THIS DAY in 2007, Andrée de Jongh died.
Let me tell you about this amazing woman.
In WWII, codenamed Dédée, and aged just 21, she created the famous Comet Evasion Line to get Allied soldiers and airmen back to England.
Let me tell you about this amazing woman.
In WWII, codenamed Dédée, and aged just 21, she created the famous Comet Evasion Line to get Allied soldiers and airmen back to England.
She set up safehouses along the route from Belgium to Spain, procured clothes and false IDs, and ran the entire operation.
She personally made about 24 round trips before 'handing off' to other trusted couriers.
Arrested by the Nazis in January 1943, she did not break.
She personally made about 24 round trips before 'handing off' to other trusted couriers.
Arrested by the Nazis in January 1943, she did not break.
Her deputy - aged just 18 - carried on her work, and De Jongh was eventually sent to Ravensbrück and then Mauthausen Concentration Camp.
She survived the Concentration Camps, survived the war, to work in hospitals in Africa, dying in 2007.
She survived the Concentration Camps, survived the war, to work in hospitals in Africa, dying in 2007.
The British Colonel in Madrid who received her 'charges' would later call her a "pure heroine of legend."
During her work, the British supplied funds to support the Comet Line.
Much of this was unused, and at the end of the war De Jongh tried to return it.
Her offer was declined.
She used it instead to set up school scholarships.
Much of this was unused, and at the end of the war De Jongh tried to return it.
Her offer was declined.
She used it instead to set up school scholarships.
Her story became the inspiration for the 1977 BBC Drama series 'Secret Army', with actress Jan Francis playing 'Yvette' - directly based on Andree De Jongh - even wearing De Jongh's trademark beret and mackintosh.
'Secret Army' in turn, was of course parodied in BBC's 1982 comedy 'Allo, Allo'.
They kept the beret and mackintosh for Kirsten Cooke's character 'Michelle'.
They kept the beret and mackintosh for Kirsten Cooke's character 'Michelle'.
But behind it all is the real story of quiet courage of a 21-year-old from Belgium.
21 years old.
21 years old.
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