Cover illustrations: Front cover: Violette Szabo (Susan Ottaway); Violette Szabo’s ID card (David Harrison); A female parachutist (J. & C. McCutcheon Collection).
First published in 2014
Amberley Publishing
The Hill, Stroud
Gloucestershire, GL5 4EP
www.amberley-books.com
Copyright © Robyn Walker, 2014
The right of Robyn Walker to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
ISBN 9781445623115 (HARDBACK)
ISBN 9781445623160 (eBOOK)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Typesetting and Origination by Amberley Publishing
Printed in the UK.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 - Violette Szabo
2 - Nancy Wake
3 - Noor Inayat Khan
4 - Sonia Butt
5 - Diana Rowden
6 - Odette Sansom
7 - Mathilde Carré
8 - Christine Granville/Krystyna Skarbek
Picture Section
Notes
Bibliography
Foreword by HRH The Princess Royal
As Commandant-in-Chief of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and Patron of the Special Forces Club, I am delighted to write a foreword for this book highlighting the valuable contributions made by women during the Second World War, whose courage in the face of danger was extraordinary. Britain’s Special Operations Executive (SOE) recruited many women throughout the war, not only to serve as secret agents but also to work as coders, signallers, agent conductors and administrative staff at the agent training facilities. Most of these women were commissioned into the FANY Corps.
This well-researched history of the women who helped to ensure victory for Britain draws on primary-source material, interviews with both family members and colleagues of the agents, and the most current available research, to present a comprehensive picture of the women the Special Operations Executive employed. It provides a fascinating account of their motivation for service and, in some cases, of their tragic ends in service of the country. None of these brave women aspired to be heroes but without them the Resistance movements in France, and across the continent, would not have been as successful as they were, and we owe them all a huge debt of gratitude.
Acknowledgements
This book is the result of dogged determination on the part of the author, the foresight of a commissioning editor who thought it stood a chance and the kindness and generosity of people across the world who were willing to share.
Throughout this manuscript’s journey to publication I was continuously amazed by the wonderful responses I received from perfect strangers, who always seemed to have time to help me with my research. Robert Maloubier was the first and his offer to share his knowledge of SOE and the details of Violette Szabo’s final mission was truly a gift. The assistance of Martyn Cox has been immeasurable. His willingness to provide contacts, and to share information and photographs, is much appreciated. Thanks also to David Harrison, a gentleman who is so clearly passionate about the subject of SOE agents, for his help in obtaining photographs.
I was privileged to be able to speak with Nadya Murdoch (daughter of Sonia Butt d’Artois) and appreciate so much her taking the time to chat with me about her mother and to provide me with some lovely photos.
Many, many thanks to author Susan Ottaway, whose work I have long admired. That such an esteemed author would take the time to correspond with me and share her resources means so much and I am truly grateful.
Much appreciation goes out to all of the individuals who provided photographs and photograph permissions for this book. Your willingness to share has truly enhanced the project. Special mention to John Horrocks and the Tilford Bach Society, who went above and beyond to get me a photo I desperately wanted, and to the Special Forces Club for their support.
My thanks are also extended to HRH Princess Anne for agreeing to write the Foreword for this book. Her willingness to be a part of this journey was most gracious and her contribution was most welcome.
I offer my sincere gratitude to my editor, Emily Brewer at Amberley Publishing, for not only her belief in the project but for her constant support and assistance. She calmed my panic when things seemed overwhelming, she provided excellent contacts and research advice and she was, quite simply, an amazing advocate for this book. I owe her an incredible debt of gratitude. Also, many years ago an editor named Casey Cornelious gave me hope that this manuscript could actually become a book and her feedback on the writing was quite valuable. Thank you.
Finally, I would like to thank my husband Terry and son Jed for their love and support throughout this journey, especially when things seemed bleak; Corrina Austin, whose friendship and writing talents continue to inspire me; Ron Beikx for his feedback and willingness to proofread; and the rest of my family, who encouraged my interest in the Second World War and who are always willing to buy my books.
Introduction
Women were an active and integral part of the Allied war effort during the Second World War. They worked a variety of positions including driving ambulances and ferrying planes, nursing, decoding intelligence messages, operating barrage balloons, serving as air-raid wardens, manning anti-aircraft guns and radar stations, providing ground communications with Allied pilots and filling factory positions left vacant by men who had enlisted. Yet these were purely non-combatant situations. Never would these women be in a position to come face to face with the enemy, since military policy, in the British, Canadian and American armed forces, made no allowances for female combatants. However, a select group of women actually did find their way to the front lines – and, indeed, beyond them. These women trained with men, served with men and, in some cases, even commanded men. They assumed possibly the most dangerous position of the war – the role of secret agent.
In response to the German invasion of Poland, France and Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939. During the spring of 1940 the Germans launched a full-scale attack on Western Europe, taking first Norway and Denmark (April) then proceeding to smash through the defences of the Netherlands, Belgium and France (May). The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), which was stationed in France, was forced back to the beaches of Dunkirk, on the French coast. While the majority of the BEF was evacuated off the beaches of Dunkirk, almost all of their heavy equipment and vehicles were left behind. By the end of the summer of 1940 the Germans controlled all of Western Europe, and Great Britain and Canada stood virtually alone (the United States did not enter the war until December 1941) against the Germans. With most of their military machinery lost at Dunkirk, Great Britain began a massive rebuilding campaign to rearm and resupply their shattered army. They also began focusing their attentions on less traditional forms of warfare.
The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was established by Britain in July 1940 and its mission was to undertake sabotage, subversion and intelligence gathering against the German enemy as well as assisting resistance groups in the occupied countries. Churchill ordered SOE to ‘set Europe ablaze’ with a wide variety of subversive actions. SOE’s headquarters was located on Baker Street, in
London. It was organised into country sections, with each section being responsible for conducting covert operations within their designated country. The branch of SOE responsible for operations in France was known as ‘F’ Section. ‘F’ Section’s purpose was to establish networks or circuits of subversive agents throughout France. These networks, almost always named after a certain profession (i.e. CLERGYMAN, SALESMAN, WRESTLER), operated independently of one another but their geographic territories often overlapped. The networks also worked closely with the French Resistance, which consisted of French civilians who were determined to fight against the German military occupation of France. Armed bands of Resistance members were known as the Maquis.
SOE agents were sent into occupied territories to perform a number of different functions. Intelligence gathering was vital. Information that was gathered about the strength, positions and movements of German forces, and the location and output of German military factories, was invaluable to the Allied commanders when it came time to plan military ground attacks or bombing raids. Agents were also involved in leading sabotage missions against German communications (e.g. cutting telephone lines), transportation (e.g. destroying sections of rail line) and industry (e.g. blowing up factories), and in training local Resistance fighters in the use of arms and explosives. Agents sent in to work as couriers were expected to travel freely throughout cities and the countryside, transporting messages (often mission instructions) from agents throughout the region and carrying intelligence reports back to the network’s wireless operator. This was often hazardous work, as the courier could not remain hidden but had to be out in public where they could be subject to a random search or arrest. By meeting with other agents and carrying messages, the courier was always at risk. The job of the wireless operator was to transmit all of the network’s messages back to London. This too was hazardous work, since German radio detection devices were extremely effective at tracking transmission sites. The wireless operator had to stay mobile in order to keep ahead of the German detection equipment, and it was difficult to travel with the bulky wireless sets. Moreover, if the wireless operator was caught with his or her radio it was a dead giveaway that the individual was working as a secret agent. All agents employed by SOE, no matter what assignment they were trained for, had to be adaptable. An agent who was sent in as a wireless operator could just as easily find him or herself doing courier work as assisting in blowing up a convoy.
Working as a secret agent was fraught with peril. From the moment they left Great Britain, agents faced countless dangerous situations. Parachuting always carried with it an element of danger, and many agents, including Christine Granville and Sonia Butt, were injured upon landing. Sometimes there would be a reception committee (usually members of the Resistance) waiting for the agent, to guide them through unfamiliar territory and help them link up with their network. Sometimes, there was no one to greet the agent, and they were forced to make their way on their own. Occasionally, the Germans would be waiting, as in the case of poor Madeleine Damerment, and this meant certain arrest and incarceration, and quite possibly execution. If an agent managed to land safely and link up with their network, a variety of other dangers lurked around every corner. It was imperative that an agent be able to maintain their cover, and if their fake identification cards failed to pass scrutiny, their French accent was not perfect or they were caught with something as simple as an English matchbook in their pocket, their cover could be blown and they would find themselves quickly taken into German custody. Even if an agent maintained an impeccable cover, there was always the threat that someone, be it a French civilian who was looking for a reward (such as Renée Garry) or a captured fellow agent (such as Mathilde Carré) who was looking to save their own life, might betray them. Yet perhaps the biggest threat to all undercover agents was the fact that they were operating outside the protection of the Geneva Convention. Amendments made to the Geneva Convention in 1925 basically set out rules for the treatment of prisoners of war. Lawful combatants (those who were part of the regular armed forces and who engaged in combat openly) were afforded certain protections upon capture. Undercover agents, however, were considered unlawful combatants (because of the covert nature of their work) and thus were afforded no protection. Once captured, an undercover agent could expect horrific treatment, often culminating in torture and death. All SOE agents were warned of this possibility when they were recruited.
Although military policy clearly restricted women to non-combatant roles, SOE actively recruited them. This was done for a variety of reasons. Firstly, SOE recognised early on that women could make effective undercover agents. The work of women such as Nancy Wake and Christine Granville, who had both been working with Resistance movements before coming to Britain, was well known to SOE. Secondly, language qualifications were probably the most important thing SOE recruiters were looking for, since it was imperative that undercover agents be able to blend in with their surroundings. By expanding their pool of multilingual recruits to include both males and females, SOE was able to increase its number of agents substantially. Thirdly, most of the young men in German-occupied countries were expected to work in the war industry. Young men wandering the cities or countryside, seemingly unemployed, would arouse German suspicion. SOE recognised that women would have much more freedom of movement, which would be key to promoting SOE’s subversive agenda in Occupied Europe.
Of the women who worked either formally or informally as secret agents during the Second World War, most were employed by SOE’s ‘F’ Section. Some worked with local Resistance groups based in their own countries, while others were employed by the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Despite their differences in organisation, age, and ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, all of the women shared a keen sense of adventure and a willingness to put their lives on the line for a cause which they believed in. Some survived the war unscathed; others had their bodies and spirits broken during captivity and torture, while a number simply did not survive. All of them have unique stories that deserve to be told.
1
Violette Szabo (1921–45)
Code Name: Louise
Devastatingly beautiful and endowed with a sparkling personality, Violette Szabo captivated everyone who made her acquaintance. Her story could almost be a work of fiction. A lovely young mother, widowed after the Germans killed her husband, seeks revenge upon the enemy by enlisting as an undercover agent. Yet Szabo did not enjoy the happy ending that an author could have penned for her. Her ending came tragically, at the hands of those whom she hated most.
Violette Szabo was born Violette Reine Elizabeth Bushell, in the town of Levallois-Perret, France, on 26 June 1921. With her French mother and English father, Violette spent the first few years of her life living in France, before her family, which included an older brother, Roy, moved to Britain. Violette’s family struggled financially and life was not easy. Although Violette’s father did find steady work as a bus driver and her mother made dresses, the family found it difficult to support their two children, and sometime around 1926/7 Violette and Roy were sent back to France to live with relatives. Over the next couple of years, Violette saw very little of her parents, but enjoyed her time in France and became a fluent French speaker. Around the age of eleven, Violette returned to Britain to live with her family, which now included brothers John and Noel. Another brother, Richard, would follow in 1935. The Bushells lived in South London and, by all accounts, Violette was a popular young girl who was athletic and adventurous. Photographs show that she was stunningly beautiful. School proved a challenge at first, since Violette had been raised speaking French rather than English, but she worked hard at her courses and was soon completely bilingual. Her mates nicknamed her ‘Froggy’ as she still spoke French quite often, especially at home. In 1935 the Bushell family moved to a home at 18 Burnley Road, and a plaque dedicated to Violette is mounted there today, reading
VIOLETTE
SZABO, G.C.
192
1–1945
Secret Agent
lived here
SHE GAVE HER LIFE
FOR THE FRENCH
RESISTANCE
It was while living at Burnley Road that Violette demonstrated exactly how determined and adventurous she was. She left school at fourteen and worked as a sales assistant at a department store. It was a job she hated, but each day she faithfully showed up to sweep and dust, and fetch tea for the other staff. One night, however, she had a vicious argument with her father. Fed up with her father and her job, fourteen-year-old Violette packed a bag, grabbed her passport and boarded a boat to France. After an uneventful Channel crossing, she arrived on French soil and fearlessly made her way from the port to her aunt’s house, only to discover that her aunt was not home. Other fourteen-year-olds might have panicked in this situation but Violette remained calm. She eventually tracked down her aunt, who was stunned to discover that her young niece had arrived all alone, and word was sent to Violette’s parents that she was safe. After a few days’ holiday in France, which gave Violette a chance to recover her good temper, her aunt helped her board a return boat to Britain, ending her rather incredible runaway adventure. Unfortunately her ‘spirit of adventure’ was not appreciated by her employer, and upon her return Violette discovered that her absence from work had resulted in her employment being terminated.
Violette spent the next several years working a variety of jobs, including working as a shop girl at Woolworth’s and at the perfume counter at the Bon Marché department store. She enjoyed cycling and shooting with her friends and dated several young men. One, Sydney Matthews, remembered that Violette was ‘a very pretty girl and great fun to be with’.1 Although war clouds were spreading over Europe, Violette showed little interest in the impending conflict. Parties, sporting activities and casual dating filled Violette’s days. Nobody could have predicted that this pretty young shop girl would be the first female ever awarded the George Cross, Britain’s highest civilian award for acts of heroism and courage in the face of grave danger.
Women who Spied for Britain Page 1