Benoist, Robert Marcel Charles "Clergyman"

Date of birth:: March 20th, 1895 (Auffargis, France)
Date of death:: September 14th, 1944 (KZ Buchenwald)
Mentioned on:: Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial (Memorial to the Missing)
Service number:: 30112
Nationality:: French

Biography

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Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Captain
Unit:: F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:: November 15th, 1945

Recommendation:
"This officer was recruited by a British organiser early in 1942 and played an important part in building up a circuit in the Paris area. When his chef was arrested in the summer of 1943, Benoist came to England and volunteered dor further work in France. He was landed by aircraft in February 1944 and organised two important groups, one based on Nantes which carried out effective sabotage attacks against railways and electricity supplies on and after D-Day, and the other in the Foret de Rambouillet.
With this group he took part in a number of actions against the enemy, and distinguished himself by his courage and leadership.

Capt Benoist was arrested by the Gestapo in July 1944 and imprisoned at Fresnes. He was later deported to Germany and executed in September 1944 at Buchenwald.

It is recommended that this officer be Mentioned in Desptaches (Posthumously)."

Signed Major-General Colin Gubbins
25.8.45.

Posthumously awarded