Leyton & Leytonstone

Historical Society

Peggy Knight, The Leyton Typist with Nerves of Steel (continued)

The French Resistance and the UK and US governments were agreed that the priority was to give support to the planned landing of troops on the continent.  They did not want what would now be called terrorist attacks on German forces and French collaborators. Despite the awkward reception Peggy received from the Resistance, the time was favourable for co-operation.  Peggy’s shortened training reflected the urgency of strengthening the Resistance’s capability of undermining a German defence of the forthcoming Allied invasion.

After a few days Peggy and Noel moved to Aillant-sur-Tholon but the radio communications equipment did not go with them.  Then Noel went to Paris with the circuit leader Frager.  

Frager and his deputy Roger Bardet killed Michel and Richard Armand Lansdell as traitors, though Lansdell had been flown from England only one week earlier than Peggy.

During her training in Britain Peggy had been noted as too fiercely patriotic.  She took an opportunity to speak to Roger Bardet alone, and told him she disliked the way he criticised Britain when members of the group were together.  Peggy’s straightforward and unqualified loyalty to Britain impressed Bardet and his conversation became more acceptable.

Operation of Peggy’s part of the 'Donkeyman' circuit improved somewhat, with Noel able to use his radio transmitter near Sommecaise, and it carried out a successful operation to damage a railway line with explosives.  

The Germans were conscripting French men into forced labour.  To avoid this many went into hiding as the ‘maquis’.  Peggy like other young women became particularly useful as a courier, travelling long distances by bicycle and foot to pass messages round the Resistance.  Would it not have been better for local French women to run these errands ?  They could give genuine information when passing through checkpoints.  The implication is that the SOE preferred its own messengers, an attitude that must have increased tensions.