John Goldsmiths wartime exploits are remarkable considering that at first his services were consistently refused. In 1942 he was recruited into Buckmasters F Section of the Special Operations Executive. His faultless French and upbringing in Paris were to prove invaluable. After intensive training he was parachuted into France for the first of his three missions.His adventures included crossing the Pyrenees, sabotage, forming his own circuits, being captured by the Gestapo, a daring escape and black-marketeering. In 1944, he was advisor to the Maquis in the Mont Ventoux area where they fought the Germans in pitched battles and won.
