This unusual Memorial has a bust of Violette Szabo over a plaque mounted on the plinth which reads:
"S.O.E.
THE
SPECIAL OPERATIONS EXECTUIVE
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 MEMORIAL 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 IN PRIDE"
Another plaque explains:
"THE MAQUIS
FRENCH RESISTANCE FIGHTERS
470 S.O.E. 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
1921-1944
WHOSE SCULPTURE IS ON THE PLINTH AND WHO WAS
POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE GEORGE CROSS AND
THE CROIX DE GUERRE, WAS AMONG THE 117 S.O.E. AGENTS WHO
DID NOT SURVIVE THEIR MISSIONS TO FRANCE."
A third plaque reads:
"THE HEROES OF TELEMARK
IN 1943 NORWEGIAN RESISTANCE COMMANDOS
SPONSORED BY THE S.O.E.
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 INT EH MANUFACTURE OF
THE ATOMIC BOMB.
THANKS TO THOSE HEROIC NORWEGIAN COMMANDOS
THE ENEMIES ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP
THE ATOMIC BOMB WAS THWARTED."
The artist is Karen Newman.
Watch a video of the Memorial's dedication at (
visit link)