Since its inception in 1940, few women have ever received a George Cross. It is the most prestigious non-military award and is bestowed by the British government to those who have proven exceptional gallantry. Of the 408 recipients ever, 11 are women.
‘Carve Her Name with Pride’ relates the life of Violette Szabo, one of the first female recipients. Szabo received the award posthumously, it was presented to her daughter Tania by the King at Buckingham Palace.
Violette Szabo was widowed in 1942 and following the death of her husband, she accepted an offer to train as a field agent in the Special Operations Executive. Violette was bilingual, being fluent in both British and French, and an attractive recruit for the ‘F’ section.
Upon her first mission she was deployed to Roen, France, to assess the damage that German arrests had caused. Szabo returned to London unscathed, with the required information and a dress for her daughter in tow.
During her second mission, her car roused suspicion in German troops. A gunfight ensued in which Szabo killed a corporal and wounded other officers. However, eventually her ammunition supply was depleted and she was captured and interrogated. Violette was ultimately transferred to Ravensbrück concentration camp where she was forced to endure malnutrition and hard labour. In February 1945, Szabo was executed by the SS.
Violette Szabo is a figure of extraordinary patriotism and gallantry. As well as the George Cross, she has acquired two French awards: the Croix de Guerre and Resistance Medal. Violette risked her life working for her country, fighting the same forces which took her husband. Her legacy continues to inspire and awe.
A lockdown endeavour of my family’s, following our viewing of ‘Carve Her Name with Pride’, was to visit the Violette Szabo memorial. We found her bronze bust situated on the Albert Embankment, gazing at the River Thames and London beyond. The activity made for an enjoyable quarantine Sunday and consummated our education of Violette Szabo.
