Lise Marie Jeannette de Baissac was born in Mauritius of French descent and British Nationality. She was born into a very wealthy family.
During WW2 Baissac came to Britain after the fall of France and joined the French Section of the Special Operations Executive. She quickly impressed the High ranking Officers at S.O.E. and she was trained not as a courier or wireless operator...but to set up her own network and organise resistance. Lise was obviously a very capable and assured woman who did inspire confidence and showed herself to be a quick thinker and cool under pressure.
After training Lise was sent to France on the..24th September 1942. Her mission was to set up a safe house at Poitiers where new agents could settle into their new covert surroundings.
Lise was successful in carrying out various clandestine operations which included..sabotage,arms drops,reception,taking care of British Airman and wireless operators.
Captain Blackman leader of an S.A.S. party parachuted into France, behind enemy lines in July 1944. Wrote in his report:Lise risked her life daily carrying wireless material and secret documents. He went on to state..The part she played in aiding the Maquis and British Underground Movements in France cannot be too highly stressed and did much to facilitate the Maquis in preparation and resistance prior to the American breakthrough in Mayenne.
Lise also carried out tyre bursting operations near St Aubin-le-Desert, St Mars and as far as Laval, Le Mans and Rennes. The tyre bursting explosives placed on the roads caused many German casualties..and slowed down their advance.
Colonel Buckmaster Head of the French Section of S.O.E. proposed Lise de Baissac for the George Medal. This was downgraded to an M.B.E. by the War Office. Much to the annoyance of Colonel Buckmaster.
After the war Lise married Henri Villameur a fashionable interior designer and they had no children.
Lise led a normal life after the war and never talked about her role with S.O.E. She had a very active social life and died at the age of 98.
AWARDS:
MBE (British Government)
Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur and Croix de Guerre avec Palme.
Mentioned in Books: Valiant Work of S.O.E. - M.R.D. Foot.
Special Operations Executive in France.
Flames in the Field by Rita Kramer.
A very brave woman and it is disappointing to know she was not awarded a Gallantry Medal by the British Government.
THIS MEMORIAL: SALUTES YOU LISE de BAISSAC.
During WW2 Baissac came to Britain after the fall of France and joined the French Section of the Special Operations Executive. She quickly impressed the High ranking Officers at S.O.E. and she was trained not as a courier or wireless operator...but to set up her own network and organise resistance. Lise was obviously a very capable and assured woman who did inspire confidence and showed herself to be a quick thinker and cool under pressure.
After training Lise was sent to France on the..24th September 1942. Her mission was to set up a safe house at Poitiers where new agents could settle into their new covert surroundings.
Lise was successful in carrying out various clandestine operations which included..sabotage,arms drops,reception,taking care of British Airman and wireless operators.
Captain Blackman leader of an S.A.S. party parachuted into France, behind enemy lines in July 1944. Wrote in his report:Lise risked her life daily carrying wireless material and secret documents. He went on to state..The part she played in aiding the Maquis and British Underground Movements in France cannot be too highly stressed and did much to facilitate the Maquis in preparation and resistance prior to the American breakthrough in Mayenne.
Lise also carried out tyre bursting operations near St Aubin-le-Desert, St Mars and as far as Laval, Le Mans and Rennes. The tyre bursting explosives placed on the roads caused many German casualties..and slowed down their advance.
Colonel Buckmaster Head of the French Section of S.O.E. proposed Lise de Baissac for the George Medal. This was downgraded to an M.B.E. by the War Office. Much to the annoyance of Colonel Buckmaster.
After the war Lise married Henri Villameur a fashionable interior designer and they had no children.
Lise led a normal life after the war and never talked about her role with S.O.E. She had a very active social life and died at the age of 98.
AWARDS:
MBE (British Government)
Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur and Croix de Guerre avec Palme.
Mentioned in Books: Valiant Work of S.O.E. - M.R.D. Foot.
Special Operations Executive in France.
Flames in the Field by Rita Kramer.
A very brave woman and it is disappointing to know she was not awarded a Gallantry Medal by the British Government.
THIS MEMORIAL: SALUTES YOU LISE de BAISSAC.
Lise Marie Jeannette de Baissac was born in Mauritius of French descent and British Nationality. She was born into a very wealthy family.
During WW2 Baissac came to Britain after the fall of France and joined the French Section of the Special Operations Executive. She quickly impressed the High ranking Officers at S.O.E. and she was trained not as a courier or wireless operator...but to set up her own network and organise resistance. Lise was obviously a very capable and assured woman who did inspire confidence and showed herself to be a quick thinker and cool under pressure.
After training Lise was sent to France on the..24th September 1942. Her mission was to set up a safe house at Poitiers where new agents could settle into their new covert surroundings.
Lise was successful in carrying out various clandestine operations which included..sabotage,arms drops,reception,taking care of British Airman and wireless operators.
Captain Blackman leader of an S.A.S. party parachuted into France, behind enemy lines in July 1944. Wrote in his report:Lise risked her life daily carrying wireless material and secret documents. He went on to state..The part she played in aiding the Maquis and British Underground Movements in France cannot be too highly stressed and did much to facilitate the Maquis in preparation and resistance prior to the American breakthrough in Mayenne.
Lise also carried out tyre bursting operations near St Aubin-le-Desert, St Mars and as far as Laval, Le Mans and Rennes. The tyre bursting explosives placed on the roads caused many German casualties..and slowed down their advance.
Colonel Buckmaster Head of the French Section of S.O.E. proposed Lise de Baissac for the George Medal. This was downgraded to an M.B.E. by the War Office. Much to the annoyance of Colonel Buckmaster.
After the war Lise married Henri Villameur a fashionable interior designer and they had no children.
Lise led a normal life after the war and never talked about her role with S.O.E. She had a very active social life and died at the age of 98.
AWARDS:
MBE (British Government)
Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur and Croix de Guerre avec Palme.
Mentioned in Books: Valiant Work of S.O.E. - M.R.D. Foot.
Special Operations Executive in France.
Flames in the Field by Rita Kramer.
A very brave woman and it is disappointing to know she was not awarded a Gallantry Medal by the British Government.
THIS MEMORIAL: SALUTES YOU LISE de BAISSAC.
During WW2 Baissac came to Britain after the fall of France and joined the French Section of the Special Operations Executive. She quickly impressed the High ranking Officers at S.O.E. and she was trained not as a courier or wireless operator...but to set up her own network and organise resistance. Lise was obviously a very capable and assured woman who did inspire confidence and showed herself to be a quick thinker and cool under pressure.
After training Lise was sent to France on the..24th September 1942. Her mission was to set up a safe house at Poitiers where new agents could settle into their new covert surroundings.
Lise was successful in carrying out various clandestine operations which included..sabotage,arms drops,reception,taking care of British Airman and wireless operators.
Captain Blackman leader of an S.A.S. party parachuted into France, behind enemy lines in July 1944. Wrote in his report:Lise risked her life daily carrying wireless material and secret documents. He went on to state..The part she played in aiding the Maquis and British Underground Movements in France cannot be too highly stressed and did much to facilitate the Maquis in preparation and resistance prior to the American breakthrough in Mayenne.
Lise also carried out tyre bursting operations near St Aubin-le-Desert, St Mars and as far as Laval, Le Mans and Rennes. The tyre bursting explosives placed on the roads caused many German casualties..and slowed down their advance.
Colonel Buckmaster Head of the French Section of S.O.E. proposed Lise de Baissac for the George Medal. This was downgraded to an M.B.E. by the War Office. Much to the annoyance of Colonel Buckmaster.
After the war Lise married Henri Villameur a fashionable interior designer and they had no children.
Lise led a normal life after the war and never talked about her role with S.O.E. She had a very active social life and died at the age of 98.
AWARDS:
MBE (British Government)
Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur and Croix de Guerre avec Palme.
Mentioned in Books: Valiant Work of S.O.E. - M.R.D. Foot.
Special Operations Executive in France.
Flames in the Field by Rita Kramer.
A very brave woman and it is disappointing to know she was not awarded a Gallantry Medal by the British Government.
THIS MEMORIAL: SALUTES YOU LISE de BAISSAC.
