3 October 2013
In the absence of Charles Glass, the US journalist once held hostage in Beirut, Steve Weiss spoke at the Oldie lunch about his Second World War exploits. As Glass’s book Deserter tells, Weiss, then aged 19, experienced some terrifying situations in southern France, hiding from the Germans and swimming across the Rhine after many of his army colleagues were killed. He was reported missing and declared a deserter. However, he told diners that on November 11 at 10.45am by the statue of Marshal Foch at Victoria station he will be awarded the Légion d’Honneur by France.
