Renowned for her courage and resilience, Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent Odette Sansom, has been commemorated with an English Heritage blue plaque, the charity announced today (8 May). The plaque will mark Sansom’s pre-war address at number 6 Lawrence Road in Ealing. It was in this ordinary, late-Victorian terraced house that she lived at the outbreak of World War II and from this address that she would embark on a journey that led her to make an extraordinary contribution to the Allied war effort, enduring unimaginable hardships and displaying unwavering bravery.

Howard Spencer, Senior Historian at English Heritage, said: "Odette Sansom's story is one of exceptional courage and determination. A blue plaque at her pre-war home in Ealing serves as a powerful reminder of her extraordinary bravery and the significant sacrifices she made. We remember her not only for her wartime heroism but also for the life she led before, and the path that led her from this ordinary house and the life of a 1930s mother-of-three to becoming one of the best-known female agents of the war.

“Today, as we celebrate a special VE Day – 80 years since the Nazi regime officially surrendered and victory in Europe was declared – it seems all the more poignant to honour Odette with this plaque. It was this very day in 1945 that saw her homecoming after a year in captivity.”

Born Odette Marie Céline Brailly in Amiens, northern France, Sansom made a considerable contribution to the Allied war effort. Her work as a courier in occupied France, her capture and subsequent torture by the Gestapo, and her unwavering refusal to betray her comrades stand as testament to her extraordinary courage. Her actions, for which she was awarded the George Cross, saved lives, and significantly aided the Resistance.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Odette Sansom's return to England on 8 May 1945, following her harrowing experiences in Nazi captivity. Her return, coinciding with the end of the war in Europe, was a moment of national celebration and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Odette Sansom joins other remarkable female agents, such as Noor Inayat Khan, Christine Granville, and Violette Szabo, who are also commemorated with English Heritage blue plaques, highlighting the vital contributions of women to the war effort.

The English Heritage London Blue Plaques scheme is generously supported by David Pearl and members of the public.