Name/Title
August 1944 - Photograph of Major (Late Colonel) Jean Pierre Charles Meunier, MID - Special Operations Executive (SOE) and CGG OfficerDescription
August 1944 - A late August / early September photograph of Major (Late Colonel) Jean Pierre Charles Meunier, MID - Special Operations Executive (SOE) and CGG Officer in Paris with members of the Swiss Diplomatic Corps.
ABOUT THE RECIPIENT:
Jean Pierre Charles Meunier was born Paris, France during WW1 to a Canadian father, and a French mother who moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada when age 3. He joined The Canadian Grenadier Guards in 1939 and underwent Officers' Training School in Brockville, Ontario. Initially assigned to DND Defence HQ, in Ottawa, he proceeded overseas in August 1942 attached to the Fusiliers Mont-Royal. He joined F Section of the SOE in 1944 as codename Edouard and rose to become a Director of a Circuit. Colonel Meunier also used the alias, Pierre Mornet. He later returned to the UK and lead SOE's Force 136.
ABOUT Special Operations Executive (SOE):
The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a secret British World War II organization. It was officially formed on 22 July 1940 under Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton, from the amalgamation of three existing secret organizations. Its purpose was to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europe (and later, also in occupied Southeast Asia) against the Axis powers, and to aid local resistance movements. After WW2 most members returned to their Peace-time roles, however 280 agents went on to join M16 of British Intelligence.
ABOUT FORCE 136:
As early as 1940, SOE was preparing plans for operations in Southeast Asia. As in Europe, after initial Allied military disasters, SOE built up indigenous resistance organizations and guerrilla armies in enemy (Japanese) occupied territory. SOE also launched "Operation Remorse" (1944–45), which was ultimately aimed at protecting the economic and political status of Hong Kong. Force 136 engaged in covert trading of goods and currencies in China. Its agents proved remarkably successful, raising £77m through their activities, which were used to provide assistance for Allied prisoners of war and, more controversially, to buy influence locally to facilitate a smooth return to pre-war conditions.
Footnotes:
The European Confederation of Former Combatants was recognized by the French government on April 19, 1962 and is recognized by the Council of Europe in a consultative role. Its aim is to strengthen links between both former allies and enemies in Europe, to foster peace, security, co-operation and friendship and to defend human rights. During the height of the Cold War, it acted as a point of contact between the opposing sides and was among the leading proponents of the Helsinki Accords. In recent years, it has worked to ease the path of the former Soviet bloc countries into a united Europe.Created By
Bertille L. HurelCreate Date
July 14, 2022Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
October 27, 2024
