Airey Middleton Sheffield NEAVE

Extract from download document from The National Archives. Reference WO 373/100/258
2nd part same reference number

Spare copy for M.S.3

DSO Citation

66518 W/S Capt. (T/Major) Airey Middleton Sheffield NEAVE, M.C., R.A.
Major Neave who escaped from a German Prisoner of War Camp in January 1942 has since been employed in various Intelligence organisations under D.M.I and S.H.A.E.F.
From June 1942 to January 1944 he was with I.S.9 (UK) where his rask was to select, train and drop agents on the Continent to form many of the escape organisations which were so successful in effecting the return to the U.K. of thousands of Allied personnel. This task called for an infinity of patience and hard work at all hours of the day and night; not only that, but in his dealings with the Allied Intelligence Services the utmost tact was necessary. A few months before “D” day it was decided that Allied personnel hiding up in towns should be taken out and grouped together in camps in the country. Major NEAVE drew up plans accordingly and arranged for agents to be dropped to implement them. Camps were successfully established behind the enemy lines near CHATEAUDUN and in the ARDNNES. Almost immediately after the landing on “D” day Major NEAVE, who had now joined I.S.9 (W.E.A.) – a S.H.A.E.F. organisation – proceeded to FRANCE in charge of the operational teams, whose task it was to effect rescue of personnel who were being sheltered in these camps or elsewhere. He himself personally organised the extrication of those in the arnhem whereby some 120 personnel were saved. At a later stage in the campaigne it was mainly due to the coordination of plans by Major NEAVE that a considerable number of airborne troops, who had been out off at ARNHEM, were successfully brought back to Allied lines. In planning and carrying out all his many operations Major NEAVE took constant risks, often going ahead of our front line troops to reconnoitre and launch local agents. He did his work regardless of danger to himself. After the capitulation of Germany Major NEAVE returned to the strength of I.S.9 (UK) and took charge of the Awards Bureau in HOLLAND, where he is still employed in rewarding and recompensing the many Dutch agents and helpers who assisted our escapers and evaders. To Major NEAVE more than to any other single individual and otherwise, which resulted in thousands of Allied personnel in Western Europe returning to Allied hands.