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" evasion in Brittany – The Oaktree Mission of Val Williams and Ray Labrosse
The delivery to France of Val Williams and Ray Labrosse was delayed for more than two months, firstly by lack of a reception committee for their intended Lysander landing, and then by bad weather, so it wasn't until 20 March 1943 that they were finally parachuted ‘blind' into the Forêt de Rambouillet. The two agents landed safely with their guns and money but one of their bicycles, and more importantly, both their radios, were damaged.
Leaving Labrosse at Rambouillet, Williams took the only usable bicycle to Paris to find Yvonne Le Rossignol, a woman he had known earlier in the war. She took him to see their mutual friend Elisabeth Barbier at 72 rue Vaneau (in Montparnasse) where he was surprised to meet an agent who had been on the same aircraft when he had been parachuted in. This was "Armand", who directed the Alençon sector of the BCRA Mithridate intelligence network. Despite security rules which required separation between the networks, especially when they were of a different nature, Armand suggested that Williams contact Jean Lanlo at Saint-Quay-Portrieux. Jean Lanlo then put Williams in touch with Jean Camard, son of the maire at Etables and who, in addition to convoying, specialised in producing identity cards. Williams asked Jean Lanlo to organize the departures of the airmen from the Saint-Quay-Portrieux - Plouha – Paimpol area. Lanlo also sent Camard to Carhaix to contact a local group, known as "Pen Called" (Breton for hard heads) who were isolated with their military evaders following the arrest of Louis Nouveau in February. Jean Camard went to Geo Jouanjean to announce the visit of Guillaume (Val Williams) and Williams suggested that Jouanjean handled the airmen and arranged hiding them in the neighbourhood. He also asked Jouanjean to organize their departure to Paris and direct them on to Spain if a sea link was not possible. Ray Labrosse (aka Paul) also came to Brittany, but without a radio, Williams could only contact London through Mithridate. Meanwhile, Williams organized a base near the coast. After staying for a while with Jean Lanlo's parents at the Villa Soleil, Williams and Labrosse rented a house in Saint-Quay-Portrieux. Andrée Leveque, who had avoided arrest at her parents flat in Paris, joined them in Saint-Quay [Williams says he set up Labrosse and Mlle Leveque as man and wife]. More airmen continued to arrive and it was necessary to find new shelterers for them. Geo Jouanjean asked his friend Jean Guivarc'h to help and he introduced Jouanjean to Doctor Meynard, maire and general advisor, who gave him the address of an American friend who lived at Plourivo, la Comtesse Betty de Mauduit. Agreement was quickly reached and the airmen were moved from La Pie (Job Le Bec) and Carhaix (Mlle Correc and Mlle Marchais) and Saint-Quay-Portrieux, to the Chateau du Bourblanc where the airmen were pleasantly surprised to find a charming hostess who spoke their language perfectly. When Williams visited them on 10 April 1943 they were thirty-four (sic) evaders hidden in the attic of the chateau. Georges Jouanjean also had the huge problem of supplying them with food and soon acquired a solid reputation as a black-marketeer, particularly for meat. He was helped in this by Job le Bec, the miller at La Pie, and Bob Pennée, a butcher at Rostrenen. ..."
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GR 16 P 365337 | LE ROSSIGNOL ( Yvonne ) | 1906-05-31 | Neuilly-sur-Seine | Seine | FRANCE
GR 16 P 311925 | JOUANJEAN ( Georges Charles Edmond ) | 1917-05-31 | Carhaix-Plouguer | Finistère | FRANCE | FFc DIR
GR 16 P 369501 | LEVEQUE épouse MIROVICI ( Andrée ) | 1921-07-27 | Paris | Seine | FRANCE | FFc DIR Laurent Laloup le mercredi 23 octobre 2019 Contribution au livre ouvert de Jean Jérôme Marie Camard Montrée dans le livre ouvert de 2 Marie Elisabeth Camille Barbier épouse Campbell / Vaquez / Singleton | 3 Roberta Betty Laurie épouse de Mauduit | |
