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The Cyclops Cave

On November 27th 1942 SOE Captains Arthur Reade and Xan Fielding landed from a submarine on the rocky south coast of Crete near Sougia. It was a rough sea and they lost much of their equipment as they crashed into the rocks in their small boat.

They were met on their arrival and were supported by local villagers and some Australian soldiers 'on the run' who took them to a large cave nearby - locally known as the Cyclops or Polyfimos cave who, by legend, lived there. - where they dried out and organised themselves. They took the following photograph on the 28th November 1942.

74 years later I was able to return with Arthur's son Rufus Reade and we were able to recreate the photograph taken all those years ago.

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