(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK
Catalog numbers HS6/92 #01, #89, #90, #91, #92, #93, #94, #95, #96, #97, #98
The first 3 pages were translated by N. Alami. The other 7 pages were translated by linguavox. The documents follow the translation. (When you view page 10 of the documents you will see that there is a heading for Return but nothing else.)
MISSION C 23 October 1942
You are charged to organize a rapid information service to Great Britain, in order to allow the political action organizations of London to rapidly comment on the events of Belgium and to react without delay.
You have therefore to organize and do the following:
. 1) One reaction committee
. 2) A photography service
. 3) A pigeon fancying center
. 4) Links between the organizations above and a reception committee for materials sent by parachutes.
You will take all necessaries measures (collaborators; successors) in order for the service to function once your mission is done.
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Duration: maximum 3 months
Residence: Brussels or surroundings
Return:
Modalities:
I. Contact
In the morning around 10 am, you will go to 26, La Cascade Avenue in Brussels. It is an apartment building of seventh floors. This building has two entry doors. You will take the one that is close to the Lanney Road.
Right inside, on the right, you will see a set of electrical bells. Above there is an interphone. You will press the one of the seventh floor at the name of Charles GAUVIN.
Someone will answer you by interphone and you will say: I desire to speak to Mrs. or Mr. Gauvin, from Charley.
If, against all odds, none of them are in the house, you will make an appointment, or if they are in the country side (around Brussels) you will go and join them or you will ask that one them to come back to Brussels.
Mrs. Gauvin is 65 years old. She is short, gray-white hair. She has blues eyes. Mr. Gauvin is average height. He is 63 years old, has white hair, blue eyes: wears glasses.
Then you will say the following:
“Madame, I come from André. I must first tell you
“A while ago, Charley was at Louvain. Today, Charley is not at Louvain anymore.”
“The last word is of the sentence is “BRAVO:”
And now three personal piece of information:
1. In this living room, there is your portrait. It has been painted in 1928, while you
were just recovering from your illness.
2. André did not lose his waterman. He knows that you will smile when you will
say that.
3. You have learned that André has left. Someone who preceded gave you the
information regarding this matter.
A prime quality of the London Radio propaganda should be the actuality. Until now, the actuality has not been realized, or just sporadically. We trust that with your help, to be able to do it finally.
You will be part of an organization that is made of three branches. Do not ask questions about the branches other than yours. We will tell you what is necessary for all your activity. For the rest, remind yourself that ignorance is the best guaranty against indiscretion. This assures as well your security.
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If you cannot establish this contact, which is improbable, you will call at my house: 12.22.44 and you will say: “ I would like to have a meeting with lawyer JANSSENS, 54, Rue de la Concorde. When you are at my house, you will ask to speak to Madame VANDER ELST, my secretary. You will tell her that you will like to see Madame Claire CAUVIN. You will repeat to her what is written below:
II.
The first meeting in Brussels will consist of CLAIRE, CAMILLE, RICHARD, ICKX.
This will be a preliminary meeting, with the aim of creating the propaganda committee. The four participants will receive your instructions and will plan as soon as possible definitive reunion that will include the acting and directing elements.
You will say:
A prime quality of the London Radio propaganda should be the actuality. Until now, the actuality has not been realized, or just sporadically. We trust that with your help, to be able to do it finally.
You will be part of an organization that is made of three branches. Do not ask questions about the branches other than yours. We will tell you what is necessary for all your activity. For the rest, remind yourself that ignorance is the best guaranty against indiscretion. This assures as well your security.
Your will have a double role. In one hand find information, second put it in an adequate form.
1) Finding the Information
Need to have up to date information. Keep in mind that news that is 5 days old, unless it is extremely important, is of no interest.
Read newspapers. If an article by Colin or Poulet, or any other well-known collaborator makes a commentary take care to extract the essential sentences and carefully keep their citations.
Give news concerning the General Secretaries, Administration, Justice, the occupying power, industrial life, agricultural life, etc. You will therefore need to be introduced to these entities and areas.
Tell us if Mr. Reeder had lunch at the Savoy with Mr. Matthys, if a bomb has been thrown the night before at the local of the Gestapo. Put all of this information under the form of news agency; most importantly give the date and indicate the place of the incident.
The Belgium public should be “hooked” at the radio to have the common news of night before, as well as the announcement of the next deliberation of the highest court of the land.
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2) Appropriate form of information
Take a sheet of paper as large as possible. Write legibly or typewrite on one side only. Put as much as possible on one sheet to use as little as possible. The precautions are those that must be taken for subsequent photographing of the document. The photographer will give you additional instructions.
In addition, you yourselves will prepare the talks that will be read on the radio in London. We would very much like commentaries written in occupied territory. Remember that a talk on a given subject must be no longer than 4 to 5 minutes, or [crossed out - 700 to 800 words – altered by hand to 400 to 500 words]. It will be read under the title “Our correspondent from Belgium calling”.
Also relay all useful suggestions and ask for anything that you might need.
When a paper is ready, it must be possible to get it off immediately and the second branch of the organisation must be notified that its work has begun. I will let you know where and to whom you must give it (the agent, after establishing contact with the photography service will arrange this issue).
I don’t need to know your collaborators. I am sure you’ll choose them wisely. I do, however, have a list that I want submit for your approval. This list is not exclusive (see Annex I). If you want to convene a meeting with your collaborators with me present, I will be very happy to be there. However, I do not think it is essential.
In order to specify my position, you can tell them that the BBC will broadcast the following series of six messages (see Annex II) on the radio on the dates I tell you.
III.
Photography service
1) Contact:
[You will be given the necessary instructions later. –CROSSED OUT.] See paragraph 3).
2) When you have made contact you will notify the photographer of the instructions which you will be given here on the precautions to take to ensure that his work can be used. Microphotographs have to be taken on gelatin films (the instructions indicate the procedures to follow), so that the films can be sent by carrier pigeon. You must insist that he follows the instructions to the letter.
You will give him time to familiarise himself with these instructions and verify that he is able to undertake the work immediately. You will see him four or five days after that first interview and you will ask him to let you know if he needs anything.
To provide him with what he needs, you will send a message here as soon as you have received the pigeons indicating precisely and exactly the nature and amounts of what is required. As the first reception of pigeons
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will take place one month after you arrive, it will only be possible to send the material requested by the second moon after your arrival.
Therefore, do not make the Drafting Committee work prematurely. It will be up to you to indicate to the three services the moment after which they can pass from the preparatory stage to action. It will only take a month (after the pigeons arrive) if the photographer can work immediately.
If your organisation mission is completed quickly (under two months) you will be able to leave before the photographer has received what he needs, but you must choose someone to replace you in your role as coordinator, that is, someone who can synchronise the work of the different bodies and notify them when to start.
3) You will ask Madame Claire Cauvin to put you in contact with Salu and Van Ommeslaghe. Their names are still on the list you have been given in Annex I. Contact with the photography service is therefore through Madame Claire Cauvin who you will already have contacted to organise the Propaganda Committee.
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IV. Pigeon service centre
You will contact Mr. Raymond DEMANET, father-in-law of André Cauvin at the following address:
Chateau de Mont-Saint-Jean, at Waterloo.
You will tell him: “I have come on behalf of your son-in-law. Among the six messages that will be broadcast by the BBC, there is one especially for you: it’s the following: Cooey, cooey, it’s morning” because when your daughter was three years old she saw the pigeons in your garden and she would say: “Cooey, cooey”.
This password is sufficient. You can add: “Your son-in-law knows your dedication and your patriotism. This hard work is essential and he is counting on you to get the job done with all the caution and determination at your command”.
You can tell him what type of documents he has to get through. You will not give him the name of the photographer or that of any member of the Propaganda Committee so that he has no chance of contacting one of them.
You will tell him how many pigeons to hide and look after and you will ask him to get the support of friends from different regions in the country who might be able to help him.
You will give him the time necessary to carry out his enquiry and let you know the results, that is, around 15 days and you may tell him about the different messages which will be broadcast on fixed dates from the radio in London on the programme at 21 hundred hours. This will enable him to specify your position (see Annex II).
You will then tell him about the issue of routes and reception of pigeons (see paragraph V) You will give him, if necessary, the list of the initial drop points planned for [crossed out- two- handwritten -4] months, the pigeon service will be responsible for choosing the next lot (Annex III).
V. Liaisons
You will have to establish two liaisons and a reception service for the airdropped containers.
Of the entire organisation, the pigeon service centres are running the greatest risk. Hence the following precautions:
1) It is absolutely useless and even dangerous to warn the drafting committee and the photography service of the method of transmission used. You must be very firm on this subject.
2) An intermediary must be contemplated who knows the different lofts and the photographer. This intermediary will be chosen and appointed by the head of the pigeon carrier service. The photographer will notify the intermediary by letter containing an agreed sentence or by any other means that has to be chosen. This intermediary is a linchpin whose task is to ensure the secret. He will know the different lofts. He must undertake never to reveal to the photographer the means of transmission used.
A replacement for this linchpin must be contemplated who will be immediately warned in the case of arrest: his wife[handwritten: no, because she will be under surveillance after her husband has been arrested] for example or a close friend. It is understood that this replacement will not work unless the linchpin is arrested.
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3) It will be preferable for the pigeon reception to be done by the people who are going to keep them. The idea, once again, is not to increase the number of people in on the secret. They must therefore be instructed in the methods used by the reception committees.
[handwritten in the margin: lights? 3 red lights, 1 white]
You will give them the list of airdrop areas and the airdrop periods. They can change it if it is not suitable for them and choose others which they will notify by pigeon when sending their message.
They must be told that the area must be along an axis that can easily be identified at night, like a railway, major road, river or canal.
It must not be forgotten that the RAF may agree to some and reject others. The list must therefore be carefully numbered. The response will be given in the following manner over 3 consecutive days:
Message for Carol: OK for number two hundred and forty-seven. I repeat two hundred and forty-seven [crossed out, handwritten to read: two, four, seven]
This will mean that the areas accepted [handwritten addition: will be used] will be the areas indicated by these numbers and in the order in which they are given on the radio.
No message will mean it is necessary to keep to the areas originally designated.
[CROSSED OUT: The evening before departure of] the plane carrying the pigeons, the following message will be broadcast on the Belgian programme [CROSSED OUT: in the evening]: [handwritten at 5.30 and confirmation at 9]
[HANDWRITTEN in the margin: In French and in Flemish]
[HANDWRITTEN: Message from Carol:
[HANDWRITTEN IN FRENCH AND FLEMISH: Mother is feeling ok now and sends her love]
[Crossed out: Let’s go boys, get going, it’s time to work.”]
[Crossed out: The day after it will be said:
“Beat the iron so much it’s hot”]
The following evening the airdrop will take place. If the plane cannot leave at the last moment, it will be announced that same night:]
[handwritten: if there is no airdrop – no confirmation at 9 o’clock.]
[Crossed out: “Hi boys, rest.”]
Depending on whether the [handwritten: unsuccessful] airdrop is planned for the next day, two or 3 days later, it will also be announced with the following message:
“It is one o’clock (or two o’clock or 3 o’clock)
By the village bell. Look closely, it is 1 o’clock (or two o’clock or 3 o’clock).”
If the pigeon service cannot ensure reception, you must recruit a reception committee. You will get someone from the team to take the pigeons to the linchpin mentioned in paragraph V2).
If we want you to come back, the following message will be sent out on the evening Belgian programme for 3 consecutive days:
“Message for Carol. It is time for Carol to put on the pilgrim sandals.”
If we have instructions to send you to the address you have given, it will be announced on the same programme as before so you will wait for the instructions to arrive:
“Message for Carol: The centuries haven’t wearied the sphinx’s patience – let him be patient a little longer.
[Handwritten: To announce whether the photos are good or bad, the announcement will be
“Message for Carol
“Clear weather, excellent visibility”
Or “Variable weather, sufficient visibility”
Or “Bleak weather, no visibility”
3) Drafting committee-photographer liaison
This liaison can be made from the Drafting Committee to the photographer or to any person nominated by the photographer. The intention is to save as much time as possible.
After receiving the documents, the photographer will notify the linchpin mentioned above that the films will be ready at time X ...
5) England liaison
a) England-Belgium liaison:
This liaison is ensured on the one part through the personal messages mentioned above; and secondly, the containers may contain coded letters for your use (Annex IV) [handwritten: in your code]
b) Belgium-England liaison:
This liaison will be by pigeon; the Drafting Committee will transmit requests at the same time as its texts to the photographer. The photographer may include his messages by adding them to the bottom of the Drafting Committee’s notes. The pigeon service centre will transmit its remarks to the photographer through the linchpin mentioned in paragraph V2).
It is still planned to have a liaison with England by postcard to be sent airmail to Portugal if, for whatever reason, you do not have any pigeons. This route is fast: around ten days.
VI
Funds required for accomplishing the mission.
You will have the following sum: 100,000 Francs to distribute between the Political Action Committee and the photography and pigeon services. You must judge for yourself the needs of each of these bodies.
A priori, it appears that the major expenses will be in following order:
1/ for the photography service;
2/ for the pigeon service;
3/for the political action committee.
VII
Salary
In London; The sum of 50 Pounds a month [handwritten and crossed out – for how long?] will be paid into your bank account no. 3505, at Lloyd’s Bank, Belgravia Branch, 31 Grosvenor Gardens.
In the field: You will receive 30,000 Belgian francs for your expenses in the occupied country, for the duration of your stay and 7,500 French francs for expenses which you will be responsible for on your return.
VIII
Grade; military situation; pension
For the duration of your mission, you will be a commissioned warrant officer. This grade will be taken into consideration to settle any possible pension rights for your beneficiaries.
In the event of accident, your salary will continue to be paid into your bank account for 6 months after the official announcement.
IX
Cover.
A)Code name: in messages addressed to you on the BBC, the name CAROL will be mentioned.
B)Identity cards: You will have:
1/ one French identity card for your return;
2/ one Belgium identity card in your name;
3/one Belgium identity card in an assumed name.
[Handwritten in the margin connecting 3/ and 1/: same name]
C) Cover story: You will use the one given to you by the British, explaining that you have lived in the South of France if you are closely questioned by the German police.
For people not in the know with whom you come into contact, you will give an occupation in a bank or a company of your choosing. You will carefully avoid allowing unauthorised people to ask specific questions.
D) Post boxes. If, before having pigeons at your disposal, you wish to communicate with us, you will write an apparently innocent letter to
Abel Eugenio da Costa
Rue Eugenio Santos 12 1º and. Lisbon.
You will sign this letter: Charles Emile.
E) Airdrop areas, for container
[Handwritten: Innocent letters that I receive will be signed by you as: Jean Joseph.]
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X.
Communications
A/ Codes: the ones given to you by the British
B/ Radio: None planned for your mission.
C/ Address: To contact you we will write to Mr A. Guillon, 407, avenue Brugmann.
If you wish to give us another address you will insert it on 3 consecutive days in the Nouveau Journal published from the 5th to the 22nd of the month, the following advertisement in the “Furniture” section: “Wanted, electric cooker. Please write to (name, address, town)” If it is in Brussels, do not put the name of the town).
If the service agent appears at the above address he will say:
“I have some excellent photos of the Sphinx. Would you like to see them?”
XI
Return.
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