Bloch, André

Date of birth:: June 19th, 1914
Date of death:: February 11th, 1942 (Fort Mont-Valérien/Paris, France)
Buried on:: Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial (Memorial to the Missing)
Service number:: 184314
Nationality:: French

Biography

Commissioned under the nom de guerre 'Alan George Boyd', Bloch was the first French Section SOE agent to be executed, Lieutenant André Bloch, was shot at Fort Mont-Valérien on 11th February 1942.

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Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:: December 20th, 1945

Citation:
"This officer was parachuted into FRANCE on 6th September 1941 as W/T operator. He worked during October and November 1941 and was one of the first W/T operators in the occupied zone.
After 12th November 1941 when he sent his last message nothing was heard of him until it was later reported that he had been arrested and shot by the Germans. Although severely interrogated and beaten up he did not give any information away, and refused to divulge the names of any of his accomplices. The Gestapo despaired of eliciting any information from him and he was executed on 11th April, 1942.
For his great courage and self-sacrifice in enduring torture and giving his life to save his companions, it is recommended that this Officer be awarded a Posthumous Mention in Despatches."
Colin Gubbins, Major-General. 23.9.45