Why include Resistance fighters? What has that to do with aircrew?

Resistance movements in occupied territories played many roles, from obtaining intelligence on the enemy for use by Allied officers at home, to direct action such as sabotage or attacks on military personnel.

One of their roles was to help Allied aircrew who crashed in enemy territory to evade capture and find their way home. Aircrew training was an expensive operation and any recovery of otherwise lost men was valuable, quite apart from what it meant to the crew members themselves.

Running escape lines back to the UK was incredibly dangerous for the Resistance, for whom instant death or despatch to a concentration camp was the usual fate if caught. And there was always the risk of 'stool pigeons' being fed into the escape lines by the enemy, with the inevitable rolling up of complete Resistance networks as a consequence.

The easiest course for civilians under occupation by a ruthless foe would have been to lay low and pray for salvation. But for some that would have been unthinkable, and it's right and proper we remember them.

We seek to honour members of the Resistance who risked their lives and those of their families by keeping alight the sacred flame of honour in the darkest hours for their country. We salute the members of the Resistance!