Date of birth:

November 22nd, 1911 (Périgueux/Dordogne, France)

Date of death:

December 18th, 1993 (Falls Church/Virginia, United States)

Service number:

P/185752

Nationality:

French (1870-present, Republic)

Georges Begué - born out of French parents- was edcated as an engineer at Hull University. He served as a signaller during his military service. Recalled at the outbreak of WW2 he then was assigned to liaison with the British troops on the continent, he eventually escaped to Britain during the Dunkirk evacuation.
Begué was recruited by SOE and was the first secret agent to be parachuted in France on 5 May, 1941 with a heavy transmitter in a suitcase.
Bégué was arrested October 24 in a Marseilles safe house by the French Vichy police and was sent to join other SOE agents in the Beleyme prison in Périgueux. After being transferred to a camp in Mauzac, Begué managed to create a duplicate key and the group escaped July 16, 1942.
Eventually the group crossed the Pyrenees. Bégué was interned at Figueres and sent to Miranda de Ebro prison camp but were later released to continue his way to Britain. He managed to get to London in October 1942.
Bégué was appointed Signals Officer in the F section under Maurice Buckmaster. He stayed in England, and having invaluable experience of being an SOE agent, he was not sent on any more operational duties.
After the war Bégué emigrated to the United States.
During his intelligence work he als used the name 'Georges Noble'.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Citation:
"This officer was the first agent to go to France for the Organisation. He was dropped blind by parachute in May, 1941, succeeded in establishing himself and his W/T-set with which he maintained almost daily communication with H.Q. until the following October, rendering most valuable services.
He was trapped, arrested and imprisoned at Perigueux, where he not only kept silent in spite of severe torture, but tried with great spirit to instal a W/T set within the concentration camp.

After months of rough treatment, he escaped in July 1942, crossed the Pyrenees, but was imprisoned in Spain. He has now returned to this country.

This officer's great personal courage supported by his initiative and undeviating devotion to duty, apart from enabling us to lay the foundations of our organisation in France, have been the inspiration of all those who came after him in the field."

Originally recommended for a MBE but downgraded to a MC.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 31st, 1947

With Rosette

• - http://royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/
  - Richard Brisson's Collection of Crypto and Clandestine Equipment
  - Mémoire des Hommes