A STOURBRIDGE man – nicknamed  “the pimpernel of the Jews”  – after rescuing more than 10,000 men, women and children from Nazi Germany could be honoured with a blue plaque in his home town.

Councillors are being asked to fund the commemoration to Major Frank Foley, who lived in Stourbridge until his death in 1958.

Members of the locally-based 63 Military Intelligence Company charitable fund are asking for £1,650 for the design, casting and installation of the plaque on 32 Eveson Road, Norton. 

Before the outbreak of war, Major Foley used his cover as passport officer in the British Consulate in Berlin to give Jews visas they needed to escape the country, even entering Nazi concentration camps to help extract them.

He is credited with saving as many as 10,000 people by ignoring the rules limiting the number of passports granted at the time by the British government.

During the war he interrogated Rudolf Hess,  Hitler’s deputy, after he flew to Scotland in 1941. 

He also helped to run a network of double agents and turned spies who were able to trick the Nazis into thinking the D-Day landings would be in Pas-de-Calais, not Normandy.

In 1999, Israel awarded him the honour ‘Righteous Among the Nations,’ an award to non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews.

Last year,  Alex Younger, Chief of MI6, said of him: “ While many condemned and criticised the Nazis’ discriminative laws, Frank took action.  

“With little regard for his personal safety he took a stance against evil. 

“Despite exposing himself to significant personal risk, Frank made a decision to help. He knew the dire consequences were he to get caught.”

The grant application will be heard by the Norton, Pedmore and Stourbridge East, and Wollaston and Stourbridge Town Community Forum at their meeting today (Monday March 11).