Lyon, Robert "Gilbert Calvert"
- Date of birth:
- January 14th, 1897 (Paris, France)
- Date of death:
- October 20th, 1986 (Saint-Mandé/Val-de-Marne, France)
- Nationality:
- French
Biography
Located near Grenoble, the ACOLYTE circuit was founded by Captain Robert Lyon, aka Gilbert Calvert (Adrien).
He had been recruited in the field in August 1941, arrested but escaped in the summer of 1942, arrived in London in August of 1942, and trained for six months in SOE schools before being infiltrated into France by Lysander on 22/23 June 1943.
He went on to establish a sabotage organization, but heavy arrests made this
impractical and his circuit began work in arming the FFI and preparing for Allied landings. It went on to effectively sabotage and harass the enemy, engaging as well in many direct confrontations, until mid-September of 1944 when the Germans evacuated the region. Lyon returned to the UK on 20 Sept 44 to receive military awards.
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Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Acting Captain
- Unit:
- F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
- Awarded on:
- June 21st, 1945
"This officer started work in French Resistance in 1940 and rendered invaluable service to a British controlled organisation in Southern France. He was imprisoned in October 1941, and after spending several months in gaol escaped to England via Spain. He volunteered to return to France to build up a new circuit in the Lyon area and after a period of training, was landed in France by air in June 1943.
Lyon at that time was over-run by Gestapo and Milice, and although Calvert was without direct W/T communication for some time after his arrival, he formed a small but effective circuit and established teams of saboteurs for action on his allotted targets on D.Day. Shortly before the invasion Calvert was arrested bus escaped six weeks later by jumping off the train in which he was being taken to Germany. He immediately re-joined his groups which in his absence had effectively attacked on D.Day their railway and tele-communcation targets.
Calvert then formed a maquis near Roanne, organised attacks on german road convoys, and established a valuable intelligence network.
For his long and gallant service in the Resistance movement and his courage and steadfastness under difficult conditions, it recommended that this officer be appointed a Memer of the Order of the British Empire (Miltary division)."
Signed by Major-General Colin Gubbins
4.4.45
Chevalier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Commandant - Chef de mission 2e classe
- Awarded on:
- January 14th, 1948
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- September 28th, 1957
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Officier in de Leopoldsorde / Officier de l'Ordre de Léopold
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37138/supplement/3225/data.pdf
- Recommendation for Award for Calvert, Gilbert Rank: Acting Captain Service... | The National Archives
- Journal officiel de la République française. Lois et décrets - 13 July 1947
- SOE - Lyon, Robert | Special Forces Roll Of Honour
Photo
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