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Grelle, Le, Count Jacques Alphonse Marie Ghislain

Date of birth:
April 18th, 1904 (Antwerp, Belgium)
Date of death:
June 26th, 1990 (Dilbeek, Belgium)
Nationality:
Belgian

Biography

Count Jacques Le Grelle was a Reserve-Lieutenant in the Belgian Cavalry when WW2 broke out. He was called up in 1939 and served in the campaign in Flanders.
Le Grelle escaped to Britain and was sent back in June 1943 to lead the Comet Escape Line for the Paris Sector.
See the citation for his Military Cross for further information.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant
Unit:
Military Intelligence Section 9 (MI9), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), War Office, British Government
Count LE GRELLE worked for an Escape Organisation for seven and a half months, and during that time rendered invaluable service to the Allied Cause.

The Line was badly penetrated by the Gestapo early in 1943 and some of its principle members were arrested. Count LE GRELLE was sent to FRANCE at the end of May with the mission of helping to re-organise the evacuation of Allied Service personnel, and in particular of looking after the PARIS sector. His task there was as varied as it was complicated. He had to plan the arrival of evaders from BRUSSELS and from the French provinces, and their departure for SPAIN via BORDEAUX. It was his responsability to arrange for the lodging, clothing and feeding of evaders in Paris, toe ensure their security, to interrogate them on their identities, to provide them with false papers and to get them photographed.
He had to organise a system of intelligence whereby he learned of the change in the controls on trains, and of all matters which the Germans instigated at short notice to prevent just such work as he himself was engaged on.

From shortly after his arrival until his arrest on 12th January 1944, Count LE GRELLE handled a very large number of evaders in the PARIS area, at a time when, through the intensified programs of bombardment, there were far more casualties than ever before, and it was thanks to his superb organising ability that PARIS, the vital link in the chain BRUSSELS - SPAIN, was able to function so effectively.

After his arrest Count LE GRELLE was tortured by the Germans and sentenced to death and sent to Germany where he passed through many prisons. He returned to BELGIUM on 8th June 1945.

Count LE GRELLE showed at all timed outstanding courage and resource. It is entirely due to his untiring efforts that large numbers of Allied evaders and ** were able to regain their freedom."
Military Cross (MC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 19th, 1949
Croix du Prisonnier politique de la Guerre 1940 - 1945
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 10th, 1951
Medaille van de Burgerlijke Weerstander

Sources

Photo