age, he quickly proved himself to be a man of exceptional courage and resourcefulness. He volunteered for the Parachute Wing of No. 2 Commando, which later became No. 11 Special Air Service, and was soon recruited into the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a secret organization tasked with conducting espionage and sabotage behind enemy lines.

Winter’s most famous mission was Operation Postmaster in 1942, a covert raid on the Spanish-controlled island of Fernando Po off the coast of West Africa. Alongside Captain Graham Hayes, Winter infiltrated the harbor using collapsible canoes, boarded enemy ships, planted explosives, and successfully captured two vessels along with 29 prisoners. The operation was a resounding success.

He later took part in Operation Dryad, another daring raid that involved capturing German officers from a lighthouse on the Channel Islands.

His third operation, Aquatint, was a disaster and he was captured by German forces. Winter was held at PoW Camp 344 from September 30, 1942 to December 14, 1944.

After the war, Winter returned to civilian life and rarely spoke of his wartime experiences. He passed away in 1995.

?: Company Sergeant Major
?: Warrant Officer Second Class ​

?: Royal Army Service Corps​
? 62 Commando (Small Scale Raiding Force)​
? 2 Bn Parachute Regiment​
? Special Boat Squadron, S.A.S.​
1945: 1 SAS

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• Photo 1: specialforcesroh.com
• - LETT, B.G., Ian Fleming and SOE's Operation POSTMASTER, Pen & Sword Military, 2012.
  - The name's Winter, Tom Winter: Meet the real-life war hero who inspired James Bond
  - The London Gazette

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