Zoom Speaker Presentation

Another excellent and informative presentation from Jeremery Prescott from his "Sacrifice and Remberance" series of talks in aid of funds to support Combat Stress.

This talk was written with help from Violette's daughter Tanya who was orphaned at the age of 3; her French father was killed at El Alamein, in 1942, serving in the French Foreign Legion, and her mother, Violette, was executed in Ravensbruck Concentration Camp.

Following the death of her husband, Violette was recruited into the SOE motivated by seeking revenge for the death of her husband. Violette served two missions, during which she was parachuted into France, but was unfortunately captured during her second mission in 1944, however, not before she had shot several Germans. She was subsequently imprisoned, interrogated and put to labour in Torgau amunition facility, during which she attempted to sabotage machinery. She was executed, aged 23, upon arrival in Ravensbruck.

In 1947 she was posthumously awarded the George Cross and the Croix de Guerre which her daughter received on behalf of her mother.  Several books have been published about Violette, the most famous being "Carve her Name with Pride" which was also made into a film.

She was an ordinary woman who did an extraordinary thing.