Obituary: Harry Challenor

Sep 22 2008 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

SHOULD a brave man also be a good man? The question is usually answered in the affirmative by Hollywood.

But real life is different, and the problems which arise from extreme bravery can blight the life of the hero.

Such was the case with Harry Challenor, whose extraordinary initiative and valour in Italy during World War II gained him the Military Medal.

He would then become a policeman in the front-line fight against London’s underworld, when, what at first had seemed like remarkable suc- cess, was revealed to have been in part at least the result of corrupt methods, not fully relieved by the later know- ledge that he had been suf- fering from mental illness at the time.

Harold Gordon Challenor was born near Bilston, Staffordshire. The family moved to Watford, where his father, Tom, became a nurse in a mental hospital.

At 14, Harry began working in a barber’s shop. Quick with his fists and possessed of a liking for drink and girls, he drifted from job to job. But the war gave his life purpose. He joined the Army in 1941, volunteering for service in the SAS.

This was the making of Challenor, a tough young man with wide shoulders, known as “Tanky”. He fought with distinction in raids behind enemy lines in Italy and France.

And, in November, 1944, he was with a small group of soldiers parachuted north of Spezia. In a series of brilliant operations, Lance Corporal Challenor was involved in blowing up three enemy trains.

Eventually he was captured and was threatened with execution, but twice escaped, the first time dressed as a washer-woman. He finally reached Allied lines.

In 1951, he joined the Metropolitan Police and was a great success, making 600 gangland arrests with 18 commendations.

His downfall came in 1963, during the visit of Queen Frederika of Greece. Her past associations with Nazis and Fascists led to a massive demonstration. Among those arrested by Detective Serg- eant Challenor was Donald Rooum, a Peace News car- toonist. It was discovered that Challenor had planted half-bricks on Rooum and others. More damning evidence followed.

By then, his behaviour was erratic. Paranoid schizo- phrenia was diagnosed. Challenor was treated in mental hospital, before settling down with his wife and adopted son as a solicitor’s clerk in Norbury. Throughout, old comrades remained loyal and visited him regularly.

Harry Challenor, war hero; born March 16, 1922, died August 28, 2008.