"Madame Johnson"
  Marthe Janssen-Leyder  

Most of the airmen forced to bale out over enemy occupied territories during World War Two were captured and sent to prisoner of war camps. A lucky few were found first by the Resistance and were escorted from safe house to safe house along one of the many escape lines. One of these routes passed through the village of Eisden, in Belgium, where my aunt lived.

My aunt was just one small link in the chain of helpers along these meandering evasion routes in Belgium, all of which eventually linked up with one of the famous escape routes such as the Comete Line, which started from Brussels, went south through France, over the Pyrenees and then through Spain to Gibralter. Perhaps you, your father, your uncle, your grandfather or an older friend, were one of the "lucky few". Perhaps you passed through Eisden and remember Marthe Janssen-Leyder as "Madame Johnson"... If you do, I would be very pleased to hear from you or from anyone with relevant information. You can contact me via the email link below left or, if you do not have access to an email programme, please use the 'Feedback Form' button below right.

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