Interview with Barbara May Bertram

British civilian worked as hostess for Special Operations Executive and French Resistance agents at Bignor Manor and Bedfordshire, GB, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in Chichester, GB, 1906-1940: family; education; marriage; memories of First World War; family situation on declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of period as civilian hostess for Special Operations Executive and French Resistance at Bignor Manor and Bedfordshire, GB, 1941-1944: husband Anthony Bertram's role as conducting officer with French Resistance, 1941; Bignor Manor use as safe house for French Resistance agents; description of Bignor Manor and facilities; role as hostess at Bignor Manor; nature of night-time clandestine activities and use of RAF Tangmere; role in providing correct clothing and resources for agents retuning to France; how Bignor Manor being designated an official War Office catering establishment and question of special rations; comparison of food in England and France; role in catering for agents; description of 'reception pie'. REEL 2 Continues: reputation of Bignor Manor in France; reason for sons being sent to boarding school; problem of sleeping arrangements for large groups of people; lack of domestic help; daily routine; question of moonlit nights determining operational activities; morale among agents and problem of frustration at lack of activity; visits to White Horse Inn at Sutton; question of cover story and protection; agents who stayed at Bignor Manor; role of French Resistance during Second World War; children arriving with parents from France; question of agents not knowing place names to prevent revealing location of Bignor Manor under interrogation; husband's promotion to rank of major. REEL 3 Continues: role of women in French Resistance; story of aircraft crashing in fog and death of friend; use of scrambling device on telephone lines; petrol rationing; provision of revolver; question of maintaining secrecy of work; role of MI5 in surveillance; question of being able to lie convincingly; operations at RAF Tangmere; story of parts of German V1 Flying Bomb arriving at Bignor Manor; reason for being moved to house in Bedfordshire prior to D-Day landings, 6/6/1944; description of house and staff; amusing nickname given by sons to French agents; liberation of France and end of work with French Resistance; story of being presented with silver cigarette case in recognition of work. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as civilian in Paris, France, 1945-1946: role of husband with British Council; social life; story relating to Duke and Duchess of Windsor; award of French medals to husband. Reflections of period as civilian hostess for Special Operations Executive and French Resistance at Bignor Manor and Bedfordshire, GB, 1941-1944: attitude to role of French Resistance and opinion of agents; sewing poison capsules into clothing of agents prior to departure for France; description of training during nights without moonlight; use of codes; question of giving talks about wartime experiences; attitude to role during Second World War; War Office pay and expenses.