27 JULY 2002, Page 33

Warring women

From Mr Ron Nowicki Sir: Nigel Nicolson (Books, 13 July) displays an astounding ignorance about the role of women in the second world war. They were much more than 'adoring WAAFs' or girl reporters. Many of them, like Odette Sansom and Violette Szabo, played prominent roles in the Special Operations Executive.

In June some of us marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Christine Granville, 013E, GM, who saved the 'Jockey' circuit in southern France by securing the release from a German prison of its leader, Francis Cammaerts. She convinced a Gestapo agent to abandon his post and leave with her and Cammaerts. Her many contributions to the Allied war efforts are too numerous to list here.

Ron Nowicki

London N5