Vallée, Francois "Oscar"
- Date of birth:
- January 1st, 1912 (Plounévez-Moëdec, France)
- Date of death:
- 1944 (KZ Gross Rosen, Germany)
- Buried on:
- Mausoleum Memorial KZ Gross-Rosen
- Nationality:
- French (1870-present, Republic)
Biography
François Vallée, born January 1, 1912 in Plounévez-Moëdec and died for France in September 1944 in Rogoźnica, is a French soldier, Companion of the Liberation.
During the Battle of France in 1940, he was captured by the German army but managed to escape and reach North Africa where he took part in the actions of a resistance network. Arrested again then released in 1942, he moved to England where he was assigned to the Special Operations Executive and was parachuted into Brittany where he organized a network attached to the 'Buckmaster' network.
In 1944, he was again arrested and then deported to the Gross-Rosen camp where he was executed.
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Chevalier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Compagnon
- Unit:
- F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
- Awarded on:
- May 4th, 1944
Croix de Guerre "Vichy"
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- brigadier-chef
- Unit:
- motocycliste, 75e Groupe de Reconnaissance divisionnaire
- Awarded on:
- June 17th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- May 17th, 1946
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Military Cross (MC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant
- Unit:
- F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
- Awarded on:
- May 10th, 1943
"Lieutenant Vallée offered his services to this Organisation in TUNIS in April, 1941. During the first two months of his work, he successfully completed the operations enumerated below.
On two occasions at night he passed papers from the land to a British submarine off the coast of TUNESIA, and returned with wireless equipment and explosives.
At TUNIS railway station he sabotaged the engine of a convoy of French lorries which were being delivered to the Italians in TRIPOLITANIA. This action was accomplished by night, and was completed successfully in spite of the fact that he was deserted by his companion in the course of it.
In the courtyard of the Quartier des Zouaves at GABES, he damaged with incendary grenades the petrol tanks of another convoy of French lorries destined for the Italians. He provided much useful information about the movement and identity of material being delivered to the enemy.
By swimming in the harbour at TUNIS at night, he attacked the Italian ships "SIRIS" and "ACHILLE" with special charges.
This operation had to be carried out on two occasions, as the charges did not explode at the first attempt. The "ACHILLE"sank in the port of LA GOULETTE with a complete cargo of ore of 3,500 tons. The "SIRIS" sank between TUNIS and NAPLES with an estimated cargo of about 4/5,000 tons.
On a subsequent occasion, after having swum and placed a special charge on the French tanker "BEAUCE", which had just been sold to the Italians and was on the point of departure for ITALY, he was discovered, fired upon and arrested. He was condemned to two years Imprisonment and the confiscation of all his possessions: but when the Germans invaed TUNIS he was released by the French authorities after seventeen months imprisonment.
I recommend that Lieutenant Vallée should be awarded the MILITARY CROSS."
Signed
Colin Gubbins
Major-General
10 May, 1943
Ridder in de Leopoldsorde / Chevalier de l'Ordre de Léopold
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo: François VALLÉE | L'Ordre de la Libération et son Musée
- François Vallée (résistant) — Wikipédia - - Recommendation for Award for Vallee, Francois Rank: Lieutenant Regiment: ... | The National Archives
- François Vallée, 1038 compagnons, Compagnons - Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération
- VALLÉE François, alias Jacques André De Lormes, Franck, François, Oscar, Parson - Maitron
- Mémoires des Hommes
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