Unveiling the Hidden Life of Phyllis Latour: Heroism During WW2 Exposed

Phyllis Latour, the last surviving female secret agent from Sir Winston Churchill's "secret army" in France during World War Two, has passed away at the age of 102. Before her death, classified official files were released, shedding light on her life as a spy behind enemy lines. Latour, codenamed Genevieve, worked as an agent in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and sent urgent messages back to London using Morse code. She provided vital intelligence to the Allied forces, including information on target locations for bombings and drop sites for equipment. Latour faced many close calls while working in German-occupied France, but she never lost her bravery. After the war, Latour married and moved to New Zealand, rarely speaking about her wartime experiences. With her passing, her full wartime story can now be told. The release of her classified SOE file paints a vivid picture of her life and showcases her as one of the lesser-known heroines of the war. Born in South Africa to a French father and British mother, Latour was orphaned at a young age and grew up in the Belgian Congo. She had adventures in Africa before training for the SOE and becoming a skilled agent. While underestimated by her male trainers, Latour proved herself with exceptional service in France. She constantly moved locations, carrying out transmissions from open fields as the fighting grew closer. Latour faced difficulties when the Germans occupied the farms where she stayed, leading her to transmit messages from the open fields instead. She was eventually taken prisoner by US forces until her identity was confirmed. After the war, Latour sought to continue her work as a field agent but faced difficulties finding employment. She eventually settled in New Zealand and received numerous accolades for her wartime service, including the MBE and the Croix de Guerre. Latour's death marks the end of an era for the female agents of the SOE.