I came across Lt Bromage while I was researching another POW and was surprised to read about this ! ... why do these things always surprise me ?? Statement from Lieu Bromage
Schurch There is a lot of information regarding Schurch at T.N.A. He was associating with Italian Fascists in London prior to WW2. The security Services were well aware of his activities and approved his application to join the Army.They must have thought it would be easier to monitor his activities. Tom Swallow,the joint author of "Flywheel"was Company Clerk for 14 Coy R.A.S.C. and knew Schurch very well as they worked together in the Coy. Office. Tom describes him as a rogue who sold off such things as Tyres to the locals. He was sent up the Desert after being caught stealing the Officers Whiskey. The name"Captain Richards"was one originally typed by Shurch on a forged leave pass that he used to visit a Fascist contact. During the retreat to El Alamein there were men from 14 Coy left at Mersa Matruh. Tom Volunteered to take a lorry and pick them up. He was caught by the Germans and eventually finished in the Cage at Benghazi. During a conversation with members of Special Forces in the Cage Schurch walked by and exchanged greetings with Tom. This was when Tom was told that Schurch had been interrogating P.O.W. whilst dressed as an Italian Officer. Next day Tom was shipped out. Schurch was occasionally used in such a role by both the Germans and Italians. Bromage met him in Rome in a Camp for Officer P.O.W.but Schurch was first reported by Lt.Cdr.McGeogh(later Admiral)as a stool pigeon. The stangest thing about the man and his activities was that he was of Swiss Jewish descent. Lt J.H.Brommage has turned up in my research into my Fathers Death in 1942 as he Commanded the Submarine that sank the S.S.Scillin. Brian
