Churchill, Peter ‘Michel’

1909–1972

   Churchill was an early agent of the Special Operations Executive’s French Section. He was a colorful figure who acted fearlessly. He had travelled in Western Europe before the war and in January 1942 went on his first mission. He was landed by submarine at Miramar with money and instructions for Resistance groups to make a brief reconnaissance of the Carte circuit. On his return he wrote a vivid account of his mission. In August 1942 he went on a third mission to Montpellier where he was to organize and co-ordinate supplies for Resistance groups. He was joined by Odette SANSOM in November but the military importance of their work has been exaggerated. He ran into trouble because he did not treat his contacts with sufficient tact and many resisters felt he enjoyed too flamboyant a lifestyle. The Germans began to infiltrate his networks. His main network, Spindle, had to transfer to Annecy. Churchill returned to London in February 1943 but returned on 15 April 1943. He parachuted into a trap and was captured the next day by BLEICHER. He spent the rest of the war in concentration camps and was liberated at the end of the war.