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​Glyn Phillips: Operation XX and Me
Alan Payne
September 2019
 
Several readers have mentioned to us an amazing book called Operation XX and Me: Did I have a Choice? [1] It was written by Glyndwr Phillips, a Box child in the Second World War, and the manuscript was found after Glyn’s death in 2015 by his wife Audrey.

​It tells of the wartime adventures of a child secret agent and of his life in Box village at that time. Glyn was chosen to be part of a wartime Intelligence Force whilst at school because of his skill with horses and his photographic memory.
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Born near Bargoed, Wales, Glyn was the youngest of 7 siblings whose family came to work in the stone quarries, just before the war, renting the Coach House, Middlehill and later a council house at Barn Piece. He went to Box School and worked in his spare time delivering bread for Bennie Drew, the baker, and mucking out Bill (Jockey) Peters’ riding stables.

​Right: Cover of the book and Below Glyn in 1951 (courtesy Audrey Phillips and The Self-Publishing Partnership)
​The military authorities noticed him and a man called the Captain arranged with his parents to train him for a mission in German-occupied France to memorise the layout of a prison where the Allies were interested in releasing one captive. Only stable lads were allowed near the prison house and they required to be small enough to access the occupants via a concrete pipe, speaking French and a little German. Aged 14, Glyn satisfied these requirements and was the reserve for the mission. In the event he wasn’t required.
He recorded his memories of joining Box Rovers and playing on the right-wing or centre-forward, attending the local Youth Clubs and going to the Picture House at Hawthorn. He started going to dances at the Bingham Hall. Four years later, he was contacted again and asked by the Captain to identify an informer in a pub who was being fed secret information from inside a military camp.

I never knew Glyn and I can’t decide if the military details are correct or enhanced? Can anyone help with knowledge of Glyn at this time please?

​But the details about Box and its residents give a vivid and interesting picture of the village in wartime. Glyn wrote about marrying Audrey and still playing for Box Rovers to help them win honours two years running in 1955 and 56. He talked about moving house by hand cart and transporting all the luggage from Middlehill, going under the Dirty Arches Bridge, and up the steep slope to Barn Piece. Best of all, are his anecdotes about village life – carrying bucket-loads of water from the spring at Box Church to Bill Peters’ stables.

It is a fascinating read, available as a paperback for £6.99 or Kindle download for £2.99, via Amazon.
​​Reference
[1] Published by Brown Dog Books and The Self-Publishing Partnership, 2019