22 Facts About Peter Churchill

Peter Churchill was born in Amsterdam on 14 January 1909, the son of William Algernon Churchill, a British Consul who served in Mozambique, Amsterdam, Para in Brazil, Stockholm, Milan, Palermo, and Algiers.

Peter Churchill's father was an art connoisseur, and author of what is still the standard reference work on early European paper and papermaking, Watermarks in Paper, and Violet.

Peter Churchill was a brother of Walter Churchill DSO DFC, a Royal Air Force pilot during the war, and Oliver Churchill DSO MC, an SOE officer.

Peter Churchill was proficient at exhibition diving, a first-class skier, and played golf off a six handicap.

Peter Churchill was infiltrated into France four times, twice by submarine and twice by aircraft, and spent 225 days behind enemy lines.

Peter Churchill then went by train to Marseille where Hall introduced him to Ted Coppin and Colonel Deprez.

Peter Churchill was then driven to Gibraltar, crossing the Spanish border hidden in the car's boot, and on 14 February 1943 was flown back to London for debriefing.

Peter Churchill was to be accompanied by 'The Twins' but, just as they were about to undertake the mission, a failed attempt by a French agent resulted in significantly increased security and Churchill's mission was called off.

Peter Churchill planned to rescue him when he was being transferred by train to Lyon but this attempt was called off, apparently at Basin's request.

Peter Churchill arranged an arms drop for General de Lattre de Tassigny, Commander of one of the sole French Divisions still in existence, based in Montpellier, and another for the Maquis des Glieres, who operated near Lake Annecy in Haute-Savoie.

The third attempt was on a small abandoned airfield near Tournus between Macon and Chalon-sur-Saone in January 1943 to collect Peter Churchill and take Frager to London to clear up the confusion over the CARTE question and have a definite ruling on the matter from HQ.

Peter Churchill decided it was too dangerous to remain in Cannes and relocated the SPINDLE network to Saint-Jorioz on Lake Annecy in Haute-Savoie, and changed his cover name.

Peter Churchill claimed he was related to Winston Churchill and that they were a married couple to make themselves seem more valuable prisoners and less likely to be executed as spies.

Peter Churchill was initially taken under Italian custody to the barracks in Annecy, where he was badly beaten after an unsuccessful escape attempt during which he assaulted an Italian guard.

Peter Churchill was then transferred to German custody and moved to Fresnes Prison near Paris where he was questioned by Bleicher, who believed Marsac's false claim that Churchill was a nephew of the British Prime Minister and discussed a prisoner swap with Rudolf Hess.

Peter Churchill was first landed by submarine in the south of France in December 1941 with the mission of contacting the principal organisers in the unoccupied zone, to bring them directives, remedy their various difficulties, improve communications and arrange help for arrested members of the organisation.

Peter Churchill worked here for several months organising parachute dropping operations and the reception of agents by sea on the Mediterranean coast.

Peter Churchill's operations were always well organised and he took great personal risks to ensure the safe disposal of infiltrated agents.

Peter Churchill was released by Allied troops in Germany in May 1945.

Peter Churchill worked tirelessly and unselfishly over a long period in very trying conditions, showing outstanding courage, leadership and organising ability, which earned him the respect and admiration of all who came in contact with him.

Peter Churchill wrote three books about his exploits in SOE, and a further fictitious book about the French resistance movement in Haute Savoie.

Peter Churchill continued to live in France after the war, settling in Le Rouret near Cannes, where he worked in real estate, and lived there until his death on 1 May 1972.