"Odette" British Agent story by Jerrard Tickell hc 1950

VINTAGE HARDCOVER BOOK 'ODETTE' THE STORY OF A BRITISH AGENT BY JERRARD TICKELL, 1950 EDITION.  THIS BOOK IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME SLIGHT BUMPS ON THE CORNERS OF THE COVERS AND AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE SPINE.  THE COVERS AND SPINE HAVE SOME LIGHT FADING AT THE TOP.  APART FROM THAT, THE INSIDE PAGES ARE CLEAN AND TIGHT WITH NO MARKS, RIPS, TEARS OR OTHER DAMAGE.  THERE IS THE NAME OF THE PREVIOUS OWNER WRITTEN ON FIRST PAGE AND A BOOK SHOP STAMP INSIDE THE FRONT COVER. BOOK CONTAINS MANY BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS THROUGHOUT.

EXTRACT FROM THIRD SUPPLEMENT IN THE LONDON GAZETTE OF FRIDAY, THE 16TH AUGUST 1946  GENERAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD, ST JAMES'S PALACE, S.W.1 - 20TH AUGUST 1946

THE KING HAS BEEN GRACIOUSLY PLEASED TO AWARD THE GEORGE CROSS TO -

ODETTE MARIE CELINE, MRS SANSOM, M.B.E., WOMEN'S TRANSPORT SERVICE (FIRST AID NURSING YEOMANRY)

MRS SANSOM WAS INFILTRATED INTO ENEMY-OCCUPIED FRANCE AND WORKED WITH GREAT COURAGE AND DISTINCTION UNTIL APRIL 1943 WHEN SHE WAS ARRESTED WITH HER COMMANDING OFFICER.  BETWEEN MARSEILLES AND PARIS ON THE WAY TO THE PRISON AT FRESNES, SHE SUCCEEDED IN SPEAKING TO HER COMMANDING OFFICER AND FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION THEY AGREED TO MAINTAIN THAT THEY WERE MARRIED.  SHE ADHERED TO THIS STORY AND EVEN SUCCEEDED IN CONVINCING HER CAPTORS IN SPITE OF CONSIDERABLE CONTRARY EVIDENCE AND THROUGH AT LEAST FOURTEEN INTERROGATIONS.  SHE ALSO DREW GESTAPO ATTENTION FROM HER COMMANDING OFFICER ONTO HERSELF SAYING THAT HE HAD ONLY COME TO FRANCE ON HER INSISTENCE.  SHE TOOK FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND AGREED THAT IT SHOULD BE HERSELF AND NOT HER COMMANDING OFFICER WHO SHOULD BE SHOT.  BY THIS ACTION SHE CAUSED THE GESTAPO TO CEASE PAYING ATTENTION TO HER COMMANDING OFFICER AFTER ONLY TWO INTERROGATIONS.  IN ADDITION THE GESTAPO WERE MOST DETERMINED TO DISCOVER THE WHEREABOUTS OF A WIRELESS OPERATOR AND OF ANOTHER BRITISH OFFICER WHOSE LIVES WERE OF THE GREATEST VALUE TO THE RESISTANCE ORGANISATION.  MRS SANSOM WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO KNEW OF THEIR WHEREABOUTS.  THE GESTAPO TORTURED HER MOST BRUTALLY TO TRY TO MAKE HER GIVE AWAY THIS INFORMATION.  THEY SEARED HER BACK WITH A RED-HOT IRON AND, WHEN THAT FAILED, THEY PULLED OUT ALL HER TOE-NAILS.  MRS SANSOM, HOWEVER CONTINUALLY REFUSED TO SPEAK AND BY HER BRAVERY AND DETERMINATION, SHE NOT ONLY SAVED THE LIVES OF THE TWO OFFICERS BUT ALSO ENABLED THEM TO CARRY ON THEIR MOST VALUABLE WORK.  DURING THE PERIOD OF OVER TWO YEARS IN WHICH SHE WAS IN ENEMY HANDS, SHE DISPLAYED COURAGE, ENDURANCE AND SELF-SACRIFICE OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE ORDER

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