She was a Women's Transport Service (FANY) Special Operation Executive. The daughter of an English father and a French mother, Violette Bushell was born and brought up in Brixton, London. In August 1940 she married a French soldier, Etienne Szabo, and in June, 1942 gave birth to their daughter. She was widowed a few months later when her husband was killed in action.
In 1943, Violette Szabo volunteered to join the Special Operations Executive and was recruited in its F Section and enrolled into the Women's Transport Service First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.
After specialist training as a secret agent, she was sent on her first mission into occupied French on 5th April 1944. She acted as a courier for a network leader in the Rouen area until recalled to England three weeks later. On 7th June 1944 she was parachuted back into France but was soon captured following a shoot out with German troops.
She managed to resist brutal interrogation and did not reveal any secrets to her captors. After a period of imprisonment in France she was sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp where she was executed early in 1945.
She was 23 years of age.
Violette Szabo was awarded a posthumous George Cross on 17th December 1946.
The Churchill Society
