Odette Marie Léonie Céline Brailly, later known as Odette Churchill, Odette Sansom, and Odette Hallowes, was born on April 28, 1912, in Amiens, France. Her early years were marked by significant challenges, including serious illnesses that left her blind for three and a half years and bedridden for months. Despite these hardships, she received a convent education and grew up in the French coastal city of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
In 1931, Odette married Roy Patrick Sansom, an Englishman involved in the hotel trade. The couple moved to London and had three daughters. When World War II began, Roy joined the British Army, and Odette relocated to Somerset with her children for safety.
SOE Operative
In 1942, Odette’s life took a dramatic turn when she was recruited by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE). The SOE was established to conduct espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance in occupied Europe against the Axis powers. Odette’s fluency in French and her determination made her an ideal candidate for this perilous work.
On the night of November 2, 1942, Odette Sansom, code-named “Lise,” landed on a beach near Cassis in Northern France. She joined the Spindle network, which was led by Peter Churchill. As a courier, Odette’s responsibilities were crucial to the network’s operations. She was tasked with finding safe lodging for fellow agents, managing air drops of supplies, and maintaining communication lines.
The Spindle network’s primary activities included espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance against the Axis powers, particularly Germany. Odette played a vital role in these operations by delivering messages, coordinating with local resistance groups, and ensuring the smooth execution of sabotage missions. Her efforts significantly contributed to the disruption of German supply lines and communication networks.
Capture, Torture and Imprisonment
In January 1943, Odette and her comrades moved to a small hotel near Lake Annecy in the French Alps, believing they were safe. Odette, along with Peter Churchill, was captured by the German spy-hunter Hugo Bleicher on April 16, 1943. Bleicher, who was a member of the Abwehr (German military intelligence), had been tracking their activities and managed to infiltrate their network
After her capture she was taken to Fresnes Prison near Paris, where she was subjected to intense interrogation by the Gestapo. She endured fourteen sessions of interrogation, during which she was tortured. Her back was scorched with a red-hot poker, and all of her toenails were pulled out.
Despite the torture, Odette refused to reveal any information about her fellow agents or the operations of the Spindle network. She was kept in solitary confinement in a cell with hermetically sealed windows and given very little food, which caused her to fall ill. In June 1943, she was officially informed that she had been condemned to death as a French resistance worker and an English spa. Shé was subsequently imprisoned in Ravensbrück Concentration Camp.
Odette’s time in Ravensbrück was marked by extreme hardship and resilience. In Ravensbrück, Odette was kept in a punishment block cell, on a starvation diet, and could hear other prisoners being beaten, Despite the harsh conditions, she remained defiant and maintained her dignity. Her courage and determination to protect her comrades earned her great respect among her fellow prisoners. Odette’s imprisonment lasted until the end of the war, and she was eventually liberated in April 1945.
As the Allies approached Ravensbrück, the camp commandant, Fritz Suhren, compelled Odette Sansom to accompany him in his car. He drove towards the advancing American forces, hoping that her alleged connections to the Prime Minister would help him avoid execution. During this journey, Sansom took Suhren’s pistol, which is now displayed in the Imperial War Museum. Peter Churchill also survived the war.
Post War Legacy
Odette’s courage and resilience during her imprisonment made her one of the most celebrated members of the SOE. She was the first woman to be awarded the George Cross by the United Kingdom and received the Légion d’honneur from France. Her wartime experiences were later chronicled in books and a motion picture, further cementing her legacy.
After the war, Odette married Peter Churchill in 1947, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1955. She later married Geoffrey Hallowes in 1956. Odette continued to be an inspirational figure, sharing her story and advocating for the recognition of wartime heroes. She passed away on March 13, 1995, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England. Her legacy continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the sacrifices made for freedom and justice.
On February 23, 2012, the Royal Mail issued a postage stamp featuring Odette as part of its “Britons of Distinction” series. Additionally, on March 6, 2020, Great Western Railway named a Class 800 train in her honor. The naming ceremony took place at Paddington Station in London and was attended by Anne, Princess Royal.
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