Peter Churchill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Peter Morland Churchill (1909 - 1972) was an SOE officer during the World War II. His code name was "Michel".
Peter Churchill was born in Amsterdam on January 14, 1909. In Cambridge University he mainly excelled in athletic pursuits.
After the outbreak of World War II he became an intelligence officer and joined the Special Operations Executive. In January 1942 he was landed by submarine at Miramar in France to supply and evaluate the Carte circuit of the Maquis and French Resistance. When he returned to England, he was promoted to Captain.
In August 1942 Churchill went to Montpellier, 34, in France to organize and coordinate the Spindle Network. He developed a close relationship with his radio operator Odette Sansom. Spindle Network directed aerial delivery of supplies to Maquis. However, many resistance members disapproved of Churchill's flamboyant lifestyle and his tactlessness with his contacts. Spindle transferred to Annecy network.
Eventually Abwehr infiltrated the network. Churchill went to England on 23-24 March 1943 and parachuted back into the mountains above Saint-Jorioz on the banks of Lake Annecy on 15 April. Next day, 16 April, Hugo Bleicher of Abwehr arrested him and Sansom in St Jorioz.
Churchill and Sansom claimed they were a married couple and related to Winston Churchill. They were tortured and sent to concentration camps but avoided execution throughout the war.
Churchill and Sansom were married in 1947 and were divorced in 1956. Peter Churchill died in 1972.
Peter Churchill's memoirs:
