Bust | War dead | WW2

Violette Szabo & SOE

Erection date: /10/2009

Inscription

{On the front of the plinth:}
S. O. E.
The Special Operations Executive was secretly formed for the purpose of recruiting agents, men and women of many nationalities, who would volunteer to continue the fight for freedom, by performing acts of sabotage in countries occupied by the enemy during the Second World War.

This monument is in honour of all the courageous S.O.E. Agents: those who did survive and those who did not survive their perilous missions. Their services were beyond the call of duty. In the pages of history their names are carved with pride.

{Lower down, another bronze plaque:}
With gratitude to all those who donated this monument was commissioned by the Public Memorials Appeal,
Patron - His Grace the Duke of Wellington KG,
Trustees - Ivan Saxton (Founder)
Lady Barbirolli OBE
Michael Kennedy CBE
Ian Davidson (Hon. Sec.)

{On the southern face of the plaque:}
The Maquis - French Resistance Fighters
470 SOE agents were sent on sabotage missions to occupied France where they fought with networks of French resistance fighters who played an important part in the liberation of France in 1944.

Violette Szabo, 1921 - 1945, whose sculpture is on this plinth and who was posthumously awarded the George Cross and the Croix de Guerre, was among the 117 SOE agents who did not survive their missions to France.

{On the northern face of the plinth:}
The Heroes of Telemark
In 1943 Norwegian resistance commandos sponsored by the SOE raided the enemy occupied Norsk hydro plant in the Telemark region of Norway. This successful raid sabotaged the machinery that was producing heavy water which is used in the manufacture of the atomic bomb. Thanks to those heroic Norwegian commandos the enemy's attempt to develop the atomic bomb was thwarted.

{The back of the sculpture carries a little plaque:}
Sculptor: Karen Newman

Unveiled by the Duke.

Site: Violette Szabo & SOE (1 memorial)

SE1, Albert Embankment

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Violette Szabo & SOE

Subjects commemorated i

French Resistance / The Maquis

French resistance fighters in WW2. 470 SOE agents were sent on sabotage missi...

Read More

Special Operations Executive (SOE)

Spies, basically (but see below), working for the UK in WW2. Formed by Church...

Read More

Heroes of Telemark

In 1943 Norwegian resistance commandos sponsored by the SOE raided the enemy-...

Read More

Violette Szabo, GC, CdeG

British secret agent in WW2. Born in Paris as Violette Bushell of a French mo...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Violette Szabo & SOE

Created by i

Public Memorials Appeal

Public Memorials Appeal

Read More

Karen Newman

Sculptor. Born London in about 1953.

Read More

Brigadier Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, KG, LVO, OBE, MC.

Arthur Valerian Wellesley was born on 2 July 1915 in Rome, Italy. His Wikipe...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Linacre bust

Linacre bust

NW1, St Andrew's Place, Royal College of Physicians

This bust is fixed to the wall of the building in the garden seen in the picture.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
National Portrait Gallery - Roubiliac

National Portrait Gallery - Roubiliac

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east...

1 subject commemorated
Old Westminster Library - head 4 - Dryden

Old Westminster Library - head 4 - Dryden

SW1, Great Smith Street

The foundation stone is immediately to the right of the central entrance. Above the entrance: "Westminster Public Library, The united pa...

1 subject commemorated
Bloomsbury House - Thomas Arnold

Bloomsbury House - Thomas Arnold

WC1, Bloomsbury Square, 2-3

Bloomsbury House was built in 1887 for the College of Preceptors.  Designed by by F. Pinches it is Listed Grade 1.  The College, now call...

1 subject commemorated
T P O'Connor bust

T P O'Connor bust

EC4, Fleet Street, 78, Chronicle House

{On a plaque below the bust:} T. P. O'Connor, journalist & parliamentarian, 1848 - 1929. His pen could lay bare the bones of a book...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator