#SOE France

[alanmalcherhistorian]

Alexandre Schwatschko, field name Alexander Shaw: Air Landing Officer SOE French Section.

24 year old Alexandre Schwatschko aka Alexander Shaw Alexandre Schwatschko was born in Russia on 19 July 1919 to a wealthy family with property in the Ukraine and during the Bolshevik Revolution (8 March 1917 to 6 June 1923) the family moved to France. When war was declared in 1939 he enlisted into the French Air Force and served as a pilot until the fall of France in 1940. After being…

[historydailyfrancischappellblack]

French Resistance Operative André Jarrot During World War II

Subscriber Content Add content here that will only be visible to your subscribers. Payment On August 10/11, 1944, BCRA agent André Jarrot parachutes into German-occupied France from a USAAF B-24 with American stores for the Maquis in an SOE supported mission. André Jarrot was born on 13 December 1909 in Lux (Saône-et-Loire), into a Burgundian family of peasant origin. In 1927, after studying…

[eretzyisrael]

THURSDAY HERO: Nancy Wake

Nancy Wake was a gutsy journalist from Australia who became a leader of the Allied resistance and killed a Nazi with her bare hands.

Nancy Wake was a gutsy journalist from Australia who became a leader of the Allied resistance and killed a Nazi with her bare hands.

Born in New Zealand in 1912, Nancy was raised in Sydney. She ran away from home at age 16 and went to London, where she became a self-taught journalist.

As a young woman, Nancy described herself as someone who loved nothing more than a “good drink and handsome men, especially French men.” In 1930 she married Henri Edmond Fiocca, a wealthy French industrialist.

During the 1930’s Nancy worked for Hearst newspapers as a European correspondent. Stationed in Vienna, Nancy witnessed the rise of Nazism. She was shocked to see roving gangs of Nazis beating up Jews, and never forgot the sight of Jews chained to massive wheels and rolled through the streets. She later said, “I resolved there and then that if I ever had the chance I would do anything to make things more difficult for their rotten party.”

Nancy became a courier for the French resistance. Speaking perfect French, she worked with the “maquis” – guerrilla bands of resistance fighters. After Germany invaded France, she helped Allied POW’s and other personnel escape the country.

The Gestapo called Nancy the “White Mouse.” They tapped her phone and intercepted her mail. Nancy’s life was in constant danger.

Nancy described her method of avoiding detection by the Germans: “A little powder and a little drink on the way, and I’d pass their German posts and wink and say, ‘Do you want to search me?’ God, what a flirtatious little bastard I was.”

Nancy led repeated attacks on Gestapo headquarters. By 1943, she was the most wanted resistance fighter, with a 5 million franc price on her head.

After Nancy’s maquis network was betrayed, she fled France. Her husband stayed behind, and he was captured, tortured and killed by the Gestapo. Nancy, on her way across the Pyrenees to Spain, was unaware of her husband’s death until after the war.

In 1944, Nancy parachuted into France. Her assignment involved collecting and distributing arms and equipment that were sent in by parachute. Nancy was a highly successful recruiter, and is credited with bringing 7500 fighters into the resistance.

From April 1944 until the liberation of France in August 1944, Nancy’s band of maquisards fought 22,000 German soldiers, causing 1400 casualties while sustaining only 100 of their own.

At one point, Nancy killed an SS guard with her bare hands to stop him from raising the alarm during a raid. She later described how she did it, “They’d taught this judo-chop stuff with the flat of the hand at SOE [special operations training] and I practiced away at it. But this was the only time I used it – whack – and it killed him all right. I was really surprised.”

Another time, Nancy’s wireless operator was shut down in a German raid, and she rode her bicycle over 300 miles through German checkpoints to deliver the secret codes.

After the war, Nancy was awarded the United States Medal of Freedom, the Medaille de la Resistance, and the Croix de Guerre, among many other honors.

Nancy continued to work as an intelligence agent. She married a Royal Air Force officer in 1957 and for the next several decades they divided their time between London and Australia. Nancy’s autobiography, The White Mouse, was published in 1985 and became a bestseller.

Nancy’s husband died in 2001, and she returned to London permanently. She lived at the Stafford Hotel near Picadilly, her expenses largely paid for by the hotel’s owners, who were honored to host a renowned heroine. She could be found every morning at the hotel bar, drinking her first gin and tonic of the day.

Nancy died in 2011 at age 98. Her remarkable story has been the subject of multiple biographies and television mini-series.

For fighting the good fight against the Nazi war machine, we honor Nancy Wake as this week’s Thursday Hero.

[scullylovebot]

Happy 104th birthday to my dearest Peggy Carter! ❤️

For her birthday I have curated what I think her SHIELD file actually looks like, her timeline during the war, and some other things.

It all started because I watched a deleted scene from The Avengers where Steve is looking at some files, and we can see Peggy’s file, which is completely wrong and full of inconsistencies. Thank God it stayed in the deleted scene.

Before starting, this is information I gathered on my own, they are my headcanons, if you don’t agree that’s perfectly fine, just be respectful. If you want to share your opinion feel free to do so! Now, let’s get started.

Margaret Elizabeth Carter was born on April 9, 1921 in Hampstead, England. Daughter of Harrison and Amanda Carter, she also had an older brother, Michael, who was four years older than her. She attended Parliament Hill School from 1928 to 1936, obtaining her school certificate at the age of 15. Despite her wanting to attend college, she was not allowed due to her parents' belief that it was not lady-like. However, in 1937 she managed to join the Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS) by lying about her age, saying she had been born in 1919, making her 18.

She worked and trained there as a Staff Nurse (it looks like all nursing staff had officer ranks but this one was the lowest, and it didn't have an equivalent in the RAF). In June of 1939 the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) was created, she took the opportunity and transferred there. Her superiors realized she was rather good at math and languages so when operations started in Bletchley Park in 1940 she was sent there. While in the WAAF she was an Officer Cadet, as she was undergoing officer training, but this is not an actual rank. In Bletchley Park she worked as a code breaker and wireless operator.

Upon her brother's death in August of the same year, she joined the SOE which at the time was controlled by the Secret Intelligence Service aka Mi6, she trained there for the reminder of the year (4 months of training). She was parachuted into France in 1941 as a courier. She was a master at evasion and good at turning anything and everything into a weapon. After her mission was completed she was summoned to Cairo. There she stopped working for the SOE (but continued working in the MI6) and was transferred to the ATS obtaining a promotion to Second Subaltern. She was assigned to be the liaison between GHQ (General Headquarters in Cairo) and the newly formed Special Air Service (SAS). She provided them with intelligence and basic medical care, after a while she began going into missions with them.

She participated in the Battle of El Alamein where she was wounded by a gunshot to the shoulder. As women were not allowed to fight in active combat she was given orders to go home but Colonel Phillips recruited her to work for the SSR. In early 1943 she was sent on a mission to Germany to rescue Dr Erskine. In the US, the idea for Project Rebirth was born. Steve Rogers was recruited on May 5, 1943.

Because her rank is equivalent to that of a Second Lieutenant, she was in charge of a platoon (18-50 men), composed of three or more squads (6-12 men). Second Lieutenants are addressed as sir or ma'am, but because she worked with the SSR she was addressed as Agent. Steve received the serum on June 22, 1943, and was sent on tour to sell war bonds. She went back to Europe. They meet again in November 1943 when Steve rescues the 107th and forms the Howling Commandos. She worked all over Europe with and without the Howling Commandos, and also helped coordinate the operations of the SAS in Europe. In total she "... spent three years in the mud of the European theater. Eastern Front, Western Front, and everything in between." (Agent Carter s1e5).

At some point after the Commando Order was issued by Hitler in October of 1942, she was captured and almost executed by hanging, but she managed to escape.

At the end of the war in 1945 she was discharged from both the ATS and the MI6 but kept on the SSR, so she immigrated to the US. She was promoted from agent to Lieutenant after taking down Dr Johann Fennhoff. When the SSR began dissolving in 1949 she was recruited by Howard Stark and Colonel Phillips to direct SHIELD. Her role was Deputy Director until after 1955 because they do not address to her as the Director of SHIELD in AoS but they do say "she outranks us" (s7e3). She retired after 1989 but before 1995.

About her uniform; she wore a green uniform but it didn't match that of the ATS or FANY. It started as a regular ATS uniform, but being in the SAS gave her the opportunity to modify her uniform because it was a newly created detachment/regiment.

ATS uniform on the left, FANY on the right.

Peggy in uniform and battle dress. It could have been more historically accurate but who cares. (They took too many artistic liberties with her uniform)

I think she never wore the WAAF uniform which was blue because she was barely there like 4 months, she spent more time in the nurse's uniform.

Now! Military honors and awards. It took her some time to get recognition for her accomplishments but in total she has six military awards: the 1939-1945 star, the Africa star, the France and Germany star, the war medal, the Croix de Guerre, and the Medal of freedom.

She was a Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE), and also had one of these cute parachutists badges, on the left is the one awarded to other SOE members, and on the right the one belonging to the SAS. I can’t decide which one though.

I feel like I'm missing something but that's all I have for the moment, I hope you guys enjoy!

[girlactionfigure]

When he saw friends being persecuted because of their race, their religion, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.

He was shocked at the injustice, the discrimination, the violence. He was even more shocked at other friends, who said nothing or actually conspired with the persecutors.

Many lovers of literature know Samuel Beckett and his play, "Waiting for Godot". Beckett, who was born on April 13, 1906, was an Irish novelist, playwright, theater director, poet, and literary translator, who was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature.

What you may not know about him is that he had a secret - he had been a French Resistance spy, who received the Croix de Guerre and the Médaille de la Reconnaissance Française from the French government for his bravery during the war.

For three decades after the war, only a few of Beckett's closest friends knew of his secret - when he risked his life as a liaison agent (and translator of secret reports). Beckett also narrowly escaped arrest by the Gestapo in Paris in August 1942, after many of his cell were betrayed and deported to concentration camps, according to biographer James Knowlson.

Beckett, who lived in Paris most of his adult life, was in France during the German occupation. As an Irish citizen, he was publicly known to be neutral, but, secretly, he was horrified, disgusted at what he was witnessing, seeing the rise of Nazism and racial hatred. He saw Jewish friends abused, assaulted, then rounded up and arrested. He decided to stay in France as a symbol of sympathy for his French friends.

When one of his friends was arrested and sent to a concentration camp, Beckett helped his friend's wife, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, giving her his rations.

The wife would say, "In 1941, my husband Paul Léon was arrested and was being starved and tortured by the Germans (we were all in Paris at that time). I was trying to get food packages together and it was an almost impossible task. Sam Beckett used to bring me his bread ration and also his cigarette ration, so I could get them through to the camp. I will never forget this great kindness on his part. At that time he was probably in almost as much trouble as we were, and he certainly needed those rations himself."

Another friend would be killed by the Nazis, which would embolden Beckett to join the French Resistance and a Paris-based cell of British SOE (Special Operations Executive).

Beckett would say as he saw his friends being arrested, “you simply couldn’t stand by with your arms folded."

“I was so outraged by the Nazis," he would explain, "particularly by their treatment of the Jews, that I could not remain inactive."

Beckett would later be known for writing "Waiting for Godot" which many view as a play on existentialism, of "doing nothing," but others have different interpretations.

Scholar Marjorie Perloff would actually see in Beckett's work "Waiting for Godot" as "the tension between passivity and action that characterizes this very particular form of waiting — a waiting on the part of human beings thrust into a very particular — and wholly unknown —situation.”

Reviewer Graham Hassell saw the play as "an allegory of the Cold War" or of French Resistance to the Germans.

Beckett actually wrote in "Waiting for Godot":

"Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not."

The Jon S. Randal Peace Page

[that-left-turn]

What I don't understand is how they're trying to sell Daryl in the spin off. You could see a change starting in S11. His shirts got tighter and somehow, he looked more "styled" than in earlier seasons. They definitely tried to make him the male sex symbol but in the spin off, which was supposed to market him as the lone hero who's getting all the girls like James Bond, he looks rough, dirty and is definitely unflattering clothes. He doesn't look like the same man.

Is this intentional? Because as sad as it is, he lost his appeal. I'm not talking about the coat or the skinny scarf but his whole persona. And it's not the unusual and unassuming sexy look he had in earlier season which was a specific type.

Why did they choose the wardrobe, why the hairstyle? What mightve been their intention? From interviews they clearly wanted him to be the hero and Norman mentioned the hero has a love interest but why did they style him like the drunk uncle Luke?

That's what it looks like when you let the actor decide what the character should wear. Normally, the showrunner and costume designer discuss the vision for a cohesive look for the upcoming season in pre-production. There will be sketches, mood boards, fabric swatches, color palettes, etc. For this type of show, set design would also play a role because the setting (zombie post-apocalyptic horror in France) would affect what kind of clothing the characters wear.

I'd like to sincerely apologize to all French people for what Zabel did, imagining that you haven't progressed beyond the inter-war era and generally proving that he's just as ignorant as the stereotype of the 'stupid American.' It looks like he'll do worse by the Spaniards—how is that even possible?—by turning them into the Wild West. (I'm genuinely scared of S3 looking like settlers vs. Native Americans with all parts played by actors from one of the earlier occupying nations of the American Southwest.) Not all EPs are like Elmer Fudd.

In S1-2, Daryl looked like a dirty old man in his trench coat, which definitely isn't the look anyone strives for in a leading man, but I think Norman's aim could've been casual 60's rive gauche intellectual? It doesn't fit the character, but it also falls short of that mark too. It's just a bad mix of elements which don't work individually or together. The hair is definitely all Norman and I'm pretty sure Louis was cast because he has the texture and length that Norman wishes he had.

The rest of the show was mostly a cohesive WWII look with everything from Genet's menacing pseudo-SS apparel to Anna's lounge singer outfits and Isabelle's sensible 'SOE operative on the run' costumes, along with Carol's take on bomber pilot attire. Apart from the suspenders, Daryl is the odd one out and that's not normal for a show.

I know there was a lot of petulant complaints about wearing the CW soldier getup during S11 of the flagship show and that's why we seldom saw Daryl in uniform. It's possible that the costume designer for DarDix threw up their hands in surrender because Zabel would've sided with Norman and not his head of costuming. I don't think he understands the importance of clothes in storytelling, or that the showrunner is supposed to respect all the people who work for him.

I have another ask (on target audiences) which is relevant to what you're asking here, so once I get another chance to sit down and reply to something, you could check out that post for a more 'big picture' answer to your ask.

The shorter answer is that Norman wanted to look this way and ultimately, it wasn't a fight worth having. I assume he thinks "drunk uncle Luke" looks attractive and/or that's the look that appeals to his fiancée, so Norman has extrapolated from that that all women will find it sexy. The aloof, unkempt persona is a misguided choice and hypothetically, he might be styling it on the action heroes of the 70's, like Clint Eastwood, who played taciturn hard men. A male hero for emotionally repressed men (the uncle Lukes around us) who don't want to worry about personal hygiene.

[sleepdepravity]

By the way as you can expect the men in SOE doing work in France kept undermining and complaining about Victoria or just being plain incompetent like cmon guys

[socialitesleuth]

Hello Lady Penelope! Any book recommendations you can make for auto/biographies of spies/special/secret agents?

Hello Anon! What a fabulous question!

My first recommendation would have to be my own father's official biography, Home In Time For Tea not that I'm biased. I would also recommend anything regarding the Universal Secret Service, or the elite Spectrum organisation, though biographies of any sort are rather sparse when it comes to personnel.

However, if you wish for something more retro, I'd suggest one of the following:

They Fought Alone by Maurice Buckmaster and/or The White Mouse by Nancy Wake. Both are autobiographies, and both agents operated in France during the Second World War. Buckmaster was the head of the French Section of Britain's SOE during World War Two, and Wake was an agent of the same organisation as well as the French Resistance. Wake's story is rather remarkable - did you know she was the Gestapo's Most Wanted? At one point there was a five million Franc price for her capture.

Penelope

[alanmalcherhistorian]

The mysterious death of SOE agent Christopher Lord.

Christopher Lord. Christopher James Lord was born in Birmingham, England on 27 October 1900. He was recruited by SOE in 1942 whilst working for the Guaranty Trust Company of New York after previously working for American Express in Paris and his wife was serving as a lieutenant with the Free French based in London. It is known Lord arrived in France on 15 April 1943 with instructions to…

[herstory-storiesaboutwomen]

Krystyna Skarbek

Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek, OBE, GM (1 May 1908 - 15 June 1952), also known as Christine Granville, was a Polish agent of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War.

She became celebrated for her daring exploits in intelligence and irregular-warfare missions in Nazi-occupied Poland and France.

Journalist Alistair Horne, who described himself in 2012 as one of the few people still alive who had known Skarbek, called her the "bravest of the brave."

Spymaster Vera Atkins of the SOE described Skarbek as "very brave, very attractive, but a loner and a law unto herself." Via Wikipedia

Read also: "Krystyna Skarbek, also known by the alias Christine Granville, was a Polish woman-turned-British spy who had a remarkable espionage career. Not only do some say that Winston Churchill dubbed her his favorite spy, but it’s also believed that Ian Fleming based Casino Royale‘s Bond Girl, millionaire spy, Vesper Lynd, on Skarbek." source & more: Beautiful Portraits and the Incredible Stories of Jewish 'Bond Girl' Christine Granville, Who Was Churchill's Favorite Spy :https://www.vintag.es/2018/01/krystyna-skarbek-aka-christine-granville.html

#ChristineGranville#KrystynaSkarbek#femalespy#herstory#bravewomen#Polish#polishherstory#polishwoman#polishwomen#bravest#heroine

[petergirl10]

Sanctuary Behind The Scenes: Normandy (documents)

Damian Kindler (creator, executive producer & writer):... And the fun thing was, when I pitched the show, the network got freaked out, because the pitch was not like, "Here's four or five pages explaining what the story is and how it turns, and this is what it is." I sent cablegrams, and telegrams with all these... I mocked up, you know, "Eyes only", "Supreme... " You know, "From Eisenhower's desk," "Winston Churchill," "A letter from Helen Magnus," and then a Nazi cable to Berlin, saying "We've captured Helen Magnus," and then, you know, a secret communique from Magnus back to Eisenhower, saying, you know, "We're in Nazi hands," and "Mission failure," and all this stuff, and sent it to both Syfy and Space.

Instead of a regular four-page pitch, I sent in these fake documents that looked like they were from World War ll. They wrote back and went, "Cool. What's the story?" And I was like, "Did you read the telegram to Himmler from, you know, the SS Commander in Carentan?" And they're like, "What's the story?" So I ended up saying, "Look, you get the idea. They're in Nazi-occupied France, and stuff happens, and Druitt's there, and... I'll write the outline." They said, "Please." Um, but I had a lot of fun... Sol had a lot of fun immersing myself into that whole time in history.

PM W. L. S. Churchill, 10 Downing Street, London UK

My dearest Winston,

I hope this finds you well. I do wish to thank you for such a fine evening months ago at Tottenham. James thank you for the cigars and the case of Pimms. In this time of rationing, you are typically generous to a fault. Nigel also enjoying his new found freedom from England penal system in his own inimitable manner. I am keeping him busy and on the straight and narrow, no fear. As well, I am quite gratified to hear SOE's collaboration with Professor Tesla has borne fruit. His "autotype radio" could well to be our most reliable means of covert communication during the next stage of the War. I thank your staff for tolerating his ego during the testing phase. Not an easy thing to do.

To business. Unfortunately, a potential new threat to the war effort has come to my attention and I must speak with you at your earliest. In person, if you don't mind as the matter is a delicate one on me personally.

I am overseas at the moment, gathering evidence of this possible threat, but shall be in London next week and at your disposal.

Your warmest regards,

Helen

Helen Magnus, MD  May 15, 1944

================================

Supreme Headquarters

Allied Expeditionary Force

Office of the Supreme Commander

6 June 1944

.... EYES ONLY......CLASSIRIED....RECEIVED VIA AUTOTYPE....

RE: OPERATION ‘TALON’ .... SIT REP AS FOLLOWS;

04:28 HOURS..... MISSION OBJECTIVE ALTERED

AWARE INVASION FLEET HAS SAILED.... BEACH LANDINGS IMMINENT WITHIN HOURS....

.... URGENT INFORMATION AS FOLLOWS.....

....HAVE ESCAPED CARENTAN SS BUNKER WITH VITAL INTELLIGENCE TO D-DAY EFFORT THANKS TO BRAVE ASSISTANCE

FROM 5th PLATOON, FOX COMPANY, 101st AIRBORNE RANGERS..... MANY CASUALTIES.

JOHN DRUITT NO LONGER CONSIDERED ENEMY COMBATANT..... REPEAT, JOHN DRUIT NO LONGER MISSION TARGET..... REASON AS FOLLOWS....

......NEW THREAT TO OVERLORD DETECTED MASSIVE THERMAL ELEMENTAL CREATURE TO BE UNLEASHED ONTO COASTLINE...

... ARE MOUNTING AN ATTACK OH NAZI STRONGHOLD HOUSING THE CREATURE WITH DRUITT. WATSON, GRIFFIN PLUS SURVIVING ELEMENTS OF 101s RANGERS.... RISK OF FAILURE VERY HIGH....

.... BE ADVISED: INVASION ARMADA IN GRAVE DANGER......

... TURN BACK ALL SHIPS IMMEDIATELY OR ALL WILL BE LOST....

HELEN MAGNUS

[wexhappyxfew]

AND THEN THE DAWN CAME

OC masterlist for the band of brothers fic

tags to look at: #attdc #and then the dawn came #esther armstrong #mercy codona, etc….

ESTHER ‘ESSIE’, ‘FUBAR’, ARMSTRONG

-> war correspondent for the us airborne (101st, company E), trying to make a name for herself in this world by telling the stories that no one wants to tell

MERCY ‘HALF-PINT’ CODONA

-> war photographer for the us airborne (101st, company E), esther armstrong’s most trusted companion, running from her past into a future that’s nothing more than a blur. at least a camera can keep her in the present

MARGARETA ‘MARGOT’ GERINGHER

-> double agent for the SIS in britain, proclaimed legally dead by the world it seems, but is doing everything she can to get back at the germans, even pushing herself to the breaking point to get revenge on her mother

LUCY GARDNER

-> rogue SOE agent with a foggy past, previously having graduated from oxford, having been stranded in both the desert in north africa and the bavarian alps, now running with the red devils in holland

ROLANDE PELLETIER

-> member of the maquis with ties to a few prison cycles in marseilles, partaking in the normandy operations, paired with a stubborn oss agent who does nothing more than sit quietly

MILDRED ‘ MILLIE’ CARTER

-> oss agent with a traumatizing history in berlin, now freed and escaped, but with a heavy burden on her shoulders, trying to make up for something or other without getting too close to the sun

YVETTE ST. CLAIR

-> ex maquis member, previously on the run, who lost everything but a wrist watch through the war, and is doing nothing more than trying to save the lives of people she can still save, having found herself in normandy

JEANNIE DESCHAMPS

-> maquis member, who works covertly as a translator, knowing 5 languages, trying to save the life of a russian sniper after a freak break-out from a prison cycle in marseilles, who says knew her missing brother

MIRIAM ‘MITZI’ ZAKHAROVA KASATKINA

-> russian sniper who found herself tangled in the lives of vichy, france, and was tried for far too many counts alongside the brother of a maquis member who helped to get her out

PADMAVATI ‘PUJA’ SOLANKI

-> member of the british 8th army, working as a translator of 5 languages, who has a chance run-in with a few people from her past and a fellow oxford graduate

[overlookedwwiimedia]

Carve Her Name with Pride (1958)

Basic Story: Violette Szabo joins the SOE after her husband in the French Army is killed at El Alamein.

Fan Thoughts: Carve Her Name with Pride is based on the biography of the real Violette Szabo with he same title.  The film starts when Violette meets her soon to be husband Etienne Szabo, an officer in the French Army, in London and after a quick courtship they are married and have a daughter, Tania.  Etienne is killed at El Alamein having never met his now two-year-old daughter, and shortly after Violette is approached by the SOE due to her fluency in French and English as well as her marksmanship.  After going through training along with several other women, she is flown into France with Captain Tony Fraser to identify who is left from the French Resistance group he helped create in Rouen and to blow up a nearby viaduct.  Violette successfully gathers the information she needs and passes on the message to the remaining Resistance members that the viaduct is their next target.  Once home, she is relieved to learn she will not be sent to France again because it would be too dangerous, until the number of trained agents runs thin and the SOE asks her to go back for another mission.  Unfortunately, Violette’s luck runs out and she is ultimately captured by the Germans but refuses to give them any information on her mission or fellow agents.  Virginia McKenna was nominated for a BAFTA for her performance in this film, and she really does shine in the role, especially toward the end of the film as her future looks bleaker by the moment yet she retains her strength and compassion.  There are small details that aren’t quite right but this film does a wonderful job of telling the story of a woman who was brave until the very end.

Warnings: none

Available On: Prime Video, YouTube, Sling TV

[floydmtalbert]

I have the house to myself tomorrow (!!) and I’m planning to cuddle my dogs, do a bit of writing, and have a Powell & Pressburger marathon. Join in the sleepover vibe and send me some questions maybe? 💕 Freestyle it or choose from:

✨ some general writing asks

✨ OC asks

✨ shippy asks (heads up: some of these are NSFW)

(If you haven’t been introduced to my OCs yet, there is a list of my faves below the cut!)

Louise Johnson

Lou was born and raised in the Kent countryside, but moves to London to work as a secretary before the war. After a year or so in the WAAF, she is recruited into the Special Operations Executive and dropped into occupied France as a special agent. A Band of Brothers OC, paired with Floyd Talbert, but has also been cloned into the Masters of the Air universe, where she meets a certain Rosie Rosenthal…

Emily Johnson

Emily is Lou’s older sister. She is solemn and shy, a contrast to Lou’s boldness and wicked sense of humour, but when the sisters reconcile they find they share more than they thought.

Ruth Lawrence

During the Battle of Britain, Ruth worked alongside Louise as a WAAF plotter at RAF Kenley, but left the service when she got married. She lives with her husband Tim in London.

Virginia Harris

Vee, as she is known to her friends, is the life and soul of the party. A nursing officer, she works in a RAF hospital in Scotland, alongside her close friend and fellow nurse Ada Monroe.

John Ferraby

Half-French, half-English, John is a lieutenant in the Royal Signals and an SOE wireless operator. He is teamed up with Louise prior to D-Day.

Rosie Clifton

The Honourable Rosalie Clifton, to give her full title, is the only daughter in a wealthy English family. Her father and brothers love parties, fast cars, and drinking; Rosie does not. But she does share their love of aircraft and flying. During the war Rosie joins the Air Transport Auxiliary. A Masters of the Air OC.

[lobinilo]

What are your favourite Jonah’s projects? ☺️🎬

~ plays TikTok Sound~

OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE THIS QUESTIOOOONNN

So since May 2023 (what happened there? I have no idea 😉) I've watched everything Jonah-related I could get my hands on (except for Little Women, but I'm definetly going to watch that later this year).

My top 3 Jonah projects OTHER than The Little Mermaid (because truth be told, I think it's pretty clear how obsessed I am with that movie and it's not really a fair comparison to some of the more indepent, even low budget projects Jonah has starred in) so far:

1. World on Fire (2019 - 2023)

created by: Peter Bowker directed by: Chanya Button, Thomas Napper, Adam Smith, Andy Wilson Jonah plays: Harry Chase

Big shocker, right? Given how much I already rambled about Harry and Kasia (my traumatised parents) and how upset I was when they cancelled it. I will always mourn this show for the huge potential it had.

World on Fire is a BBC-show following different people in Britain, Poland, Germany and France (with some American viewpoints as well) as they have to endure and navigate their life through World War II. Doesnt really sound like anything we haven't seen, right? However, World on Fire is worth checking out imo, since it differs a lot from the usual Hollywood-infused war epics, because rather than focusing on the politics or the big battles, the show looks more closely at the everyday person that actually had to live through this tragedy and how they deal with what's happening. That being said, obviously this is still a show about WW II, so there definitely IS depiction of violence, murder and torture, as well as bombings, gunfire etc., so please be careful if you find any of those things triggering. I personally found some episodes quite hard to get through.

I think it's interesting that Jonah's filmography is very heavy on projects set during or related to WW II (additionally to WoF you have The Song of Names, Ashes in the Snow and ofc coming up The Tattooist of Auschwitz). Theories on why that is are welcome!

Harry Chase (brilliantly brought to life by our favourite British simp) differs quite a bit from many of Jonah's other roles in that he`s not your heroic, clean-cut good guy (like Andrius, Lucas, Mo or Prince Eric). He's insecure and a little helpless, even cowardly at times. Harry starts out as a translator, but later joins the British Army and the SOE. He fucks up repeatedly, both in his role as lieutenant, as well as in his personal life. Even though most of the time he means well, his cowardice ends up hurting a lot of people and leads him to be in the middle of a love triangle. (Though to me it's not a triangle, but rather a straight line, Team Kasia all the way.)

Harry, though deeply troubled, is a very kind and soft soul. That doesn't really pair well with the acts of war, as well as british society in the 1940s in general, which leads to conflict with other characters and their idea of who he should be. Especially when he clashes with his mother Robina (portrayed by the absolute MAGNIFICENT Lesley Manville, shes giving Emily Gilmore in the best way possible), Jonahs acting is ON POINT. His performance is so nuanced: He's angry, he's desperate, he's sad, but also condescending, sarcastic and hostile towards her. The interesting thing about Harry is the journey he takes. To watch him try to better himself by dealing with past trauma and taking responsibility for present mistakes. The real standout for his character is episode 5 of season 1 where he finally steps up and takes charge. This is also when he starts earning the respect of his sergeant Stan (Blake Harrison) for the first time - they have a real bromance, both on and off the show, I LIVE for these two.

But - just like in real life - he doesn't have this one breakthrough moment and everything is smooth sailing from there. He fluctuates, just like a real person would. He still has the tendency to run away from his problems, but I think what he's seen in the war, what happened at home and (yes, I'm making this about my ship) his love for Kasia (Zofia Wichlacz) make him realise the type of man he wants to be and he would probably try to act accordingly IF WE GOT A THIRD SEASON, BBC! 😤😡🤬

2. Old Boys (2018)

directed by: Toby MacDonald Jonah plays: Henry "Winch" Winchester

If you can only watch one Jonah movie, I beg of you MAKE IT THIS ONE!

I`ve found next to nothing about Old Boys and that seriously has to change. (watched the entire movie again, getting my non-existing gif-making skills ready, just the night before I got this ask, talk about fate)

This movie is so underrated, it doesn't even have a Wikipedia entry. Make it make sense! How is nobody watching this cutie-patootie work of art? Its adorkable in the best sense of the word, it's heartwarming, a little silly and oh! so funny!

It's losely based on the play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, set in an all-boys british boarding school in the 1980s. Given the source material, catfishing is definetly a thing here, keep that in mind if you might find that topic difficult.

Alex Lawther's character Amberson (cliché school nerd and victim of bullying) falls in love with the new french teachers daughter Agnes (Pauline Etienne) who in turn has a crush on First-Class-Himbo Winch (portrayed by a beautiful, dimple-faced, british actor). Because Agnes is very artistic and looking for someone that matches her vibe, Amberson helps Winch to try to impress her, because Winch himself is... well... a little dim 😅.

Winch is easily my favourite Jonah character to date (yes, including Prince Eric). I have seriously considered changing my tumblr-name to themightywinch because of him. I mean... he's corteous and punctual, after all 🤣😍.

While not the main character, he's definetly the highlight of the movie. Jonah is likeable, charming, the right kind of awkward in the right moments, has fantastic comedic timing and great chemistry with Alex Lawther.

Just look at that scene alone! IT`S. SO. CUTE!!! (cute-raging over here 😡) Watching this just makes you wish Jonah would star in more comedies, because he definetly has the skills for it! This is just a feel-good movie that leaves you smiling with a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart. It has easily become one of my new comfort watches. Old Boys just never fails to make me laugh and I wish it would get more attention and recognition since it definetly deserves it! (like at least write a Wikipedia article about it) Btw, I bought this on Prime for 99ct, best money I ever spend!

3. The Last Photograph (2017)

(the trailer says 2019, but the movie was originally shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2017)

directed by: Danny Huston Jonah plays: Luke Hammond

Fair warning, this movie is gut-wrenching. I don't know if this qualifies as an actual trigger-warning, but this movie deals with the loss of a child/ death of a young person, as well as the real life tragedy of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombed in 1988 so proceed with caution.

Luke Hammond (Dimples McGee) is on said flight to visit his long-distance girlfriend Kate (Stacy Martin) in New York. Kate's and Luke's first meeting is a little awkward imo, I think it's meant to be like a meet-cute, especially with the whole "Bird"-thing, it just doesn't really work for me. But the rest of their love story is very endearing, they're just two young people experiencing love for the first time. Their time together is told through seemingly random, incoherent flashbacks and memories, just giving little glimpses of what their relationship was like and it's the cutest thing. Little intimate touches, hidden smiles, shared laughter... It's shot in a way as if you're watching them through rose-colored glasses, which is probably the point.

I love the way this movie uses different lighting and colour changes to depict a difference in the time line as well as the emotional state of the characters.

We only see Luke in flashbacks (guess why) and follow his dad Tom (Danny Huston) in present day (which in this case means 2003) as he is desperately trying to retrieve the last photograph (hence the titel) he possesses of his son after his bag was stolen. To see Tom slowly losing his grip as he grows more and more desperate to find the picture is truely heartbreaking. (It's a polaroid, so there are no copies, this is truely the last memory he has of Luke. God, I'm tearing up while writing this.)

Because Luke is basically just seen through the memory of his father who obviously holds him in high regard/ romanticizes the idea of his son, he is portrayed in a solely positive light, which usually wouldn't give much dimension to his character. Yet Jonah still manages to fill this role with life and witt and charisma, making you understand why Bird fell for him. He's sweet, romantic, a little bit shy, which works really well here, has the cutest laugh and clearly cares really deeply for his father. He's definetly portrayed as the "you simply have to love him" kinda guy, which is why his absence cuts so deep.

This is also in huge parts due to Danny Huston's performance. Honestly, the sweater-scenes (or jumper, if you're british 😉) almost broke me. And don't even get me started on his letter to Kate or Kate's letter to him... ugh. It's. So. SAD.

This is obviously not for everyday watch. However, even though The Last Photograph is heartbreaking, it doesn't necessarily leave you hopeless and depressed. This movie feels like a loving tribute to an actual person and therefore has a beauty in its melancholy. Throughout Tom's journey there is hope and forgiveness towards himself. There's a beautiful symmetry to the whole thing. The ending feels almost satisfying if you can say that in this context.

I also wanna give a shoutout to This Is The Night (2021). The movie itself isn't that great, it's a little all over the place and I think they tried to do a little too much all at once. But I looo~oooved Jonah in this, Christians character arc is by far the most interesting one and I wish the script gave their character justice in the way Jonah's and Naomi's acting did. (Also this is the HOTTEST he's ever looked which is a bit ironic).

This list is probably going to be outdated soon, since he has a lot coming out in the near future (I'm especially excited for Rich Flu).

Sorry, if this is too long and rambly and if it took too long for me to answer, I got a little carried away and suddenly had a lot of gifs to make 😅.

Thank you soooo much for the ask, @measuredmotion ❤️.

[footprintsinthesxnd]

Loving Her Was Red Moodboards

Lois Drake

Special Operations Executive (SOE)

Born and raised in England

Lois had been hurt far too many times to really trust men again but there was something about the handsome red-haired paratrooper that changed her mind. Maybe, just maybe this time love would be different.

Dick Winters

Lieutenant and Companding Officer of Easy Company 101st Airborne Division

Dick never intended to fall in love, he wanted to concentrate on his training, his company and the war. That was until Lois Drake strolled into his life and completely changed his view on the world.

Kate Blythe

Special Operations Executive (SOE)

Kate is Lois’ best friend. She is fully of life, fun loving and wears her heart on her sleeve. Despite Lois being far more reserved they get on like a house on fire. Kate’s keen eyes soon catch sight of Donald Malarkey who soon wins over her heart too.

Raoul Ambroise

French Resistance

Raoul is partnered with Lois and Ray for Operation Jedburgh. They parachute into occupied France on D-Day to assist the allies. His family were murdered by Nazis and his wife was taken prisoner by the Nazis.

Ray Clarke

American Agent

Ray is partnered with Lois and Raoul for Operation Jedburgh. They parachute into occupied France on D-Day to assist the allies. Ray has a sweetheart, Barbara, waiting for him back home.