Vera Atkins S.O.E

Vera Atkins – Special Operations Executive

  • Memorial Text
  • Vera Atkins – Special Operations Executive – 1908-2000
  • During WW2 Romanian born Vera Atkins became an intelligence officer reporting to Colin Gubbins the head of SOE.
  • Her main responsibility was to the agents and in particular the women sent into France as couriers, radio operators and to help train the resistance.
  • After the war she went back into Europe to find out what happened to the women who did not return. They are all honoured on this memorial seat.
  • Memorial Text
  • Madeleine Bayard – Age 32 – Lost when HMS Fidelity was torpedoed off the Azores December 1942.
  • Yolande Beekman – Age 32 – Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
  • Code-name “Mariette” – Executed at Dachau September 1944
  • Denise Bloch – Age 29 – First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
  • Code-name Ambroise – Executed at Ravensbruck February 1945
  • Andree Borrel – Age 24 – First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
  • Code-name “Denise” – Executed at Natzweiler July 1944
  • Muriel Byck – Age 25 – Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
  • Code-name “Michelle” – Died of Meningitis in France May 1944
  • Vera Atkins and the Women of the Special Operations Executive Memorial
  • Memorial Text
  • Madeleine Damerment – Age 26 – First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
  • Code-name “Solange” – Executed at Dachau September 1944
  • Noor Inyat Khan – Age 30 – Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
  • Code-name “Madeleine” – Executed at Dachau September 1944
  • Cecily Lefort – Age 40 – Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
  • Code-name “Alice” – Executed at Ravensbruck February 1945
  • Vera Leigh – Age 41 – First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
  • Code-name “Simone” – Executed at Natzweiler July 1944
  • Sonia Olschanezky – Age 20 – Recruited in France
  • Code-name “Tania” – Executed at Natzweiler July 1944
  • Vera Atkins and the Women of the Special Operations Executive Memorial
  • Memorial Text
  • Eliane Plewman – Age 27 – First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
  • Codename “Gaby” – Executed at Dachau September 1944
  • Lillian Rolfe – Age 30 – Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
  • Codename “Nadine” – Executed at Ravensbruck February 1945
  • Diana Rowden – Age 29 – Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
  • Codename “Paulette” – Executed at Natzweiler July 1944
  • Yvonne Rudellat – Age 48 – First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
  • Codename “Jacqueline” – Died of Typhus at Belsen April 1945
  • Violette Szabo – Age 23 – First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
  • Codename “Louise” – Executed at Ravensbruck February 1945
  • Vera Atkins and the Women of the Special Operations Executive Memorial.
  • Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill
  • “And now go and set Europe ablaze”.
  • Famous words from Sir Winston Churchill on the formation of the Special Operations Executive in July 1940.
  • Known at the “Baker Street Irregulars” after their HQ in Westminster. They were a secret service tasked with supporting resistance in all enemy occupied countries.
  • The SOE agents acted as couriers and radio operators, supplied forces with weapons, equipment and training to carry out sabotage, raiding, gathering intelligence and the creation of secret armies.
  • SOE was disbanded in January 1946.
  • The Hexagram
  • The hexagram, or a 6-pointed star, is a common shape used in many religions and cultures around the world.
  • This design was chosen to encompass the Pine tree grown from a seed found in a cone from Natzweiler Concentration Camp by Annette Colton and planted by her in 2008.
  • This memorial was dedicated in September 2011.

Introducing

https://operationloyton1944.org

PAGE UPDATED 20TH OCTOBER 2025