Sonya Butt - Special Operations Executive

Special Operations Executive

Sonya joined SOE, aged 19, on 11 December 1943 and in less than six months she was on operations in France. Her training followed the usual programme of tough outdoor training, to develop stamina and basic soldiering skills, followed by specialist training according to the role on operations, plus familiarisation with the routine of life in occupied Europe. Recruits could not discuss their training with outsiders, and in any case, this sort of training was unheard of for women, so at the time few would understand or even believe the full details of the armed and unarmed combat training the girls received. Only fellow students could give meaningful support and Sonya's colleagues included Nancy Wake and Violette Szabo and also a certain French Canadian Officer Captain Guy D'Artois, whom she would later marry.

On 28 May 1944, Sonya was parachuted into the department of the Sarthe in the area of Le Mans to work as a Courier, under the codename "Blanche". She was Courier to Christopher Hudson (codename Albin), the organizer of the Reseau (Circuit) Headmaster. She was one of the last WAAFs landed in France before the Allied invasion, only nine days before D-Day. After one of the other agents dropped with her was shot during a battle between the Maquis and the Germans, Sonya took on the additional role of Weapons Instructor. She later said modestly: "I filled in wherever the need arose." As a courier her primary roles were to carry money, pass messages and maintain liaison with all of the SOE Agents, Maquis and local operatives working with the circuit.

In June 1944, whilst communicating messages around the countryside, she was stopped by two Germans and detained for questioning. This was a very dangerous moment but her cover story and false papers withstood the examination and she was eventually released. In due course the Allied ground forces broke out from Normandy and Sonya's district was liberated.

In October 1944, she returned to England on the successful completion of her mission. Her pioneering bravery in front-line operations (or, rather, beyond the front-line) was recognised with the award of the MBE and a Mention in Dispatches. She was still only 20 years old.