Tessa's World War II History Website

In Memory of
Marthe Janssen-Leyder
A Belgian Secret Army Operative
We all have "History" in our family backgrounds, most of it unremarkable.
However, sometimes there is something quite extraordinary to recount... something which is real history... something we should not forget.
Such is the wartime story of the secret life of my Belgian aunt and others like her who worked for the Belgian Resistance and the Allies during World War II.
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Labelled with ICRA

 
"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.

Photograph of Marthe Janssen-Leyder

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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This link takes you to my page giving some Background History about wartime Belgium Miss the 'history' and go straight to the pages about Marthe
Black Ribbon In memory of the innocent victims of terrorism in Madrid on 11 March 2004 and Worldwide Black Ribbon In memory of the innocent victims of terrorism in London on 7 July 2005

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"Madame Johnson"
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Copyright © 2001-2005 Tessa Steer (Leyder) / Van Hecke Family - All Rights Reserved Worldwide
This page redesigned 5 April 2004 - Last update 29 January 2005

Site Launched
November 2001


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United Kingdom
LINKS TO MAIN PAGES
My Tribute to Marthe Janssen-Leyder
Floral Tributes at her Funeral
The Commemorative Plaque

EN FRANÇAIS
L'histoire de la Plaque - Les lettres de René Janssen

MARTHE'S TRUE STORIES
How I Met Billie Boxton
The Escape of Four Russian Officers
A Traitor Amongst Us

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Croydon Times of 23.11.46
Belgian Newspaper of 31.10.50

THE EVADERS
The British Airman: Douglas Jennings' Story
N.B. Douglas Jennings has just published, "Jump or Die",
his account of his wartime service in the RAF; his training, the night his Lancaster Bomber was shot down and his subsequent evasion through occupied Belgium.

OTHER PAGES
Secret Army Insignia and Similar Badges
Map of Belgium showing Eisden
Lyrics for Little Grey Home in the West

A WW1 PARODY OF A FAMOUS SONG  
Little Wet Home in a Trench
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Site Last Updated
25 August 2005


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Luxembourg
The Author's
Personal Pages
this link takes you to my first personal page
to read about me, my Family and my Parents. Also see my Dad's 1919 postcard from Langemarck describing the
Total Destruction after WW I
The Leyder
Family Ancestors
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to see my paternal Family Tree from 1698 and
my small family
Photo Album
starting with photographs of my
Great Great Grandparents
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Spain

• Just Published •
Douglas Jennings' Book about his years in the RAF - Click here for order details

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