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German navy honours Scot for his friendship



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Published Date: 19 February 2008
By RACHEL HINE
WHEN Commander Eddie Grenfell fought in the Second World War, the Germans were his enemy.
But as soon as the war finished, he made it his personal mission to build and maintain a friendship with the German nation.

And now his efforts have been recognised as the German navy has awarded him the Cross of Honour – its most prestigious
military award and something no other British civilian has received.

Peterhead-born Cdr Grenfell, 88, who later moved to Montrose, said: "I believe everyone should try to make friends with people in other nations and never look upon another nation as an enemy.

"Even though I was in the war, I'm not a fan of war. It brings no good, only sadness. And even though I fought against the German navy, I have the greatest respect for them. The German navy behaved impeccably during the last war."

During the war, Cdr Grenfell headed a Russian convoy team in the Arctic, braving sub-zero conditions, under constant German attack, to get supplies to Britain's Soviet allies.

Unlike other campaigns, the Arctic heroes never received a medal but Cdr Grenfell led a successful campaign which resulted in them finally being given a special honour in 2006.

Konter-Admiral Schimpf, of the German navy, said: "Cdr Grenfell has devoted himself energetically during past decades to the deepening and strengthening of friendly contacts between the German and British navies.

"As a result of his outstanding commitment to the German navy over so many years, he is worthy of being awarded the highest German military decoration."

In 1961, Cdr Grenfell was appointed assistant naval attaché at the British Embassy in Germany. He retired there and lectured on international friendship for 36 years.





The full article contains 293 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 18 February 2008 9:27 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

,

19/02/2008 01:17:29
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
2

John Blackley,

Winter Garden, FL 19/02/2008 01:53:50
Fight when you must and make peace when you can?

I admire the gentleman's actions - they bring the above to life and for him to have the perspective he does gives me hope for myself. Maybe one day I'll be so wise.
3

GalacticCannibal,

Murrieta, CA...bye Bush -Cheney..u. evil leaders. 19/02/2008 04:08:06
1
Scullion,

Hey Dude.
War is War and Peace is Peace.

Those who lived thought War now live in Peace.
Get real Dude, stop carrying a chip on Ur shoulder ..

What war did U fight in, Dude.


I fought in no War, and don't intend too.

Unless my country is invader by foot soldiers of a foreign army.

GC
4

James Donald,

Newbridge 19/02/2008 08:21:45
#1 Scullion - "Still, there's something not quite right about accepting an Iron Cross or whatever naval variation they're giving" - not much chance of you receiving an award for the strengthening of friendly contacts between Britain and Germany.
"Well, I guess the sinking of the Hood was impeccable and the unrestricted U boat sinking of merchant vessels was impeccable too" - HMS Hood was a heavily armed British Battle Cruiser sunk in open combat at sea (the RN was know to sink enemy ships too. As for unrestricted submarine warfare, the Allies (particularly the US Navy) carried out this policy in the Pacific against the Japanese.
If a Royal Navy veteran of WW2 states that the German Navy behaved impeccably during the last war, I am more inclined to believe him than you.
5

Number 6,

Germany 19/02/2008 11:55:08
What a excellent ambassador for Scotland this man was.
This kind of thing helps strengthen the already healthy respect most Germans have for all things Scottish.
6

P Rayner.,

London 19/02/2008 13:02:21
6 . This kind of thing helps strengthen the already healthy respect most Germans have for all things British . If you think Germans have a particular repect for Scots , you delude yourself . CDR Grenfell , incidentally , like my English father , served in the British Royal Navy , not a Peterhead canoe .
7

Walter McDermott III,

Aberdeen, Wisconsin 19/02/2008 13:27:30
Incredible. 88 years old, and it finally emerges he was working for the germans all along. I am sure the war could have been over a lot quicker if spies like these were captured at the time.
8

David Ban,

04620 Vera 19/02/2008 15:37:51
#8 What utter rubbish.
9

Number 6,

Germany 19/02/2008 15:50:20
7 Rayner, I live in Germany and I am married to a German .Last week I attended a Lecture on "The beauty
and culture of Scotland".

Charles Rennie Macintosh was much more famous and
admired here than he ever was in Scotland.
Every year full coverage is given to the Edinburgh Tattoo.

Runrig receive more letters in Gaelic from Germany than they do from Scotland. ETC ETC ETC ETC.

How dare you accuse me of being deluded, I don't know if it's because your from englandshire or one of those scottish unionistas who hate all things scottish. Either way you are a complete , ignorant dolt. Phew, that's much better.
10

James Donald,

Newbridge 19/02/2008 15:58:23
#7 P Rayner.,London - There is and always has been a great interest and respect for things Celtic in Germany and I know this from personal experience so I suspect it is you that is deluded (as well as prejudiced). Long before the days of Perfidious Albion's empire building, there were strong bonds between the Scots and Germans streching back to the days of the Hanseatic League and the (Baltic) Crusades.
This association is well documented in the book "The Scots in Germany" by Thomas A Fischer (published in Edinburgh in 1902), long out of print but now available to read on the internet:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/germany/scotsndx.htm
11

James Donald,

Newbridge 19/02/2008 16:00:39
#8 Walter McDermott III,Aberdeen, Wisconsin - Perhaps you should have someone with greater skills read the article again for you and perhaps your "40 Watt bulb of comprehension" might come on.
12

GP,

19/02/2008 17:53:33
We have many simialrities than differences.
Only through work like this mans will we hope to prevent the master slave scenario that makes young people from the poorest areas fight for the affluent few to continue in their ways.
13

Number 6,

Germany 19/02/2008 19:30:28
14 Royalty , probably not the best example, but in my defence, I saw Kraftwerk at the Glasgow appolo, oh about 1975/6. I was trying to get tickets for Santana, but they were sold out. I couldn't bear to leave without a ticket to see someone. Luckily it was the Golden age of music and Kfaftwerk were coming. It was
amazing and the stage looked like Frankenstein's laborotary.
14

Ghost Of Scotland Past,

19/02/2008 21:33:50
3)Which tree have you fallen out of now?
15

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 19/02/2008 23:42:59
2

Nicely put spot on. Humility seems to rise above all else.

 

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