Friday, 27 June 2025

HEROINES OF THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE - BERTHE MARCELLE MAYER MBE

 

Berthe was born in Switzerland

And was married to Percy Maher

So chose to work for the SOE

Berthe and Percy lived on Madagascar

When the Second World War began

So they started gathering intelligence

And sent reports to the SOE in Durban

She operated the radio for him

And when he was away on business

She collected intelligence on her own

When the Allies invaded in 1942

Berthe was living in Tananarive

The Vichy-controlled capital,

But continued on regardless

Though she was advised to stop

She was suspected by the authorities

But they were unable to prevent her

Despite looking for her radio

They were unable to find any evidence

Of her counterintelligence activities

In November 1943, Lord Harlech,

the High Commissioner to South Africa,

Presented Berthe with an MBE

In recognition of her clandestine work

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HEROINES OF THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE - ANNE-MARIE WALTERS MBE, CdG, MdlR

  She was born in Switzerland But worked for the French Resistance Under the Codename “Colette” From January 1944 until August 1944 ...