Hommages - Hulden

DEMAND George William Hedworth, aka Sonny

Conflit/Conflict: 1940 - 1945
Statut/Statuut: Résistant mort en déportation - Weerstandslid overleden in deportatie
Naissance/Geboorte: Chester-le-Street, Durham County, UK 1921-07-24
Décès/Overlijden: Flossenbürg, Bayern (Bavière - Beieren), DE 1944-03-29
Grade/Régiment - Graad/Regiment:
Plus d'infos/Meer info: George DEMAND est né d'un père belge, René C. M. DEMAND, et d'une mère britannique, Annie YOUNG. Conjoint: Freda ASHWORTH, of ASPATRIA, Cumberland. Il a servi dans l'armée belge. Résistant, il fut agent du service secret britannique Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.). Il fait partie de la section F du S.O.E. sous le grade de lieutenant et porte le matricule 250965. Lors de la mission SCULLION 1, il fait partie du groupe d'officiers qui, sous le commandement de Hugh DORMER, sont parachutés dans la nuit du 18 au 19 avril 1943, en vue de perpétrer un attentat contre l'usine de pétrole synthétique des Télots à Autun. Il est opérateur radio, avec pour nom de guerre "Edmonde" et pour code opérationnel STEVEDORE. Trouvant l'usine trop bien gardée, ils renoncent, et reviennent grâce à la filière VIC1. Cependant, Hugh DORMER demande à réessayer. Lors de la mission SCULLION 2, George DEMAND est repris dans la seconde équipe, qui est parachutée dans la nuit du 16 au 17 août 1943. Elle réussit à poser les engins, sans faire beaucoup de dégâts. Deux membres (DORMER et un sergent) parviennent à s'échapper après l'action. Les autres, dont George DEMAND, sont arrêtés au retour. Il est exécuté au camp de concentration de Flossenbürg, Bavière, DE, le 29 mars 1944 (Source [25]). Citation: "This officer was twice parachuted into France with a coup de main party. The target was a synthetic oil plant near Autun. The first attempt in April, 1943 failed and the party returned to England the following month. On 12th August 1943 they were again parachuted into France, and the operation was entirely successful. DEMAND distinguished himself by his excellent work in reconnoitring the neighbourhood of the target and planning the approach to the target. His coolness and courage were outstanding. After the operation DEMAND proceeded to Paris to prepare a line of retreat but was arrested en route. He was later deported to Germany and was executed at Flossenbürg in March, 1945. It is rcommended that this officer be awarded posthumously a Mention in Despatches." (Source [390]). Sonny was born at Lumley View, Newfield, Chester-le-Street in July 1921 to Annie (born YOUNG) and René DEMAND, a Belgian. Rene was one of the "Birtley Belgians", who manned the armaments factory in Birtley during the First World War. The family later lived at Osborne House, Newfield and Sonny attended Roseberry School from 1926 -1935. The family relocated to Brussels and Sonny quickly became fluent in French. After the outbreak of the Second World War, Sonny joined the Belgian Army. However, after the German occupation of Belgium, he made the decision to leave Belgium and join the British Army. He was smuggled over the Pyrenees into neutral Spain, where he was interned. In 1941, he was released and continued his journey to Britain. On arrival, he convinced the authorities of his identity and that he wasn't an enemy spy by singing "The Blaydon Races"! He joined The Border Regiment, based in Carlisle and met and later married a local girl, Freda ASHWORTH. He was then recruited into the Special Operations Executive (SOE) because of his abilities and his fluency in French and English. He was selected for "Operation Scullion" under the command of Captain Hugh DORMER. He parachuted into France in April 1943, but the target of sabotage, a shale oil refinery near Dijon proved to be too heavily guarded. They made their way back to England by a secret underground network, via Paris and Spain. A second successful attempt was made in August 1943. Sonny made his way back to a safe house in Paris which was raided by the Gestapo. He was imprisoned, interrogated and later sent to Flossenberg Concentration Camp in Bavaria, where he was kept in grim conditions. As the U.S, army was approaching Flossenberg in March 1945, the commandant conducted tribunals and the remaining SOE agents were sentenced to death and were executed by hanging. Sonny was 23 years old. In 1946, Lieutenant George DEMAND was given a posthumous mention in despatches, the citation stating "his coolness and courage were outstanding." His name is mentioned on SOE memorials in England and France, and most recently at Lumley View, Newfield where he was born (Source: Pelton Parish Council)
Photo/Foto: https://bel-memorial.org/photos_abroad/angleterre/DEMAND_George_William_Hedworth_84028.htm
Monument/Gedenkteken: Cinq Belges sur la plaque à la mémoire des agents de la section F du SOE britannique - Vijf Belgen op de gedenkplaat voor de agenten van sectie F van de Britse SOE, Commune/Gemeente: Valençay

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