Valençay SOE Memorial facts for kids
The Valençay SOE Memorial is a special monument in France. It honors brave men and women from a group called the Special Operations Executive (SOE) F Section. These heroes worked to free France during World War II and sadly lost their lives.
The memorial was opened in Valençay, a town in France, on May 6, 1991. This date was chosen because it was 50 years after the first SOE agent from the F Section was sent to France.
Two former SOE agents, Pearl Witherington Cornioley and her husband Henri, helped create the memorial. They lived nearby. Pearl Witherington had worked as an SOE agent in that area during the war. A former Resistance member named Elizabeth Lucas Harrison designed the monument. She called it "Spirit of Partnership."
Important people dedicated the memorial. These included the French Minister of Veterans Affairs and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The memorial has a Roll of Honour which lists the names of 91 men and 13 women from the SOE. These people gave their lives to help France become free.
