INTRODUCTION

The well-known story of Violette Szabo, GC. (dramatised in the film "Carve Her Name with Pride" and re-told in the book of the same title); that Odette Churchill said of her"She was the bravest of us all" and that Violette's cousins used to live at "Cartref" at Wormelow are all facts very much to the forefront of the life and dedication of the present owner of that house, Miss Rosemary E. Rigby, MBE.

Over half of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry's total strength was devoted to the work of Special Operations Executive (SOE) during WWII. One of FANYs members was the fiery Violette Szabo (née Violette Reine Elizabeth Bushell) ('Louise') who was the half-French daughter of a Brixton motor-car dealer and was said to be the best shot in the SOE. Her husband Etienne Szabo (an Officer of the Free French Forces) was killed at El Alamein shortly after their daughter, Tania (Tanya in some reports) was born. Devastated by the death of her husband Violette willingly volunteered for duty in France. On her first mission she was teamed with Philippe Liéwer, ('Clément') a former correspondent of the Havas news Agency. They went by Lysander to a spot near Paris and her task was to make a study of Resistance possibilities in the Rouen area, a task which she completed notwithstanding having to explain her movements to French police who had arrested her. She was freed and made her way back to Paris and requested a pick up - it is related that she shopped on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées for presents for her daughter to be given to her on arrival in England! Her second para drop into France took place on 8th June near Limoges immediately after the Normandy landings and on 10th June whilst giving covering fire to a French Maquis leader ('Anastasie') she fought in a gun battle (using a Sten gun) with Germans until her ammunition was exhausted.
She was captured and taken Gestapo Headquarters in Limoges. That afternoon elements of the SS Division murdered nearly 650 civilians in the village of Oradour-sur-Glane just 20 kilometres away. From Limoges she was quickly transferred to Fresnes prison in Paris from where, in early August 1944, she began her two and a half week journey to the concentration camp at Ravensbrück and after horrifying experiences was (with others) shot in 1945. One of the survivors of this infamous camp described her as outstanding amongst the thousands of women there.

Mme. Szabo was posthumously awarded her George Cross in 1946 and it was received from the King by her 4-year old daughter. (See SPECIAL FORCES, ROLL OF HONOUR)

Leo Marks, who was the head of the Codes Section of the SOE, spoke of Violette almost with awe and devotes to her parts of his recent memoir "Between Silk and Cyanide - The Story of SOE's Code War, 1941-1945" (HarperCollins). The connection between Marks, Violette and the now famous and touching poem "The Life That I Have" is fully detailed in the book. Such poems were used as cyphers by Agents and Marks elected to use original poems rather than established ones, thus allowing less chance of decoding by the enemy.

A plaque was erected on 26th June 1988 (on what would have been Violette's 67th birthday) on the outer wall of "Cartref" in the presence of Peter Lee (of the Special Forces Club) and the then MP for Hereford, Sir Colin Shepherd.
The inscription reads

"This plaque is placed as an evergreen tribute to VIOLETTE SZABO, G.C. British Secret Agent born 26th June 1921, executed by the Gestapo at Ravensbrück during 1945 in deep appreciation of her outstanding courage in England's hour of need. Violette spent many happy holidays here at "Cartref" with her Aunt and Uncle Mr. & Mrs. H. Lucas and family.
R.I.P. Violette. "Carve her name with pride".
Rosemary E. Rigby, 1988"

In 1994 a second plaque was presented by the Royal British Legion to mark the VE-day Anniversary when over a hundred persons including a lady who was a former member of Violette's regiment the FANYs marched to the unveiling.

There are many references to Mme. Szabo and her bravery to be found on the Internet as well as to her colleagues and others: our (external) Links list makes several easily available from this page.

THE MILLENIUM GREEN and THE MUSEUM

The Millennium Green project is supported by the Herefordshire Council Parks and Countryside Service Partnership Team and the Countryside Commission's "Millennium Green Initiative". A Millennium Field (termed "an oasis of green for the next thousand years") has been donated by Miss Rigby - it is one of 250 such fields to be created across the country. This one is of course dedicated to Violette Szabo and in the 3.5 acres of it a commemorative rock was installed at 11am on New Year's Day. Views over the spectacular Black Mountains and a chestnut tree planted by Miss Rigby some 20 years ago, the annual appearance of violets, cowslips, daffodils and primroses all add to the aurora of commitment present in this quiet area next to Miss Rigby's home.

It was announced in early February 2000 that The National Lottery had, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, "ridden to the rescue to resolve a grave funding shortfall" to the extent of an award of £5,000. Miss Rigby was of course delighted but the requirement for further funds remains.

Miss Rigby after painstaking effort has created a Museum at the rear of her home to the memory of this undoubted heroine. Local residents and others have donated mementos but more are always needed from further afield - if any reader can assist in any way it would be much appreciated. Monetary donations were also requested and obtained to aid the necessary building work - without them the project might never have commenced. Contributions by Awards For All through the National Lottery and R.D.A. Small Projects Fund via Southern Marches Partnership are especially acknowledged.

The official opening of the Museum and the Millennium Green took place on Saturday 24th June 2000 and the ceremony was performed by Miss Virginia McKenna who starred as Violette in the famous film Carve her Name with Pride.
RSARS Member Mrs. Ursula Sadler, GØIHM, herself a former member of FANY, was present and her account of the event and a picture showing her operating the Special Event Station GB2SZB is available from our (internal) Links list.

The Wye Valley Brewery launched a series of "Famous Name" ales and its first was "Resistance" dedicated to Violette. A limited number of bottles of this special ale is available at the Museum.

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On 14th May 2003 The Queen (Patron of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association) unveiled the first national memorial in honour of recipients of those medals in Westminster Abbey.

     

The Memorial is a stone plaque depicting the two medals and the words
"Remember their valour and gallantry"
The Sermon was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. There were 11 surviving holders of the VC and 23 of the GC present at the Service.

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TO VISIT THE MUSEUM

Our "Plan your visit" page is available from our (internal) Links list and includes a map, the national and local weather forecast, and other items, a study of this would enable you to plan your journey to the Museum and enjoy your visit to best advantage.

TOP & LINKS