Morse operator, 94, receives France's Legion D'Honneur for services during WW2.

[Ham4CW]

I was listening to BFBS (radio station for Armed Forces and veterans), when an article mentioning Anne Ponsonby (a 94 year old WW2 radio interceptor) was broadcast. Here's a quote from the Mirror news paper...

A pensioner has been awarded France?s highest honour for her service during the Second World War.

Anne Ponsonby, 94, was presented with the Legion d?Honneur for using Morse code to receive and send messages to the French Resistance.

During the war, Mrs Ponsoby trained as a wireless operator and supported the Special Operations Executive (SOE), who worked with the French resistance against Nazi occupiers.

The medal was presented by the Commandant of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), Brigadier Philippa Lorimer MBE.

She said: ?Anne, on behalf of the French Government and the people of France, it is our privilege and huge honour to be the people who formally present you with your Legion d?Honneur medal.

The full article can be viewed here:- https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/morse-code-expert-94-receives-14205016

Considering she received such a high honour there seems to be little mention of it online :-*

The article in the Mirror says that she "spent the war working at various signal stations in the UK - sending and receiving messages from the French Resistance." However, the article on BFBS said that she started out as a secretary at one of the UK listening stations, but was moved over to radio intercept work due to her fluent German.

Either way, a great radio operator! bd

73, Mark...

 

[gm5bkc]

Thanks for posting that link !!  Pretty interesting, as well as the added info you heard in the broadcast.

We just finished watching the entire series of "Foyle's War" episodes.  While not really connected to radio use, the SOE was a big part of the series.

Glenn AE0Q

 

[Ham4CW]

Hiya Glen.

I have tried searching a few times since my post to see if I can find any more info, but the only other article that turned up seemed to be a copy of the daily mirror article (or a very near clone ;D).

I have no doubt there are a good many forgotten heroes languishing in retirement homes and hospitals. Not forgetting those from more recent conflicts too.

That's why I like to listen to BFBS when I get the chance. Some of their programming is modern day "Good Morning Vietnam" type material, but other sections can be very interesting in that you get to hear military news and articles such as the one about Anne mentioned at the start of this thread.

You can find their website here:- https://www.bfbs.com/

I listen to BFBS via the local DAB digital network, but I think you can stream the station via their website(?).

Although primarily British Forces orientated they do cover many other military topics from forces around the world.

73, Mark...