Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Harold Raphael Gaetano Stevens, CMG DSO (4 May 1883 – 1 January 1961), also known as Il Colonello Buonasera, served in the British army and worked as a BBC broadcaster and was known for his broadcasts to Italy during World War II. Stevens was born 4 May 1883 in Naples and educated at

Beaumont College Beaumont College was between 1861 and 1967 a Public school (UK), public school in Old Windsor, Old Windsor in Berkshire. Founded and run by the Society of Jesus, it offered a Roman Catholic public school education in rural surroundings, while l ...

, and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Stevens served in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

on the General Staff in Gallipoli, the Black Sea area and Turkey. He was awarded the DSO in 1917 and the French

Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

, the Greek Order of Military Merit and the

Order of the Redeemer The Order of the Redeemer (), also known as the Order of the Saviour, is an order of merit of Greece. The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state. Establishment The establishment of the Orde ...

. Stevens' mother was Italian and in 1931 he was appointed Military Attaché at the British embassy in Rome. He returned to London in 1935 and was Commander R.A., 56th (1st London) Division, T.A. He retired in 1936 and joined the Home Office in the A.R.P. department. In 1940, he joined the BBC European Service and broadcast to Italy for Radio Londra from 1940–1945. He spoke perfect Italian and became well known as Il Colonello Buonasera''' due to the 'Good Evening' at the beginning of each of his broadcasts. The broadcasts became a key contribution to the war effort in countering anti-Fascist propaganda and delivering messages to the Italian resistance. Many Italians tuned into his 5 minute broadcasts, five nights a week at 10pm which began with the opening notes of Beethoven's 5th Symphony ikely representing 'V' for Victory in morse code The vehemency of Fascist counter-attacks attested to their impact. When British troops landed in Sicily in 1943, they were puzzled to find chalked on the walls of houses the words "''Viva Stivens''". The words meant nothing to them, but to the Italians, it was the best known British name after Churchill. Harold married first in 1905 to Bertha Gordon, daughter of Charles Gordon, by whom he had 3 sons: Colonel John Auverny Stevens O.B.E., Lieutenant Colonel Charles Phillips Stevens M.B.E. (who later became Director of the National Spastics Society) and Major Geoffrey Gordon Stevens, and a daughter, Sister Helen Mary Stevens of the Religious Society of the Sacred Heart. Bertha died in 1947 and Stevens married Helen Elisabeth Fraser Gordon. Colonel Stevens was an ardent Catholic and begun each day with attendance at Mass. He maintained close ties with

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

and the

Papacy The pope is the bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church#Catholic Church, visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the po ...

and became a Tertiary of St Francis. Stevens died 1 January 1961 in

Bournemouth Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...

, England, and a requiem mass was held at

Westminster Cathedral Westminster Cathedral, officially the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood, is the largest Catholic Church in England and Wales, Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. The shrine is dedicated to the Blood of Jesus Ch ...

General references

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, Harold British radio journalists World War II propaganda British people of World War II Radio during World War II British propagandists British Army personnel of World War I 1883 births 1961 deaths Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Companions of the Distinguished Service Order British people of Italian descent