IN REMEMBRANCE Ensign

IN REMEMBRANCE Ensign Violette Szabo Special Operations Executive By kind permission of Tania Szabo Born in France in 1921, Violette grew up in London. During the Second World War she was recruited into the Special Operations Executive. In 1943 she was captured by the Germans during a mission in occupied France. She never gave up any information of value and in August 1944 she was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. In January 1945, with Allied liberation forces approaching, the Germans executed her and burnt her body. Violette was posthumously awarded the George Cross for her courage. Commemorated on the Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial, Panel 26. CEMETERY PLOTS 1–1a South African 2 New Zealand 2a Muslim 3 Canadian 4 Australian 5–6 British 7 South African 8 New Zealand 9 Canadian 10 Newfoundland 11 Australian 12–14 British 15 German 16 Italian 20–25 Air Forces 26 Belgian 27 Polish 28 Czechoslovakian 29 French 30–62 Canadian 63 Royal Hospital Chelsea Burial Ground 30a–34a British and Polish 133 Post Second World War Annexe A Canadian Post Second World War Service Burials B ABMC 1914–1918 Cemetery & Memorial Flying Officer Joseph William Watson Royal Canadian Air Force Sometimes, servicemen who died together are buried together. On 5 April 1945 the crew of a Lancaster bomber of the Royal Canadian Air Force took off from Yorkshire to bomb targets in Germany. The aircraft was badly damaged during the raid and they crashed as they attempted to land on their return. The entire crew was killed, including 34-year old Flying Officer Joe Watson. The crew were laid to rest side-by-side in Brookwood. Buried in Plot 51, Row F. © VAC