Special Operations Executive (SOE) Memorial

A memorial to the 108 Poles who died in the service stands in the main drive of Audley End House, Essex. They were members of Polish section of the SOE, which was based here (Station 43).

 

After having accomplished first mission of the day (exploring the IWM) the junior officer wannabe and myself went for the SOE memorial, armed with maps and ample mental impression of lat/long generously provided by this thread.)

Having patrolled the entire embankments of the capital, including Albert, Victoria, South, North asf, we resorted to asking the locals. Neither employees of IWM, security guards or people armed with Internet had any clue. The only person who provided useful information was the waiter of a random café, who suggested the whole monument must be undercover.

So this fact is now proven, and only result of mission is the measurably worn soles of HM boots.

Having obtained new intelligence, are regrouping and intend to counterattack at first light.

S

 

Try 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, Lambeth, London. Its located on the South Bank of the River Thames near Lambeth Palace.

Maybe the Junior Officer wannabe should hold the map

 

Try 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, Lambeth, London. Its located on the South Bank of the River Thames near Lambeth Palace.

Maybe the Junior Officer wannabe should hold the map

She did ! And as always relayed excellent info. (Junior Officer Wannabe, hearing post read aloud, wishes to make it known that as professional map reader for Senior Officer on all missions, experience is ample. ) Please note the distinction between South Bank (by Blackfriars Bridge) and Southern Bank !! This was one of the things that led the patrol astray in the first place... :mellow:
Lambeth Palace appears to be the clue, disclosed until now. Counter-attacked already scheduled.
Experience however provided excellent marching practice! HM boots are in unlimited supply, after all.

S

 

Please note:

Officers and Maps are not compatable....All Map reading exercises should be left to non-officer types. Preferably junior NCO's-The back bone to any great army.

Out.

 

I would like to inform thee, ladies and gents, that the search party accomplished their mission this very morning, in spite of officer and wannabe in charge of map reading, the former choosing not to be insulted by recently posted remark.

In all seriousness, however, the monument is truly beautiful and an adequate tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of these men and women.


It must have been a hard task to choose the operations / groups to be mentioned on the plaques at the base of the monument. We feel (probably undeservedly) honoured that the Telemark sabotage is one of them.

The wannabe tok a lot of photos, preparing for a painting of the monument.

S

 

Passing through Le Clos in the Limousin last August, I took these photographs where Violett Szabo came down by parachute on her second and what was to be her final operation into occupied France.

Le Clos,south east of Limoges and about 20 kms east of the A20 is a hamlet comprising of one farm, one house and an abandoned house and I suppose not much has happened to it since the end of the war.This area is worth visiting being an example of the beautiful Limousin countryside.On the west side of the hamlet stands Mt Gargan, a scene of intense resistance activity under Georges Guingouin, a former teacher sacked by Vichy,a communist who did not wait until June 1941 to oppose the German occupation.

Le Clos.Entering the hamlet from the south.

My wife and I will be visiting Salon La Tour next month, the scene of Violette's gun battle with the SS. Is Le Clos far from there do you know?

 

Hilts,

Before you go make sure you have a comprehensive account of Violette's engagement with the SS at Salon La Tour,then you can put together a "Then and Now" theme.

A particular good reference source is Philip Vickers "Das Reich" from the Battleground Europe series.Publishers Pen and Sword in 2000.All the research work has been comprehensively done and relates an interesting account of this era.

As regards getting to les Clos,you can use the route shown in the book via Interchange No 42 or plan your own if you wish to visit Salon La Tour first,coming off the A20 at Interchange No 43. As a result,my route was different to that shown in the book as at the time, Philip Vickers excellent publication was not available.The main road was the N20 before it was uprated to the now A20 in the late 1990s.

Assuming you wish to start at Salon La Tour,leave the main square in a northerly direction,taking the D20E7,to meet the D20 after a few kms.Turn right on the D20 and proceed about 10 kms in an easterly direction until you enter the village of Meilhards.At Meilhards,proceed in a northerly direction,taking the D137 (although a D is a minor road) to Sordoux after about 8 kms.At Sordoux cross the D12, the northerly road becomes the D39 (again a minor road) for Sussac (about 8kms) passing very soon, on the left, Mt Gargan (scene of intensive Maquis activity against the Germans) Carry on and and within 3 kms,you will enter the hamlet of les Clos.Continue on to the village of Sussac where, after being picked up on parachuting into les Clos,Violette Szabo spent her first night above the village shop.

At Sussac,you will find memorials to the past and it is the ideal stop for refreshments in the local bar restaurant.Just outside the vilage is a small holiday centre with lake and modern chalets.As an option,you can leave Sussac by the D43 and travel on to Eymoutiers, a pleasant small town.On the way it is possible to see further infomation regarding the Guingouin group activities.

As regarding routes sometimes it can be difficult to pick up the various signposts so obviously a good map,say Michelin 1.200.000 is essential.Getting a IGN Blue Series 1.25000 for the area is better still.

Georges Guingouin, the local FPT leader was very influencial in resisting the Germans in the Limoges area and the aim of the SOE/de Gaulle were that he should join up with the Allied recognised FFI.This was accomplished and the Guingouin group,taking priorities and co-ordination outlined by the SOE were well supported by air drops such that the group was up to Brigade strength and able to liberate Limoges from the Germans when the time came.There are a number of memorials which point to Guingouin's air support from the Allies throughout the area.

As SOE C.O of the Salesman 2 Circuit, Charles Staunton, (in reality Philippe Liewer, a Frenchman) put it "Guingouin was constantly heading counter attacks and offensive patrols and ambushes.Mastered the situation in the most brilliant way......"

Hope you enjoy your holiday.

Just done a check on www.michelin.com.Distance is about 30kms

 

This is/was also a plaque at Beaulieu dedicated to SOE. I haven't seen it in person but it is reproduced on the rear dust jacket of one of MRD Foot's books. (The one that accompained the 1980's BBC documentary series)

Lee

 

Hilts,

Before you go make sure you have a comprehensive account of Violette's engagement with the SS at Salon La Tour,then you can put together a "Then and Now" theme.

A particular good reference source is Philip Vickers "Das Reich" from the Battleground Europe series.Publishers Pen and Sword in 2000.All the research work has been comprehensively done and relates an interesting account of this era.

..........................................

Thanks Harry! I picked up 'Das Reich' off Amazon for £3.50, it's a fine book. Great maps! With that, 'Young, Brave & Beautiful' by Tania and a Limousan Michelin map, my wife & I have put together our route.

I'm really looking forward to it! I'll post some pics when we get back!!

 

Some of you will remember my frantic search for the SOE memorial in London last January. This was indeed how I stumbled into this forum, and I received helpful hints which eventually led me to the correct location.

Referring to my post #22 on the 28th Jan in the SOE memorial Thread; Edit: threads now merged

"After having accomplished first mission of the day (exploring the IWM) the junior officer wannabe and myself went for the SOE memorial, armed with maps and ample mental impression of lat/long generously provided by this thread.)

Having patrolled the entire embankments of the capital, including Albert, Victoria, South, North asf, we resorted to asking the locals. Neither employees of IWM, security guards or people armed with Internet had any clue. The only person who provided useful information was the waiter of a random café, who suggested the whole monument must be undercover.

So this fact is now proven, and only result of mission is the measurably worn soles of HM boots.

Having obtained new intelligence, are regrouping and intend to counterattack at first light."

Until yesterday I was unaware of the location where we talked to the security guards outside and where people inside the building searched the net to provide help (text in italics).
Well, yesterday I recognised the building on a photo and had it confirmed on a map: It's the Vauxhall building !

 

Your next mission is to find other SOE memorials in London . . . .
There is to be a bust of Noor Inyat Khan to be placed in Gordon Square sometime in the future - Karen Newman who sculpted Violette Szabo has been commissioned to sculpt it.
The SOE Study Group may be hosting a couple of events in London next year to help raise funds for this - will keep you all informed