22 May OSS Headquarters London
One of my important destinations while in London this month was Grosvenor Square, in the exclusive Mayfair district of the city. This is where during World War II most of the Americans who weren’t just passing through (and many of those who were!) could be found.
Of course in the past sixty-five-plus years much has changed. The U.S. Embassy at that time was at 1 Grosvenor Square, the office of our Ambassador to Britain, John Gilbert Winant. That building presently houses the Canadian Embassy. Currently the Embassy of the United States, newly built in 1960, is right across the Square. Plans are underway that it will be relocated again from Mayfair to Nine Elms, Battersea, on the south bank of the River Thames.
What I wanted to find most of all was the address for the main OSS headquarters. The address I was looking for was 70 Grosvenor Square but the numbers on the Square didn’t go that high. The doorman at the Canadian Embassy confirmed that they went no higher than 50. He suggested I try Grosvenor Street or Grosvenor Hill.
70 Grosvenor St. in Mayfair, London. Just east of Grosvenor Square Garden. You can barely read the “70” to the left of the door.
My son and I walked up Grosvenor Street until we found #70. I took a picture but still wasn’t sure because it was not right with all the other buildings that were “important” at the time.
When we got back to our room and I did a little digging in my documents, I discovered that yes, we were right to look for #70 (or 72) Grosvenor Street. Likely, the addresses were combined during the war. In an article at the CIA website, I read that the London office was located at 72 Grosvenor Street. In William Casey’s book, The Secret War Against Hitler, page 22, Casey wrote that (David) “Bruce gave me an office in his command suite at 70 Grosvenor Street which houses the OSS European headquarters. The five-story brick office building was smack in the middle of the war-time American compound in London. It was halfway down the street from the U.S. Embassy … Our headquarters was bland, grey, nondescript.”
Casey was right. #70 has a new door of course, but it is definitely a blah, compared to so many of the other Mayfair addresses on the street.
Very fitting for its purpose, planning for and putting into place the intelligence efforts of wartime Europe.
Unpretentious but “heavily guarded inside the front door.”
Other Grosvenor Square Photos:
1 Grosvenor Square
John
Posted at 11:15h, 23 MayI used to drink the odd pint of beer with LtCol William (Bill) Casey (CO, OSS London) at the Special Forces Club (at No 8 near Hans Cres & Harrods) whenever we were there at the same time – he lived in the US, I live in the north west of Engand.
For some years my pal and I used to go there for the first Thursday in the month – an excuse for a get together. My chum, (Sgt) Bill Pickering who’s in Portugal right now on a 3 weeks holiday was with N0 1 Special Force SOE, (CO was Col Douglas Dodds-Parker) out of Algiers, later they moved to Monopoli. This was when he was dropped into the Piermonte Region (lower alps) with Lt Col Max Salvadori – who later became a professor at one of the US universities, could be Smith Uni.. I forget which… although he was born and bred in Italy.
You should read Bill’s book, “Bandits of Cisterna” – it relates his adventures playing ducks and drakes with the local German soldiers and the local Senorita’s – well, he was 20 years old and jolly good looking.
You should be able to find a clean used copy on Amazon for a few dollars (I’m in it too 🙂
Pity you didn’t know about the SOE Club, I feel sure they would have invited you in for a cup of tea had you eplained your connection , we’ve had many OSS , CIA and others as members over the years.
Another friend was Grp Capt Ken Batchelor, RAF no longer around sad to say… a lovely man and a true English gentleman (like Douglas DP above). He flew Halifax heavies on bombing runs – and B24’s on special ops for a time. He was the RAF officer totally responsible for the statue of Bomber Harris in the City. Harris initiated the thousand bomber raids over Germany – Dresden being one of them.
All the best with your book
John Styals
Pat
Posted at 13:38h, 23 MayJohn, I am honored that you have commented here. I will certainly order the book and will look for you in it! And yes, it would have been the ultimate coup to have had tea at the SOE Club! I thank you so much for your encouragement! Pat
Jim Catalano
Posted at 19:59h, 23 JuneMy late Father was stationed at OSS headquarters in London from 1944-45. He mentioned in his letters that his workplace was on Grosvenors Street directly across for two famous women’s stores, Ann Taylor and Jacqmar. Were those stores still there when you visited the site?
Pat DiGeorge
Posted at 13:35h, 01 JulyJim, I didn’t see those stores across the street but they certainly might have been there during the war. There are many upscale shops in the area including Selfridges just a couple of blocks away on Oxford St.
jeremy kewley
Posted at 12:14h, 29 OctoberI am researching details of colonel lewis m gable O.S.S.London Office can you help?
Pat DiGeorge
Posted at 15:58h, 24 NovemberThank you for your comment, Jeremy. I have sent you a private message. Good luck with your research!
Nancy Flood
Posted at 17:27h, 23 JulyHi Pat,
I’ve enjoyed your posting very much. My dad, James A. Flood, JAG, (1909-1962) was stationed at this office while serving in London. Having gone to Fordham College with Mr. Casey he was visited by him on occasion in London and treated at the Savoy. A major treat for sure. My dad returned to the US in Feb. of 1946 and then worked as a civilian lawyer at the infamous Fort Deitrick in MD, in the Biological and Chemical Warfare division of the then Department of War.
I’m one of 8 children and since our Dad died so young we are always searching for clues about his life. If by any chance you have any tips on how to proceed, I’d greatly appreciate them. My Dad was from the Bronx, very tall, outgoing and in possession of an old New York accent. “H” was Hatch, and “oil” was ‘Earl”. He attended Fordham College & Law School at night while working for insurances carriers during the day. Thank you for reading this. I am, Nancy Flood ). Best.
Pat DiGeorge
Posted at 09:22h, 24 JulyThank you, Nancy. I am sending you a personal message. My mother never worked at this office, but I am sure she visited there. She was in the X-2 building on Ryder St. This part of my research was so exciting. I would love to be doing it all over again. THANKS, Pat DiGeorge
Jeremy Crampton
Posted at 18:13h, 25 NovemberThe OSS Map Division also maintained offices at 51 Grosvenor St. In one report they provide a floor plan of both the 1st and 2nd floors (can provide if you like). They say they had about 2800 square feet. Would be interesting to drop in and compare the floor plans to today! Seems to be the Qatar National Bank office today.
Noel Thompson
Posted at 04:07h, 11 NovemberMy dad was Cyril S “Tommy” Thompson, was OSS in London. Assigned as G 2 military intelligence to Patton. He died aged 51 and I did not know much about his time in OSS. My mother was British and in SOE, married my dad in London 1944. Interested in reading the London OSS files, while visiting the U.K. any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Pat DiGeorge
Posted at 14:52h, 11 NovemberThank you, Noel. I am sending a private message. Here is one suggestion: As a descendant of a member of the OSS, you can join the OSS Message Board. There are many historians online who may have answers to your questions about your parents.