Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Military Intelligence Section 9 (MI9), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), War Office, British Government

Awarded on:

November 15th, 1945

Citation:
"Pte MESSITIS was taken prisoner by the Germans in April, 1941. He succeeded in escaping from the P/W Camp in which he was interned and, on reaching ATHENS started to work for a British Secret Organisation. This Organisation was disbanded when its leader was captured and executed.
MESSITIS then volunteered to help an English woman who was working for an Organisation for assisiting escapers and evaders. He was able to pass as a Greek without great difficulty, and undertook the task of locating British and Dominion personnel and ditributing amongst them food, clothing and money.
In April, 1944, the agent with whom he was working was arrested and removed to GERMANY. Because he may well have been comprimised, it was suggested that he be avacuated to the Middle East. He preferred, however, to continue his work and joined forces with the successor to the arrested Agent.
For three and a half years Pte MESSITIS gave irrefutable proof of courage of a very high order. Daily he faced the danger of arrest, torture and possible execution. At all times he performed his work woth resolution, enterprise and a complete disregard for personal danger."