FRANCE, BAY OF ANTIBES: WAR MONUMENT FORGOTTEN?

The site is the Bay of Antibes, France.

A monument has been set up to inform people about some important events that took place at the Bay of Antibes during the Second World War. I have passed the monument many times without paying any attention to the monument or the dramatic events described on the stone. Last year I decided to do some research about the persons and the events leading to the making of a war monument. The story is thrilling. The main keywords for the story are: Betrayed, sentenced to death, concentration camps, love, marriage, submarine, French Resistance, and courage. This is the story about Peter Churchill (1909 – 1972) and Odette Sansom (1912-1995).

Both were working for the British, Special Operations Executive (SOE). Captain Peter Churchill was dropped off by foldboats in the Bay of Antibes to work for the French Resistance in south of France. He was infiltrated into France four times, twice by submarine and twice by aircraft. Odette Sansom was born in France but had moved to England. She was recruited by SOE. After receiving basic training in England, she was taken to France to work as a radio operator. Peter Churchill and Odette Sansom worked together. They were betrayed by a German double agent. Odette Sansom was sentenced to death and send to Ravensbruck concentration camp. The execution was not carried out. Peter Churchill and Odette Sansom were married for about nine years after the war.

In 1950 the film: “ Odette” was released. The film was based on a book about Odette Sansom: “ Odette: The Story of a British Agent” written by Jerrard Tickell. The movie was directed by Herbert Wilcox. Starring: Anna Neagle plays Odette Sansom and Trevor Howard plays Peter Churchill. Peter Ustinov, Marius Goring and Bernard Lee are also playing in the movie. Next time you pay the Bay of Antibes a visit, take a look at the monument and think about two persons who never gave up the fight, who survived torture and the life in a concentration camp.

The film was the fourth most popular movie at the British box office in 1950.

After the war, Peter Churchill settled in France in a small village,
Le Rouret. He lived here until his death in 1972. He worked in real estates.
( For your information only: Le Rouret is located 10km from Grasse,26 km from Cannes and about 28km from Nice)