Peter Churchill

Peter Churchill (1909 - 1972) was an agent of the secret service Special Operations Executive during the Second world war. Its missions brought it four times in France. It directed network SPINDLE in the south of France. It was stopped and off-set by the Germans, but survived.

Note: Peter Churchill does not have family ties with Winston Churchill.

Alias: Pierre Chauvet, Pierre Chambrun, “ Michel ”, “ Raoul ”.

Biography

1909 . - The January 14th 1909, birth of Peter Morland Churchill to Amsterdam.
Pupil of Malvern, public school.
At the University of Cambridge, it obtains an arts degree. He excels mainly in athletics and hockey.
1939 . - When the Second world war is declared, it becomes intelligence agent and joined the Special Operations Executive, section F.
1942 .
*Janvier. He is deposited in France by submarine, in Miramar, hamlet of Théoule-sur-Mer. Its mission consists in evaluating the network CHART.
*Il turns over in England. It is promoted Capitaine.
*Août. It turns over to France, with Montpellier (Herault), to organize network SPINDLE. Its name of war is “ Michel ”. It develops a relation with its operator radio operator Odette Sansom. Network SPINDLE directs the delivery of the supplies intended for the maquis. However, of many resistant the blazing lifestyle of Churchill and its lack of tact disapprove. It is folded up in Haute-Savoie with Faverges, close to Annecy.
*Finalement the Abwehr infiltrates the network.
1943
* March 23rd. In the night of the 23/24, Churchill turns over to England.
* April 15th. It is parachuted above Saint-Jorioz on banks of the lake of Annecy
* April 16th. Hugo Bleicher of Abwehr stops it, like Odette Sansom, with the post office building of Saint-Jorioz. They declare being married and related with Winston Churchill. They are tortured and sent in concentration camp, but escape the execution.
1947 . - Peter Churchill and Odette Sansom marry.
1956 . - They divorce
1972 . - Peter Churchill dies.

Memories of Peter Churchill

  • Off Their Own Choice , 1952
  • Duel off Wits , 1953
  • The Spirit off the Cage , 1954
  • By Moonlight , 1958

Sources

  • François Musard, Glières, March 26th, 1944 , Robert Laffont, 1965. Note on Peter Churchill in appendix.

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