Harry and Claude de Baissac parachuted to a landing ground near Nimes in southern France on 31 July 1942, but both suffered injuries: de Baissac only sprained an ankle, but Harry broke his leg in several places. After several weeks in a hospital run by Franciscan nuns, he was moved to Cannes, where André Girard's 'Carte' organisation took him in. De Baissac had to make his way to Bordeaux alone.

The SOE liaison officer to Carte was Captain Peter Churchill, who helped find a safe house and tried to secure medical help. While in Cannes Harry was also introduced to a local resistance helper, Jacques Poirier, who became his personal assistant. After relations broke down with Girard, Harry and Jacques left the Riviera for Spain in November. Despite being barely able to walk, Harry managed the extraordinary feat of crossing the Pyrenees, but both he and Jacques were arrested by Spanish border police the following day.

After two months in Figueras prison, they were moved to a camp in the deserted spa town of Jaraba. Desperate to return to England, Harry was able to escape during a hospital visit to Zaragoza in April and reached the safety of the British embassy in Madrid. Jacques was released shortly after and flown to England, where he also joined SOE and began training as a secret agent.

During his time recuperating in London, Harry was introduced to Violette Szabo, a young widow from south London. Following their meeting, she was approached by SOE and accepted for training as a courier. They became close over the summer, but Harry knew that they would soon be separated, as plans for his return to France were already underway.

Claude de Baissac

Peter Churchill

Antibes, where Peter Churchill and several other SOE agents came ashore during 1942

Harry on crutches outside the Poirier family

home at Beaulieu-sur-Mer

(© Peulevé family collection)

Jacques Poirier

Violette Szabó

After escaping from Jaraba, 1943

(© Peulevé family collection)