As far as I know the English translation for Buchenwald is Beech Wood! In his memoir, my Dad refers to the, "The White Rabbit", better know as Wing Commander Yeo Thomas. A film and book were made about "The White Rabbit."
The last chapter of the book, reads:
"The King has been graciously pleased to award the GEORGE CROSS TO Acting Wing Commander Forest Frederick Yeo-Thomas, M.C. (89215), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve."
One of my Belgian grandfathers was awarded the GEORGE CROSS, World War I. I saw the medal recently at my mother's house. Weird!!!!!, for the first time ever I just realized that both grandfathers of mine were Flemish!!!
Excerpt from: Page 4 of the book, The White Rabbit by Bruce Marshall, 1967: TO THE MEMORY OF ALL THE OTHER BRAVE
Summary from the White Rabbit:
"At the outbreak of World War II Wing Commander Yeo-Thomas was a director of Molyneux, the famous Parisian dressmaking firm. He joined the R.A.F., and in 1942 was posted to the section of Special Operations Executive which was organizing the Resistance Movement in France.
He became a leading secret agent, dropping into France by parachute and establishing "contacts"..........When the B.B.C., broadcasts to France stated that the white rabbit had returned to the hutch it meant that Yeo-Thomas had safely returned to England.
In 1944, angry at the meagre assistance allocated to the Resistance, he secured an interview with Churchill, who, after hearing the story, immediately gave orders for substantial increases in the number of aircraft engaged in parachuting operations and for larger supplies of weapons and equipment. By now came news that one of his French colleagues had been arrested by the Gestapo. Yeo-Thomas insisted on going to his rescue - and in Paris was arrested himself.
There followed a long ordeal of incredible torture and suffering that only a man of indomitable spirit could have endured. He steadfastly refused to give the Germans the information they wanted, managed to communicate with friends outside the prisons, and was of the few British survivors of the ghastly camp at Buchenwald. He was later awarded the George Cross and appointed to the Legion of Honour.......
The last chapter of the book, reads:
"The King has been graciously pleased to award the GEORGE CROSS TO Acting Wing Commander Forest Frederick Yeo-Thomas, M.C. (89215), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve."
One of my Belgian grandfathers was awarded the GEORGE CROSS, World War I. I saw the medal recently at my mother's house. Weird!!!!!, for the first time ever I just realized that both grandfathers of mine were Flemish!!!
Excerpt from: Page 4 of the book, The White Rabbit by Bruce Marshall, 1967: TO THE MEMORY OF ALL THE OTHER BRAVE
Summary from the White Rabbit:
"At the outbreak of World War II Wing Commander Yeo-Thomas was a director of Molyneux, the famous Parisian dressmaking firm. He joined the R.A.F., and in 1942 was posted to the section of Special Operations Executive which was organizing the Resistance Movement in France.
He became a leading secret agent, dropping into France by parachute and establishing "contacts"..........When the B.B.C., broadcasts to France stated that the white rabbit had returned to the hutch it meant that Yeo-Thomas had safely returned to England.
In 1944, angry at the meagre assistance allocated to the Resistance, he secured an interview with Churchill, who, after hearing the story, immediately gave orders for substantial increases in the number of aircraft engaged in parachuting operations and for larger supplies of weapons and equipment. By now came news that one of his French colleagues had been arrested by the Gestapo. Yeo-Thomas insisted on going to his rescue - and in Paris was arrested himself.
There followed a long ordeal of incredible torture and suffering that only a man of indomitable spirit could have endured. He steadfastly refused to give the Germans the information they wanted, managed to communicate with friends outside the prisons, and was of the few British survivors of the ghastly camp at Buchenwald. He was later awarded the George Cross and appointed to the Legion of Honour.......
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