U3A Public Talk: Jeremy Prescott – Violette Szabo GC

The inspirational story of the bravery of Violette Szabo, a Special Operations Executive (SOE) in WW2, her brief marriage to Etienne Szabo, a French Legionnaire, before he was killed in El Alamein, her motivation to be selected by the SOE, the training involved, her two missions into France, her capture by the Germans, her imprisonment and execution in Ravensbruck concentration camp in 1945, the award of the George Cross gallantry medal to her 4 year old daughter Tania and how her memory is now commemorated.

Jeremy served 27 years in the Army , reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with active service in Northern Ireland and Oman. Also served in Germany, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Norway, 18 years as Chief Executive of a rural affairs charity in the Midlands, now retired and living in Southsea.

Monthly talk and refreshments: doors open 2:00 pm; refreshments served until 2.20pm; talk starts at 2.30pm