Communication by boat with Egypt was established as a means of evacuating British and Dominion soldiers who had been trapped on Crete and for bringing in supplies and men to liaise with Cretan resistance fighters. After Pendlebury had been executed by the Germans during the Battle of Crete, "Monty" Woodhouse, who had been appointed director of the SOE in Heraklion, made contact with civilians. He approached a young high school student named George Doundoulakis after observing his keen knowledge as a Greek interpreter in Archanes during the Battle of Crete. He asked him to support SOE in hiding and assisting British and Dominion soldiers who were unable to be evacuated. Doundoulakis formed an underground organisation under the auspices of the SOE, along with his brother, Helias Doundoulakis.