Secret WW2

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“It is quite extraordinary to be back in the place where Irish secret agent Maureen ‘Paddy’ O’Sullivan once parachuted into occupied France during World War II, landing with such force that she lost consciousness ….”

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17thth August 2025 – our bi-annual Runnymede Air Forces Memorial commemoration of SOE, MI9 agents and special duties aircrew with no known grave. A superb ceremony in excellent weather (and a following lunch for 23 participants) was organised by our Information Officer, Carol Browne. Wreaths placed included those on behalf of the families of F Section SOE agents Yolande Beekman and (by relative John Rolfe) Lilian Rolfe and on behalf of AJEX in memory of MI9 agent Aba Bardicev. Several Friends participated in the ceremony: Chair, Louisa Russell was MC for the occasion; Sheryl Green delivered a bible reading; Paul McCue outlined the agents’ service and read the poem ‘Lilian’ (written by Joan Munden, née Rolfe, a relative of Lilian Rolfe); Ian Titman spoke of Flight Lieutenant James Lamberton, a Lysander pilot who was the representative loss from the Special Duties squadrons; Nick Fox gave the Exhortation and Tracy Watson (Supporter and representing the WAAF, WRAF, RAF(W) Association) the Kohima Epitaph. We were very grateful for the services of locally based bugler Hannah Griffin who played as good a Last Post and Reveillé as any of us had ever heard. Along with Carol, another ‘star’, for the second time, was Runnymede’s local vicar, the Reverend Will Bissett - who served in the British Army and the RAF, including special operations and intelligence elements. Will, now a Supporter of Secret WW2, not only led the thoughtful service, but also acted as piper, both at the beginning and during wreath laying. The Royal British Legion (Surrey) standard bearer party provided their usual smart and professional presence and were joined by the standard bearer of the WAAF, WRAF, RAF(W) Association. Mike Hillman took the excellent photos. Many thanks to all involved.

13th July 2025 – the annual picnic and networking event at the Violette Szabó GC Museum, ‘Cartref’, Tump Lane, Wormelow, Herefordshire was the occasion of our first serious attempt at face-to-face selling of our publications ‘Lilian’ and ‘Uncle Charlie’ (see further details below). Thanks to the efforts of Ashley Barnett, our Treasurer Trustee, our team of Louisa Russell and Paul McCue had the Zettle online payment system for the first time – a huge advantage. Paul spoke of his book ‘Lilian’ and the event saw four branches of the Rolfe family, including one from Australia, attend.

The Secret WW2 ceremony at the Memorial to the Missing 1939-45 recognised Eugène Levene, born in Belgium of Belgian parents, but later naturalised British. Levene served with F Section of SOE, was caught and executed at Flossenbürg concentration camp on 29th March 1945. Wreaths were laid by WO Berg on behalf of the Belgian Ambassador and Belgian armed forces, by Louisa Russell for Secret WW2, by Fred Greyer for the Fraternelle des Agents Parachutistes in Belgium and Gary Cook for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The Fraternelle’s Roll of Honour, of which Secret WW2 were gifted a copy, was on display. A short ceremony and wreath laying was performed at the Belian burial plot and the monthly ceremony of the Brookwood Last Post Association followed, maintaining the Belgian theme and remembering Levene. Refreshments were provided afterwards by our supporter Eddie Jones of The Trench Experience.