A leaf from odette's book

ODETTE HALLOWES GC

There are recently discovered treasured possessions that shed new light on Odette Hallowes. In this exclusive article, Lord Ashcroft reveals how a fallen leaf and contraband books fuelled the spy’s incredible resilience

NEWLY DISCOVERED ITEMS THAT ONCE BELONGED TO SOE AGENT EXTRAORDINAIRE ODETTE HALLOWES GC HAVE REVEALED MUCH ABOUT HER WARTIME CHARACTER
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF LORD ASHCROFT AND SOPHIE PARKER UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
WOMEN INMATES WORKING AT THE RAVENSBRÜCK CONCENTRATION CAMP, GERMANY ULLSTEINBIL D/

The heroic endurance of Odette Hallowes as she faced her brutal ordeal at the hands of her Nazi tormentors is well known. The first woman to receive a direct award of the George Cross, Odette's strong personal resilience, loyalty and sense of duty motivated her to defy the regime that she had already worked hard to collapse. But a recently rediscovered leaf that is nearly 80 years old, plus her deeply private, written thoughts – including excerpts from poetry and literature – have been uncovered by Odette’s family more than 25 years after her death, and together, they help us understand how the legendary spy overcame her wartime tribulations.

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