| FROM THE BOOK: "PIERCING THE REICH" | | | | FAIRBAIRN AND SYKES FOR DUTY WITH THE |
| AUTHOR: JOSEPH E. PERSICOThey learned the | | | | HOME GUARD, STILL LIVING IN ENGLAND, |
| art of silent killing, perfected by W.E. Fairbairn, the | | | | WRITES:"Of course, we must remember that in |
| legendary British Major, sometimes known as | | | | 1939-45 there were still some 'deadheads' in our |
| "Delicate Dan." Knife strokes taught, should be | | | | forces, officers who had not advanced |
| upward, from the testicles to the chin. The hand | | | | professionally in civil life, and when called to |
| in a "tiger claw" position was most effective for | | | | service life, they were reluctant to acknowledge |
| gouging out eyes. A single sheet of newspaper, | | | | they were 'behind' in knowledge. "This was one of |
| they learned, could become a crude dagger. Fold | | | | the aspects with both Fairbairn and Sykes; they |
| the paper to approximately six inches by two | | | | both openly criticized the Top Brass, for 'Dog in |
| inches. Then fold it diagonally to form a sharp | | | | the Bloody Manger' attitude. These comments |
| point at one end. Drive the pointed end hard into | | | | were, in my hearing, openly said to Staff Officers, |
| the stomach or under the jaw, just behind the | | | | by both Fairbairn and Sykes. And they were quite |
| chin.FROM THE BOOK: "BEHIND JAPANESE LINES" | | | | right, the 'Old Guard' of Whitehall Wafflers who |
| AUTHOR: RICHARD DUNLOPBritish Major Dan | | | | had slept soundly from 1918 to 1939, failed to |
| Fairbairn, who had been chief of police in Shanghai | | | | appreciate how advanced other nations were, |
| before the Japanese capture of the city, taught | | | | compared to Britain, but the worst part was the |
| the Fairbairn method of assault and murder. His | | | | Old Guard were reluctant to allow others who had |
| course was not restricted to Camp X but later | | | | kept abreast of the times to circulate their |
| given at OSS camps in the United States. All of | | | | knowledge. Obviously, this was to protect their |
| us who were taught by Major Fairbairn soon | | | | image. This may well have some bearing on the |
| realized that he had an honest dislike for anything | | | | lack of written work available today, much has |
| that smacked of decency in fighting."To him, | | | | been deliberately destroyed out of |
| there were no rules in staying alive. He taught us | | | | jealousy."ANOTHER LETTER BY PILKINGTON |
| to enter a fight with one idea; to kill an opponent | | | | DATED OCTOBER 10, 1995. HE WRITES:"Following |
| quickly and efficiently," said Ray Peers.Fairbairn | | | | the disaster of the Norwegian campaign, and then |
| had invented a stiletto as precise as a surgeon's | | | | Dunkirk in 1940, Britain anticipated that Hitler |
| scalpel. He wielded it with a flashing, slashing vigor | | | | would invade. Desperate measures were called |
| that invariably proved fatal to an opponent."Why | | | | for, because there was little left in the way of |
| is it so long and thin?" I asked him one day in a | | | | arms or ammunition, also the nation had suffered |
| question period during my own course of | | | | a blow to its spirit. "The Local Defense volunteer |
| instruction. "It doesn't have a cutting edge." | | | | Force became, officially, the Home Guard, a body |
| "It doesn't leave any marks on the body," he | | | | of willing but untrained men, mostly |
| replied. "Scarcely more than a tiny drop of | | | | ex-servicemen from the 1914-18 war. In |
| blood."Fairbairn taught his trainees to fire anything | | | | desperation the Government of the day called in |
| from a pistol to a BAR at close quarters, by | | | | two officers from the Shanghai Municipal Police. |
| aiming with the body. In unarmed combat he | | | | These were Captain W.E. Fairbairn and Captain |
| overcame one hulking trainee after another. With | | | | E.A. Sykes. "I was introduced to these officers |
| a wry smile the wiry major would admonish his | | | | because I had already qualified in Jujutsu to a |
| bruised and bleeding students, "Don't let anybody | | | | Brown Belt. Also I was about the only man who |
| lead you down the garden path."FROM THE | | | | had been taught Kendo and Indian Lathi. Captain |
| BOOK: "THE FIRST COMMANDO KNIVES" | | | | Fairbairn explained he intended to train a dozen |
| AUTHOR: PROF. KELLY YEATON, LT. COL. | | | | men to become instructors in killing tactics, who |
| SAMUEL S. YEATON (USMC) | | | | would then go out to teach other men to |
| AND COL. REX APPLEGATEOn January 24th, | | | | become instructors in the Police, Home Guard, and |
| 1933, he wrote me: | | | | Civil Defense Corps. These would become the |
| "This man Fairbairn is beyond the shadow of a | | | | defense of Britain in the event of the invasion. "I |
| doubt the greatest of "the greatest of them all." | | | | found that Captain Fairbairn was very much in |
| I've had about 12 hours of conferences with him | | | | charge. Captain Sykes had equal authority, and |
| and done a couple of hour's work on the mats. | | | | great ability. He was the finest rifle shot I have |
| His stuff is not jiu-jitsu or judo - he gave us an | | | | ever seen, as well as being very good with the |
| exhibition of judo using five men, two third-degree | | | | .45 Colt 1911 Automatic pistol. Both officers were |
| black belts, two second, and one first, to prove it. | | | | very skilled in unarmed combat also, Fairbairn was |
| He uses some of their falls and a few holds, but | | | | obviously the master of various disciplines and the |
| not more than about 20% of it and most with | | | | first team of 12 potential instructors, including me, |
| variations. It's not Chinese boxing, of which 80% | | | | soon learned to respect both our tutors. "Captain |
| is mere ritual. It's a collection of all the known | | | | Fairbairn was very strict, he insisted that the |
| methods of dirty fighting and it will beat them all. | | | | training he gave aimed at perfection. In |
| He knows it will, he's done it. Judo is to clean on | | | | retrospect, I feel both officers gave us all very |
| every hold a judo man's eyes and testicles are | | | | good ability to impart knowledge to others. |
| vulnerable. But it is awful fast; still, it's not as fast | | | | "Captain Fairbairn was a hard man, so was Sykes |
| as boxing. We proved that, and to the Japanese, | | | | [now called Bill Sykes, but most certainly NOT to |
| at that. Given men of equal speed, it's the man | | | | his face] but he had a lot more patience. They |
| who is not surprised by the others method of | | | | were two different men, of course. 'Bill Sykes |
| attack who will win. We put Sam Taxis [the third | | | | looked like a village person, round faced, he had a |
| Sam] who boxes featherweight now against a | | | | mild look, unlike Fairbairn who looked hard, despite |
| third degree judo man [the punches not to be | | | | white hair, horned rimmed glasses giving him the |
| delivered and the throws not to be carried out] | | | | look of a schoolmaster. Bill Sykes was friendly, |
| and it was a draw. But we had a man hold up his | | | | but never familiar, he would be a bad man to |
| hand as a target and Sammy Taxis put a | | | | cross. Once or twice he did show temper, but |
| one-two on it while a man stood beside the hand | | | | then only for a few moments. "We all learned |
| and tried to grab his hands. All they got was his | | | | Fairbairn was married, but we never learned if |
| necktie. The remarkable thing about Fairbairn is | | | | Sykes was. Apart from his disclosing that before |
| that although he damn near does know it all, he | | | | joining the police, he had been a representative |
| doesn't seem to think he does. If you've got an | | | | for Remington Arms and Ammunition organization, |
| idea, he'll not only listen to you and point out | | | | we learned little about him. He did have medal |
| what's wrong, if anything, but he'll admit if it's new | | | | ribbons on his tunic, as did Fairbairn, but I never |
| to him and as good as or better than his own | | | | tried to remember what these were for. "Sykes |
| current methods."One of the motivating causes | | | | had a very good knowledge of Martial Arts, and |
| for the interest in the fighting knife was the | | | | like Fairbairn, he was physically very powerful, and |
| discovery that even Fairbairn ("The Greatest of | | | | a good boxer. In knife fighting, both Fairbairn and |
| Them all") had no real defense against a knife in | | | | Sykes were excellent. I thought Fairbairn was the |
| the hands of trained fighters. We knew a number | | | | better of the two, he was a Master of the blade. |
| of ways of disarming men with pistols, some of | | | | Sykes was always relaxed, his moon face was |
| them relatively safe. Even trying to disarm a | | | | pleasant but you never knew what was on his |
| person with a knife is dangerous, unless the | | | | mind. He was full of surprises in training. "I did |
| person attacks with the dramatic "assassin's stab" | | | | teach a few hundred people the killing arts, and I |
| holding the knife like an ice-pick overhead. For that | | | | am grateful for the training I experienced with |
| kind of stupidity there is a clear and positive | | | | Fairbairn and Sykes, they were really masters of |
| response, fortunately. But even for the Paris | | | | their craft.FROM THE BOOK: "MAQUIS - THE |
| "Apache's" style coming in low, with the knife | | | | ACCOUNT OF A FRENCH-AMERICAN OPERTIVE" |
| edge upward and aiming at the guts, Fairbairn had | | | | AUTHOR: GEORGE MILLERSuch training in these |
| only two suggestionsA. RUNB. "With a lighting-like | | | | schools had saved his radio operator, he told me. |
| kick of either foot, kick him in the testicles or | | | | When his circuit got "blown" the Gestapo had |
| stomach."But when my brother asked him to | | | | captured his operator, a young Frenchman. They |
| demonstrate this move, "Willie never even got up | | | | searched him, but failed to find the small |
| from his desk he just said, 'You missed the | | | | automatic hidden in a special holster. [Note: a Colt |
| phrase lighting-like I don't do lighting-like any | | | | .380 in a crotch holster] The pistol following the |
| more.'"FROM THE BOOK: "SOE ASSIGNMENT" | | | | rule of his master was ready cocked and at |
| AUTHOR: DONALD HAMILTON HILL"Another or | | | | "safe." When they had handcuffed him they took |
| our distinguished instructors was a tall spare man - | | | | him away in a car. There were three Germans in |
| who looked like a bishop - with steel-rimmed | | | | the car. One beside him in the back seat. The |
| spectacles, a soft voice and wrists of iron. He | | | | radio operator had never fired a pistol except in |
| was Captain Bill Sykes - formerly of the Shanghai | | | | England at the school where he had been taught |
| Police - and he taught unarmed combat and quick | | | | like us to snap shoot at cardboard targets. He |
| shooting reactions such as how to kill four people | | | | was afraid that he would miss. But he was more |
| in a room whilst falling down on the ground near | | | | afraid of what would happen when he arrived |
| the door lintel to make oneself a difficult target. | | | | where they were taking him. Despite his manacles |
| His methods of unarmed combat and silent killing | | | | he opened his buttons, pushed down the "safe" |
| were such that many were able in the years to | | | | lever on his [gun] and brought it to the point |
| come to save themselves entirely owing to his | | | | where it would draw freely. A glance around, he |
| instructions. The Germans in 1942 published a | | | | held his breath, drew, and fired as he had been |
| pamphlet, which portrayed his methods, and used | | | | taught. "Bang-bang." Two holes sprang red in the |
| it in neutral countries to enlist sympathy against | | | | back of the driver's neck. The car overturned. He |
| the diabolical British. 'Our man' in Lisbon picked up | | | | shot the other two.ELSEWHERE MILLER |
| one or two and sent them to me for comment | | | | RECORDS:We were taught to use the |
| with a request for a UK posting, and training with | | | | forward-crouching stance and the quick, snap |
| Bill Sykes."CAPTAIN PETER MASON, A RETIRED | | | | shooting method. Some of us got so accurate |
| BRITISH INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, NOW LIVING | | | | with the pistols that we were like King George V |
| IN CANADA WRITES:"So, E.A. Sykes had far | | | | knocking down driven grouse. The |
| more of an interesting career in the Far East, | | | | French-American danced. His legs were tense and |
| than just being a volunteer special sergeant | | | | springy, but above the waist, except for his |
| attached to the sniper squad of the Shanghai | | | | straight right arm, his body was loosely balanced. |
| Municipal Police! "As to any 'yarns,' I only recall two | | | | As the targets popped up, or darted from one |
| stunts that he performed, and both involved the | | | | screened side of the range to the other, his stiff |
| Government .45 auto. The first was | | | | arm leaped to the horizontal and the automatic, a |
| demonstrated with a proved empty Colt's auto. | | | | blue, shining continuation of his arm, spoke |
| To illustrate how pushing a prisoner along with a | | | | "crack-crack," and again "crack-crack."FROM THE |
| .45 will push back the slide and perhaps disconnect | | | | BOOK: "AMATEUR AGENT" |
| the firing mechanism, should the prisoner know his | | | | AUTHOR: EWAN BUTLER. |
| pistols (!) allowing him to wipe the handgun aside, | | | | EWAN BUTLER, AN SOE AGENT, RECALLES HIS |
| etc., etc. | | | | TRAINING AT THE HANDS OF E.A. SYKES. |
| "And the other example, which I saw | | | | BULTER GIVES A PARTICULARLY GOOD |
| demonstrated, was after we did the combat | | | | ACCOUNT OF THE SOE ASSAULT COURSE AT |
| pistol course, and all were felling rather | | | | ARISAIG, JUST WEST OF LOCHAILORT:This |
| over-confident with the knock-down power of | | | | system involved what was called the "battle |
| the issued Colt cartridge, Bill called a greatcoat-clad | | | | crouch position." The gunman crouched slightly, |
| sergeant over to stand at the fifty-yard target | | | | held the pistol in line with the center of his body. |
| backstop. The 'target' stood with feet about thirty | | | | Soon is became a second forefinger to him. After |
| inches apart, hands in overcoat pockets, and | | | | several periods on a more or less orthodox |
| holding the garment away from his body. A | | | | range, the students were shown quite an |
| loaded 'Thompson' was set at repetition fire | | | | elaborate little village, which lay at the foot of a |
| mode, and Bill tapped-off single shots that struck | | | | steep bluff. At the top of the cliff a soldier stood |
| the center of the man's coat. At each shot I saw | | | | beside a set of levers, which looked somewhat |
| his coat 'flick' and I, like everybody present, | | | | like those in a railway signal-box. The village, we |
| assumed that the bullets just hit the multi-layers | | | | were informed, was full of Germans. It was our |
| of cloth and dropped to the earth. Our greatcoats | | | | business to kill them all. We were given two Colt |
| were double breasted heavy woolen material, | | | | .45 automatics, already loaded and two spare clips |
| with a same cloth lining, plus a heavy-weave | | | | of ammunition apiece. Then, one by one, we |
| horse hair-like spacer, so that's six layers. But to | | | | were to attack each house in turn. The door of |
| this day I wouldn't want to try it!NANCY | | | | the first house sprang open in response to a brisk |
| FORWARD (SOE) (CODE NAME "WHITE MOUSE") | | | | kick, and the signalman on the top of the bluff |
| WHO WAS FAMOUS FOR HER WORK WITH | | | | went into action. The houses were fully furnished |
| THE FRENCH MARQUIS, IS ONE OFTHE FEW | | | | and fully occupied. No sooner had a dummy, |
| SOE AGENTS STILL LIVING. SHE WRITES:"I | | | | impelled by wires, leaped out of bed to tackle the |
| have already told you that Sykes was the | | | | intruder and been shot for his pains, than a |
| instructor who taught me 'silent killing,' amongst | | | | trapdoor opened, "men" emerged from beneath |
| other things. Poor Sykes was forgotten like many | | | | tables, bottles and chairs came hurtling |
| other people in Great Britain, and elsewhere. My | | | | disconcertingly at the gunman's head. Pistols |
| impression of Sykes was very favorable and I | | | | blazing, one dispatched, as one hoped, all the |
| would have liked to have known him better. I was | | | | occupants of the first house, and dashed to the |
| the only female in our class and I remember that | | | | second, where a fresh set of hazards presented |
| whenever he addressed me, or gave me an | | | | itself. By the time I had gone through five houses |
| order, his tone of voice was not so 'crisp' - to | | | | in a matter of forty-five seconds or so, and had |
| coin a common old phrase - 'a thorough gent!' I | | | | been told that I had scored a creditable number |
| have always regretted that I was unable to thank | | | | of hits, I was inclined to feel quite pleased with |
| him for all the things he taught me."BILL | | | | myself. Then came the chilling thought that the |
| PILKINGTON, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST | | | | dummies, however lifelike their movements, had |
| CLOSE COMBAT INSTRUCTORS TRAINED BY | | | | not been armed. |