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For example, Hugh O'Flaherty (his nephew) received a letter in 1995 from Sr Noreen Dennehy, a missionary Franciscan Sister, enclosing in turn a letter she had sent on to a Jewish organisation which was researching these events:

I am very happy to tell you that I, personally, worked with Monsignor O'Flaherty in Rome during the tragic war years when he risked his life in order to help the Jews in Rome. Time after time, Monsignor came to our Franciscan Generalate, located at that time in the Via Nicola Fabrizio on the Gianiculum. He often asked us to house the persecuted Jews. Since we had a very large Generalate, we were able to accommodate as many as fourteen or fifteen at any one time. Our Superior General Mother Mary Benignus and her assistant Mother Mary Marcarius who have both since died were very much in sympathy with the Monsignor's efforts in his noble works. It was he who gave impetus to the work: he was tireless in his efforts to help lessen the suffering of the Jewish people. He helped many people to escape hardship and inevitable death.
16

Another similar situation arose in relation to an English-born nun, Sr Maria Antoniazzi. She became a Notre Dame Sister shortly before the Second World War started. The Order sent her to a poor part of Rome when the War broke out and, with support from Monsignor O'Flaherty, her convent became one of the safe houses in the city in which he located many Jewish children. As well as looking after their welfare when they were with her, she provided false papers for the children so that they could be smuggled out. She has been recognised by the Jewish authorities for her work arising out of testimony provided by the Jacobi family, one of the many whom she helped. In a letter to an Italian newspaper in April 1986, Ines Gistron recalls:

Monsignor O'Flaherty placed me and my Jewish friend in a
pensione
run by Canadian Nuns at Monteverde (Rome). We were given false IDs. We lived with elderly women and young ladies, completely separated from the nuns in the cloisters. After the Nazis began searching for Jews, the
pensione
was so filled that the Holy Father ordered the cloistered areas to be opened in order to provide for more refugees.
17

We will never know how many civilians were helped by the organisation but Bill Simpson, the Monsignor's close associate, estimates it to be about 2,000.

All in all, the Monsignor and those whom he recruited and inspired ensured the safety of more than 6,500 people. In anyone's terms this represents a great achievement and is evidence of the wide range of talents which he possessed and of great leadership qualities. It must be emphasised that all the members of the organisation which he established were volunteers, including the British. He assembled a very disparate group including many of his clerical friends – most of whom were Irish, Maltese or New Zealanders – British servicemen, and ordinary Italian men and women very aptly described in Bill Simpson's dedication to his book as those who ‘beyond rational explanation rose during the Nazi occupation from submission to heroism without leaving home.'
18

Each of those who was helping O'Flaherty knew quite clearly the risks they were taking. At the early stages imprisonment was a certainty and as time went on the Germans made it clear that execution would follow for any of those who were caught. Of course, all played their part but O'Flaherty is due great credit for his achievements. In relation to the organisation as a whole, O'Flaherty's closest collaborator – Sam Derry – is in no doubt as to the crucial role played by the Monsignor. In the foreword to Derry's book
The Rome Escape Line
, published in 1960, he comments:

This book has been written unbeknown to Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, CBE: one of the finest men it has been my privilege ever to meet. Had it not been for this gallant gentleman, there would have been no Rome Escape Organisation.
19

In this context, it is quite surprising that there has been no official recognition of his humanitarian contribution by the civil authorities in Ireland at any level whereas, by contrast, half a dozen governments across the world honoured his achievements. While the Irish Government does not operate an honours system like many others do, there are of course options open to it if it wishes to pay tribute to an outstanding citizen. Much has been written in recent years about the fact that those who helped in any way in the British war effort tended to be ignored subsequently by ‘official' Ireland. For example, the historian and broadcaster, Cathal O'Shannon, returned to Ireland after the War, having served in the RAF. He recollects that he was forbidden to wear his uniform by Irish regulation at that time. Quite understandably, he contrasts this unfavourably with the fact that a number of prominent Nazis came to live here during the decades after the War and were well received at all levels of society. Included among these were: Otto Skorzeny, who led the rescue of Mussolini from captivity and was frequently described as Hitler's favourite soldier; Andrija Artukovic who as Nazi Minister for the Interior in Croatia oversaw the extermination of approximately one million people; and one Peter Menten who personally supervised the killing of hundreds of peasants, including children, in the Ukraine. It was not until Menten, having served ten years in prison for his war crimes, announced in 1985 that he was returning to live in Ireland that the authorities finally put a stop to this sad episode.

Monsignor O'Flaherty's reputation undoubtedly suffered from the official disapproval of those who were involved with the British forces. Another definite reason for this lack of recognition lies within O'Flaherty himself. Not only was he a self-effacing man by nature, but it is clear that he did not consider his wartime work out of the ordinary. Sadly, it seems likely that the former factor was the predominant one in this lack of celebration of his outstanding achievements.

In preparation for the Holy Year of 1950 the Monsignor and Bishop John Smit wrote a guidebook to Rome entitled
O Roma Felix
. The book is an amazing amalgam of geography, history, culture and archaeology and, as such, is a very scholarly work and far richer in its content than the average guide book. No reference, of course, is made to the Monsignor's wartime activities or indeed that period in the history of Italy, with one exception: the authors refer to the bronze statue in the centre of Rome of Marcus Aurelius which is the only work of its kind surviving from Imperial times. During the War, the statue was covered to protect it from the effects of bombing and the saying developed in Rome:

Quando Marco torna alla luce
,
Non trova piu né Re né Duce
.

Which they translate to mean more or less,

When Marcus again returns to the light,
He will find both King and Duce in flight.

Which is of course what came to pass.

O'Flaherty was proud of this book and his nephew recalls ‘he would boast about it as the best guidebook in Rome in contrast to his reticence in other directions.'
20
This outstanding book was produced by the Monsignor and his colleague to benefit pilgrims and so he obviously felt it was reasonable to boast about it. By contrast, his work for those who were on the run from the authorities was merely fulfilling his responsibilities. As a Catholic priest he was preaching the word of God and it was his duty to practise it. Clearly, that is how he viewed his work for escapees and evaders. The rest of us, however, must conclude that he fulfilled his mission with extraordinary conviction, ingenuity, courage and compassion for his fellow man. Indeed this was a great and good man.

References
Chapter 1

1.  
Aidan O'Hara,
I'll live till I die: The story of Delia Murphy
, p. 53.

2.  
Ibid
. p. 52.

3.  
Ibid
. p. 53

4.  
Ibid
. p. 95.

5.  
National Archives, Department of Foreign Affairs papers.

6.  
Ibid
.

7.  
Ibid
.

Chapter 2

1.  
O'Flaherty family archives.

2.  
Ibid
.

3.  
Ibid
.

4.  
Ibid
.

5.  
Ibid
.

6.  
Ibid
.

7.  
Ibid
.

8.  
Ibid
.

9.  
Ibid
.

10.
Ibid
.

11.
Ibid
.

12.
Vittoria Sermoneta,
Sparkle Distant Worlds
, p. 261.

13.
The National Archives (UK), War Office papers.

14.
National Archives, Department of Foreign Affairs papers.

15.
Ibid
.

16.
MacWhite Archives: a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs which most probably was never sent.

17.
Sam Derry,
The Rome Escape Line
p.39.

18.
J. P. Gallagher,
The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican
, pp. 30–1.

Chapter 3

1.  
John Keegan,
The Second World War
, p. 288.

2.  
MacWhite Archives, a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

3.  
Ibid
.

4.  
T. J. Kiernan,
Pope Pius XII
, p. 41.

5.  
R. Katz,
Fatal Silence
, p. 23.

6.  
MacWhite Archives, a coded cablegram to Department of Foreign Affairs.

7.  
Ibid
.

8.  
Mother Mary St Luke,
Inside Rome with the Germans
, p. 2.

9.  
Ibid. pp. 2–3.

10.
Ibid
. p. 4–6.

11.
Kiernan, op. cit., pp. 43–4.

12.
Katz, op. cit., p. 43.

13.
MacWhite Archives, a coded cablegram to Department of Foreign Affairs.

14.
St Luke, op. cit., pp. 8–9.

15.
Ibid
. p. 10.

16.
Ibid
. p. 10.

17.
Excerpt from D'Arcy Osborne's diary, cited in Chadwick, Owen,
Britain and the Vatican during the Second World War
, p. 168.

18.
Gallagher, op. cit., p. 32.

19.
Ibid
. p. 35.

Chapter 4

1.  
Sam Derry with David MacDonald, ‘Vatican Pimpernel',
Reader's Digest
, November 1975.

2.  
Sr Noreen Dennehy interviewed by Maurice O'Keeffe in January 2004; CD no. 65 in his Irish Life and Lore, Kerry Collection.

3.  
Gallagher, op. cit. p. 57.

4.  
Ibid
. p.62.

5.  
St Luke, op. cit., p. 26.

6.  
Ibid
. p. 27.

7.  
Ibid
. pp. 28–9.

8.  
Ibid
. p. 31.

9.  
Ibid
. p.33.

10.
MacWhite Archives, a coded cablegram to Department of Foreign Affairs.

11.
Katz, op. cit., p. 84.

12.
Katz, op. cit., p.109. Items in square brackets added by cryptographer.

13.
St Luke, op. cit., pp. 38–9.

Chapter 5

1.  
Derry, op. cit., p. 33.

2.  
Ibid
. pp. 38–9.

3.  
Ibid
. p. 41.

4.  
Ibid
. pp. 49–50.

5.  
Ibid
. pp. 53–4.

6.  
Ibid
. p. 56.

7.  
Ibid
. p. 60.

8.  
Ibid
. p. 62.

9.  
Sam Derry with David MacDonald, ‘Vatican Pimpernel',
Reader's Digest
, November 1975.

Chapter 6

1.  
O'Hara, op. cit., p. 115.

2.  
Ibid
. p. 118.

3.  
Ibid
. p. 119.

4.  
National Archives Department of Foreign Affairs papers.

5.  
Derry, op. cit., p. 64.

6.  
Ibid
. p. 71.

7.  
Interview with Frank Lewis for his
Saturday Supplement
Programme on Radio Kerry, 11 June 1994.

8.  
Bill Simpson,
A Vatican Lifeline
'44, p. 47.

9.  
Ibid
. p. 52.

10.
John Furman,
Be not Fearful
, p. 93.

11.
Gallagher, op. cit., p. 107.

12.
The National Archives (UK), War Office Papers.

Chapter 7

1.  
Simpson, op. cit., pp. 60–1.

2.  
Ibid
. p. 62.

3.  
Furman, John, op. cit., pp. 96–7.

4.  
E. Garrad-Cole,
Single to Rome
, p. 9.

5.  
Ibid
. p.13.

6.  
Ibid
. p.18.

7.  
Ibid
. pp. 89, 90.

8.  
Ibid
. p.103.

9.  
Ibid
. p.104.

10.
Ibid
. p.104.

11.
Katz, R. op. cit., p. 128.

12.
Sermoneta, op. cit., p. 224.

13.
National Archives, Department of Foreign Affairs papers.

14.
Ibid
.

15.
St Luke, op. cit., pp. 74–5.

16.
Simpson, op. cit., p. 75.

17.
Ibid
. p.76.

18.
Furman, op. cit., p. 108.

19.
Ibid
. p.109.

20.
MacWhite Archives, a coded cablegram to Department of Foreign Affairs.

21.
Ibid
.

22.
The National Archives (UK), War Office Papers.

Chapter 8

1.  
Simpson, op. cit., p. 81.

2.  
Ibid
. p. 82.

3.  
Garrad-Cole, op. cit., pp. 86–8.

4.  
Derry, op. cit., p. 97.

5.  
Furman, op. cit., pp. 124–5.

6.  
Ibid
. p. 125.

7.  
Ibid
. p. 126.

8.  
D'Arcy Mander,
Mander's March on Rome
, p. 104.

9.  
Ibid
. p. 105.

10.
Simpson, op. cit., p. 92.

11.
Ibid
. p. 92.

12.
Gallagher, op. cit., pp. 117–8.

13.
Ibid
. p.117.

14.
Ibid
. p.116.

15.
Ibid. p.117.

16.
Derry, op. cit., pp. 108–9.

Chapter 9

1.  
Simpson, op. cit., pp. 124–5.

2.  
Ibid
. p.104.

3.  
Derry, op. cit., p. 115.

4.  
The National Archives (UK), War Office Papers.

5.  
Gallagher, op. cit., p. 120.

6.  
Simpson, op. cit., p. 137.

7.  
Ibid
. p. 138.

8.  
Derry, op. cit., p. 153.

9.  
St Luke, op. cit., p. 101.

10.
Ibid
. p. 94.

11.
Sermoneta, op. cit., p. 235.

12.
Paul Freyberg,
Bernard Freyberg, VC: Soldier of Two Nations
, p. 454.

13.
MacWhite Archives, a diary entry.

14.
MacWhite Archives, a coded cablegram to Department of Foreign Affairs

15.
Roy Jenkins,
Churchill
p. 729.

16.
The National Archives (UK), War Office Papers.

Chapter 10

1.  
Furman, op. cit., p. 140.

2.  
O'Hara, op. cit., p. 107

3.  
Kiernan, op. cit., p. 48.

4.  
Furman, op. cit., p. 174.

5.  
Ibid
. p. 175.

6.  
Derry, op. cit., p. 130.

7.  
Ibid
. p. 141.

8.  
Freyberg, op. cit., p. 40.

9.  
Furman, op. cit., p. 187.

10.
MacWhite Archives, a diary entry.

11.
William Newnan,
Escape in Italy
, p. 39.

12.
Gallagher, op. cit., p. 146.

13.
Ibid
. p.13.

Chapter 11

1.  
Garrad-Cole, op. cit., p.112.

2.  
Ibid
. pp. 113–4.

3.  
Ibid
. p.115.

4.  
Ibid
. p.117.

5.  
Katz, op. cit., p. 234–5.

6.  
Katz, op. cit., p. 226.

7.  
St Luke, op. cit., p. 145.

8.  
MacWhite Archives, a diary entry.

9.  
Katz, op. cit., p. 274.

10.
In conversation with the author, 2007.

11.
The National Archives (UK), War Office Papers.

12.
The National Archives (UK), War Office Papers.

13.
Furman, op. cit., p. 111.

14.
Simpson, op. cit., p. 168.

15.
MacWhite Archives, a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Battle of Actium took place in 31 BC.

16.
St Luke, op. cit., p. 167.

17.
Ibid
. p.171.

18.
Ibid
. p.171.

19.
Ibid
. pp. 171–2.

20.
The National Archives (UK), War Office Papers.

Chapter 12

1.  
MacWhite Archives, a diary entry.

2.  
Furman, op. cit., p. 206.

3.  
St Luke, op. cit., p. 173.

4.  
St Luke, op. cit., p. 174.

5.  
MacWhite Archives, a diary entry.

6.  
St Luke, op. cit., p. 178.

7.  
Furman, op. cit., p. 208.

8.  
Ibid
. p. 103.

9.  
The National Archives (UK), War Office Papers.

10.
Furman, op. cit., p. 209.

11.
Ibid
. p.209.

12.
Ibid
. p.209.

13.
Ibid
. p.211.

14.
St Luke, op. cit., p. 180.

15.
Ibid
. p.184.

16.
Ibid
. p.187.

17.
MacWhite Archives, a diary entry.

18.
Furman, op. cit., p. 214.

19.
St Luke, op. cit., pp. 189-90.

20.
Ibid
. p. 192.

21.
Ibid
. p. 192.

22.
Gallagher, op. cit., p. 171.

23.
Ibid
. p. 171.

24.
Ibid
. p. 171.

25.
Furman, op. cit., p. 218.

26.
St Luke, op. cit., p. 195.

27.
Katz, op. cit., p. 311.

28.
St Luke, op. cit., pp. 200–1.

29.
Harold Tittmann,
Inside the Vatican of Pius XII
, p. 210.

30.
Furman, op. cit., p. 221.

31.
Denis Johnston,
Nine Rivers from Jordan
. p. 251.

32.
Ibid
. p. 253.

33.
Ibid
. p. 250.

Chapter 13

1.  
Johnston, op. cit., pp. 249–253.

2.  
Kiernan, op. cit., p. 46.

3.  
Interview with Frank Lewis for his
Saturday Supplement
Programme on Radio Kerry 11 June 1994.

4.  
In correspondence with the author, 2007.

5.  
Ibid
.

6.  
Ibid
.

7.  
Sam Derry, interview with Frank Lewis.

8.  
Sam Derry with David MacDonald, ‘Vatican Pimpernel',
Reader's Digest
, November 1975.

9.  
The New York Times
, 31 October 1963.

10.
O'Flaherty family archive.

11.
Sam Derry with David MacDonald, ‘Vatican Pimpernel',
Reader's Digest
, November 1975.

12.
In conversation with the author, 2007.

13.
Ibid
.

14.
Ibid
.

15.
Ibid
.

16.
National Archives, Department of Foreign Affairs Papers.

17.
Ibid
.

18.
Sermoneta, op. cit., p. 261.

19.
In conversation with the author, 2007.

20.
Ibid
.

21.
Ibid
.

22.
Ibid
.

Chapter 14

1.  
National Archives, Department of Foreign Affairs Papers.

2.  
Fr Leonard Boyle interviewed by Maurice O'Keeffe in January 2004; CD no. 65 in his Irish Life and Lore, Kerry Collection.

3.  
Tittmann, op. cit., p. 97.

4.  
Ibid
. p.189.

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