ABSTRACT

In April 1943, Tedder reluctantly agreed to a suggestion from Gerald Bray, his personal assistant, that he ‘look in’ at an Algiers party. Bray had made friends with Mrs Marie Black, ‘an ancient Scottish lady’, as she laughingly described herself, employed to look after the women working in Eisenhower’s headquarters. Knowing that Mrs Black was cheerful, articulate and far from ancient, he introduced them to each other. Tedder had just learned of the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to a Scottish pilot, Wing Commander Hugh Gordon Malcolm. Finding Mrs Black a sympathetic listener, he told her about him. They talked about much else that evening, but two themes – creating a club to offer airmen and NCOs in Algiers a taste of civilised comfort, and honouring Malcolm’s memory – became vital parts of their lives.