Andree Borrel - Pat O'Leary Escape Line & Pyrenees Evasion
Allan Hunn
- Regions:
- South East, South West, East of England, London, West Midlands, East Midlands, Wales
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Semi-Professional
- Fee:
- Paid: £50 plus expenses
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 2nd September 2025
- Tagged:
- 1939-45 | Women At War | Ww2 | Soe
Prior to serving with the SOE in WWII, Andree Borrel worked for the Pat O'Leary Escape Line. Andree operated two 'safe houses' for escapers & evaders in Canet Plage. In December 1941 Andree and her partner Maurice Dufour were advised to leave France due to the possibility of having been compromised by a traitor. Both Andree and Maurice made a remarkable evasion journey across the Pyrenees to Spain and Portugal to the UK.
The talk covers Andree's activities working for the Pat O'Leary Line and walking her retraced route across the Pyrenees.
Views: 120 | Enquiries: 0About Allan Hunn
International Mountain Leader, Battlefield Guide and Tour Manager
A former aircraft maintenance engineer with 25 years RAF service and 18 years civil aerospace experience.
The last 12 years have been spent researching WWII Escape Lines including the retracing and walking of arduous routes of a significant number of named soldiers, sailors, airmen and SOE agents. This also includes the identification and recognition of citizen ‘helpers’ who risked everything to ensure the safe passage of escapers & evaders.
Typical escaper & evader subject knowledge includes escapers & evaders of Dunkirk, St Valery-en-Caux, St Nazaire, Dieppe, The Great Escape, Colditz, Bombing campaign (including the 8th Air Force), SOE infiltration and exfiltration. Overtime a huge database has been assembled which allows for queries on the rapid identification of the history of escapers & evaders and their individual routes.
Talks include the individual/group, battle context, helpers, route taken and outcome.
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Allan Hunn
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