June's Fire: Honoring the SOE Women Born This Month
June brings us three extraordinary women from the Special Operations Executive’s Section F—each of them fierce, resilient, and unforgettable. Muriel Byck, Pearl Witherington, and Violette Szabo didn’t just support the Resistance—they were the Resistance. Their courage, loyalty, and sheer determination lit fires behind enemy lines and left legacies that still burn bright today.
And June feels especially close to my heart—because it’s also the month I was born. Every time I write these tributes, I feel a deep connection to the women I honor, but this month, perhaps even more so. These three agents, in their unique ways, reflect so much of what I admire: compassion, clarity of purpose, and bold, quiet power.
In this month’s trio, we find a fragile wireless operator whose spirit never faltered, a battle-tested leader who defied male hierarchy, and a young widow-turned-heroine whose courage became legend. Two did not live to see the peace they fought for. One demanded to be remembered not just as a woman spy—but as a commanding officer.
Each of these women features—or will feature—in my Timeless Agents series. But here, as always, we strip the fiction away and let their real stories shine.
Muriel Byck – Codename Violette
Muriel Byck’s life was marked by quiet strength and deep conviction. Born in London in 1918 to Russian Jewish émigré parents, she spoke fluent French and had a passion for service that led her first to the WAAF and eventually to the SOE. Trained as a wireless operator—a role with one of the shortest survival rates—Muriel was deployed to France in April 1944, just weeks before D-Day. Her cover identity, Michèle Bernier, was a governess from Paris. Her real task: transmitting coded messages in support of the VENTRILOQUIST circuit.
Despite struggling with poor health, she carried out her mission with unwavering dedication until she suddenly collapsed with meningitis. She died on 23 May 1944, just days before her 26th birthday. Her fellow agent, the hardened resistance leader Philippe de Vomécourt wept at her funeral.
Muriel’s grave first lay in the town of Romorantin, later she was reinterred at the Military Cemetery in Pornic, France. Her story features in The Call of Destiny, my third book in my Timeless Agents series—a tribute to the power of courage that burns quietly, but brightly.
Pearl Witherington – Codenames Marie / Pauline
Few SOE agents fought harder—not just in the field, but for recognition—than Pearl Witherington. Born in Paris to British parents, Pearl grew up fluent in French and fiercely independent. When the Germans invaded France, she fled to Britain and joined the SOE, determined to return and fight. Parachuted into central France in 1943, she initially worked as a courier but quickly rose to lead the Wrestler circuit after her superior was arrested. Under her command, more than 1,500 Resistance fighters sabotaged German rail lines, blew up supply depots, and disrupted troop movements during the lead-up to D-Day.
Despite her achievements, Pearl was initially offered only a civilian MBE. She returned it in protest, stating that she had been a soldier—and should be recognized as such. Years later, she was finally awarded the military MBE and honored as a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in France. After the war, she settled in the Loire Valley with her SOE radio operator and husband Henri Cornioley.
Pearl’s story is a sharp reminder that women were not only vital to the Resistance—but also often overlooked. She didn’t accept that. And thanks to her refusal to stay silent, neither do we.
Violette Szabo – Codename Louise
If there is one name from the SOE that echoes like poetry and thunder, it’s Violette Szabo. Born in Paris to a French mother and British father, Violette was widowed at 22 when her French Foreign Legion husband was killed in North Africa. Grieving but resolute, she volunteered for the SOE, determined to fight back. She was parachuted into France twice, serving as a courier and saboteur with fearless resolve.
On her second mission in June 1944, Violette was captured after an intense gun battle near Salon-la-Tour. Despite brutal interrogation and torture, she never revealed her secrets. Deported to Ravensbrück concentration camp, she continued to show solidarity, compassion, and bravery until her execution in February 1945 at the age of 23.
Posthumously awarded the George Cross, Croix de Guerre, and Médaille de la Résistance, Violette became a symbol of resistance, sacrifice, and unwavering spirit. Her life inspired poems, books, and a 1958 film—but perhaps most moving of all is the small museum dedicated to her in Herefordshire, created by her devoted aunt.
Conclusion: June’s Legacy of Light and Fire
June’s daughters of the SOE remind us of the breadth—and the cost—of courage. Muriel Byck, whose frail body belied her strength of will. Pearl Witherington, who led Resistance fighters through sabotage and strategy with military precision. And Violette Szabo, who died without betraying her comrades and with her dignity unbroken.
Each of them carved a legacy in their own way: through loyalty, leadership, or the ultimate sacrifice. Their stories remind us that resistance is not a single act, but a way of living—even when the odds are against you.
As a fellow June girl, I carry a quiet connection to these women. And each year, as their birthdays return, I’m reminded that history doesn’t rest—it waits to be remembered.
