| Name | Camille BEURÉ | Aliases | Benie, Emile Monnet, André Morel |
| Date of birth | 18 Mar 1896 | Profession | Electrician |
| Address | rue St. Nicolas, Fismes, Marne, France | Spouse/ Children |
Therèse
/ Raymonde, André, Germaine, Jean, Jacques & Michel |
| Position | Search
for Lysander landing sites Reception of Lysanders & parachutage Installation & maintenance of R/T sets Safe house |
Awards | Medal of Freedom (US) |
| References | NARA:RG498/290/55/27/2
Box 32 - Awards' file - Camille Beuré NARA:RG498/290/55/27/2 Box ? - Awards' file - Raymond Gallet See text for references to airmen |
Last updated on
10 June, 2009
|
SYNOPSIS
July 1943 |
Maldague (RAF) | Sheltered for eight days |
11 Sep 1943 |
Fred Gardiner
(RAF) Herbert Pond (RNZAF) |
Sheltered for two nights |
13-14 Sep 1943 |
Fred Gardiner (RAF) Pierre Geelen (SOE) Herbert Pond (RNZAF) |
Part of reception commitee for Lysander pickup operation (BRASENOSE) at Mont de Dhuizel, near Fismes. |
20 Dec 1943 |
Dominique Edgard Potier Jean de Blommaert Willy Lemaître |
Part of reception commitee for parachute operation (BRASENOSE III) at Mont de Dhuizel, near Fismes. |
In the middle of August 1943, Camille Beuré was recruited into the Possum organisation, by Raymond Gallet. In conjunction with Pierre Geelen, they worked at finding suitable sites that could be used as landing strips for Lysander aircraft.
Beuré was also responsible for the installation of several R/T posts, one of which was set up in his own home and another at Mme. Mondet's house in Reims. Conrad Lafleur, who stayed intermittently with the Beuré's for four months, switched transmissions between the two sites to lessen the chances of detection. It was while transmitting from Fernande Mondet's house, on 29th December 1943, that Lafleur & Raymonde Beuré were nearly arrested.
About ten airmen passed through his house, normally conveyed by his daughter, Raymonde. He sheltered Fred Gardiner (RAF) & Herbert Pond (RNZAF) from 11th September 1943 for two nights before the pickup operation on 13-14 September 1943 (operation BRASENOSE). He was part of the reception party for this operation and for the parachute drop at the same site on 20th December (operation BRASENOSE III).
With the collapse of the organisation at the end of December 1943, Camille Beuré went on the run for eight months travelling from place to place - Paris, Verdun, Narbonne, Vierzon, Champs, Paris again and Chinon, where he waited for the Allied arrival.
Beuré's 18 year old son, André, was arrested on 28th April 1944, as a hostage for him and deported. Therèse, his wife, was arrested at the same time, but was released on the arrest of their daughter, Raymonde. André was repatriated on 11th May 1945.
<There's more to come!>