Overview

Rowley Shears (G8KW) was best known for his radio communications work, particularly in the amateur radio world for which he developed and manufactured the KW Electronics brand of equipment. There is, however, an interesting untold story about his extraordinary experiences during WW II after he was posted to Egypt as part of the Royal Corps of Signals. From 1941, he also started to work for the British Intelligence services in Cairo and under the watchful eye of Colonel Dudley Clarke, he entered the world of deception which saw him posing as a German agent and being awarded the Iron Cross for his efforts. As Rowley commented about that award - ""The award was not the end of operation 'Cheese', in fact I became even more involved"". This biography, by his elder son Richard, which covers Rowley's lifetime work in the world of radio communications also provides an insight into the world of the intelligence services in the Middle East during WW II and includes the tale of the unique circumstances which lead to that particular award. This book will be of special interest to amateur radio enthusiasts and those who are interested in deception plots and the Second World War in the Middle East.

Full Product Details

Author:   Richard Shears
Publisher:   The Choir Press
Imprint:   The Choir Press
Dimensions:   Width: 12.90cm , Height: 1.30cm , Length: 19.80cm
Weight:   0.259kg
ISBN:  

9781789635386

ISBN 10:   1789635381
Pages:   192
Publication Date:   01 July 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Author’s Introduction; Part I – INTRODUCTION AND EARLYYEARS ; Family Background; School Years; The Start of Working Life; Part II – ROWLEYÊS WAR ; The Start of World War II and Journey to the Middle East; Early Days in the Middle East; The War Impact Back Home in 1940; Polygon Wireless Station (Abbassieh, Cairo); Panzer Tanks on the Russian Front and the Official ; Secrets Act; The Deception Game Begins; Preparing to Contact the Enemy; Assuming a New Identity for Operation Cheese; A Padded Cell and the Hunt for an Understudy!; More Portions of Cheese and a Commission; We Need More Funds⁄; A Trainee for the Cheese Team; Improving Desert Communications at Polygon Wireless Station; JCJC Broadcasting Services for the Troops in Egypt (1942–1944); Prizes for Deception; ‘A’ Force Cairo; Operation Wild Goose – A New German Agent; The Gezira Project – the Spy and the Sabotage Expert; Back to Cheese in Advance of the Battle for El Alamein; Post Battle of El Alamein and into 1943; Mentioned in Despatches and British Empire Medal; 1944 Undercover in Crete (May) and Task Force to ; Athens (October); Part III – POST-WAR GERMANY ; Military Life Continues in 1945; 1945: Journey to Germany – The Long Arm of ; Coincidence; Back to Broadcasting at Langenberg, Germany; Police Radio Network – Hamburg, Germany ; (1946–1947); The Control Commission for Germany; The First Train into Berlin at the End of the Russian Blockade (May 12th 1949); Final Days in Frankfurt, Germany; Working with the German Radio Amateurs (1946–1950); Part IV – BACK IN THE UK and THE KW STORY ; Working in the UK; Establishing the KW Brand; Some Other KW Highlights; Part V – OTHER MEMORIES OF MY FATHER ; Family Life and On the Airwaves; Postscript Regarding His War Years; GLOSSARY; 

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Author Information

Author Website:   http://www.richardshears.net

Richard Shears is the elder son of Rowland 'Rowley' Shears. He followed his father into a similar career in the world of communications and IT. After his retirement, he took on the task of writing a historical biography about his father, based mostly on the fascinating handwritten stories from World War II which Rowley had always intended to turn into a book. Richard is also a licensed radio amateur and has taken over his fathers' call-sign, G8KW.

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Author Website:   http://www.richardshears.net

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