Typed Letter Signed and Memo from the Claims Section, British Embassy, Athens, regarding clothing and money allegedly lent to Major Patrick Leigh Fermor by Kyriakos Pattakos of Amariou.

Both items in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. The two are attached with a rusty pin, and there is a tiny hole at the head of the memo, affecting the word 'Kyriakos'. LETTER: 1p., 4to. Signature illegible. Addressed 'To: Mr. P. Leigh Fermor | British Council | ATHENS | From: Claims Section | British Embassy | ATHENS'. With 'Ref: 133/2803/109' and headed 'Subject: Force 133 Claim - Kyriakos PATTAKOS (2803)'. Requesting Leigh Fermor's 'general observations' on the enclosed memo regarding Pattakos's 'petition to H.M. Ambassador requesting payment of compensation amounting to £150/200. [...] We have, from Force 133 records, studied Pattakos' case and have concluded that the claim is unreasonable'. MEMO: 1p., foolscap 8vo. Headed 'Memo on claim of akos PATTAKOS (2803)'. Divided into three parts: 'Force 133 Awards', 'ASC (G) Award' and 'Observations'. The first section begins: 'On recommendation of Lt. Col. T. T. DUNBABIN Pattakos was awarded a Certificate of Service on 8/9/45. No mention made on record of Loans of clothing or money to Major Leigh-Fermor. Pattakos received in Cairo rehabilitation grant of £E 25 on his evacuation from Crete in January 1943 by Force 133.' In March of 1946 Pattakos approached Leigh Fermor with a claim for: 'two paris of riding breeches' and 'money confiscated by Constantinos COUTELIDAKES on behalf of Major Leigh-Fermor. Money given to Coutelidakes by Nikolaos SOURIS for transmission to Pattakos as repayment of loan. Dr. 200,000.' Leigh Fermor 'confirmed receiving riding breeches' and £10 was paid to Pattakos as 'fair value', but '[n]o liability was accepted for the sum of Dr. 200,000'. In the second section it is noted that 'Pattakos' name was included in the list of persons assisting British escapers in the village of AMARIOU'. Pattakos 'was awarded a Certificate of Commendation', but 'specifically requested, as did other villagers, no monetary award'. Among the observations in the final section are the points that Pattakos's claim 'would appear to include value of food and clothing supplied to British escapers', and that the claim for the riding breeches is 'greatly in excess of actual value'. Leigh Fermor is asked to confirm that Souris was lent £20, and that the exchange rate at the time of the transaction was 10,000 drachma to the pound. The documents derive from the papers of the social anthropologist J. H. Driberg (1888-1946), brother of the colourful Labour MP Tom Driberg.