Coyette, Jean Emil Michel Ghislain

Date of birth:: December 26th, 1906
Date of death:: 1973
Nationality:: Belgian

Biography

Jean Coyette was lawyer, barrister in Charleroi and during WW2 a Captain in the Belgian Army. After the war he became an investigating judge and from 1947 counselor at the Council of State.

For the mission mentioned below, Coyette was parachuted together with Henri Filot. Name of the mission was Porcupine-Mandril.

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Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Kapitein (Captain)
Unit:: Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Citation"
Capitaine Coyette was parachuted into Belgium on the night of 12 April 1943. His mission was to demoralize German troops in Belgium by a variety of means but principally by the dissemination of printed matter sent from England.

Coyette set up throughout Belgium a clandestine organisation to handle the distribution of the large variety of printed matter which was sent over. He appointed a successor and, in accordance with instructions proceded to Switzerland at the end of July 1943.

He volunteered for a further mission and in December 1943 returned from Switzerland to Belgium carrying with him a large sum of money for resistance groups who were in urgent need of funds. He returned to Switzerland in March 1944.

He volunteered for a third mission but belgium was liberated before it could be organised.
It is recommended that Capitaine Coyette be appinted a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Mil)(Hon)."

Signed
Colin Gubbins
Major-General
25.5.45

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Croix des Evadés

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: April 30th, 1946

Sources

- Biblio Universiteit van Gent
- Recommendation for Award for Coyette, Jean Rank: Captain Regiment: Belgian... | The National Archives
- Beligisch Staatsblad 116e Jaargang, Maandag 13 en Dinsdag 14 Mei, 1946