I felt compelled to write this story about my two heroines, the first one Odette Churchill who became Odette Hallows after her third marriage. Years ago she came to my school to give a talk and I was privileged to meet her, she certainly made a lasting impression on me, I remember her as a very graceful and forgiving woman who emanated a strong charisma as she stood on the platform and gave an unforgetable talk about her life and how she felt. Anyone who has seen the film "Odette" starring Anna Neagle in the title role will know about the extreme danger and suffering Odette couragiously faced during world war two, it was the absence of bitterness towards all who had caused her the torture she endured that amazed my young mind, and still does, after the war she went on to do great charitable work, helping others who had been bereaved, or disfigured, and helping the underpriviledged, although she became a national heroine she was very modest and described herself as a housewife. Odette was awarded the George cross, MBE, and Legion de Honneur.

I mention here yet another of my heroines Violette Szarbo. Violette was born in Paris and her parents brought her to England where they lived in Brixton South London. Because of her knowledge of France and her fluent French she was asked if she would be parachuted into France to undertake dangerous work, to which she agreed. If anyone has seen the film "Carve Her Name With Pride" starring Virginia Mckenna in the title role they will know her life story. Violette was captured and fought bravely, and after being sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp she was tortured horrendously but never gave anything away, she was eventually shot and was twenty three years old when she was executed. Odette Hallowes was in the same camp and gave details to the authorities at the end of the war. Violette pothsomously received the George Cross and The Croix de Guerre which was presented to her seven year old daughter Tania Szarbo.

The code poem that was used by Violette Szarbo while she was sending messages back from occupied France was written by Leo Marks who was a cryptographer for SOE and wrote poems for agents to use, this is the poem that Violette used.

The life that I have is all that I have, the life that I have
Is yours,
The love that I have of the life that I have, is yours,
And yours, and yours,
A sleep I shall have, rest I shall have, Yet death will be
But a pause,
For the peace of my years in the long green grass,
Will be yours, and yours, and yours.

If ever I feel sorry for myself I think of these two wonderful women, if you would like to know more you will find them on this link, agents, FANY, www.64-baker-street.org

by Marianne



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