Francois Danhaive

Francois Xavier Emile Danhaive, geboren 19-04-1921 in Baséde, overleden 00-00-2012 te Ajaccio, was lid van de verzetsorganisatie 'Groep-G'. Meer gegevens over hem zijn te vinden in file HS9/392/1 in het TNA te Londen.
Francois Xavier Emile Danhaive, born 19 April 1921 in Basècles, died in 2012 in Ajaccio, was a member of the resistance organization Groep G. More information about him can be found in file HS9/392/1 at The National Archives in London

From Dahaive's RVPS report nr. 22240: "... In Paris Dahaive was left by Lucien at the Hotel de la Civette (known), where he remained until sunday 30-4-1944. During the intervening time, he reported daily to Mlle. Bellierres, a cousin of Jacky des Essarts who lived near the Porte Neuilly. She was aged about 31 and was not unattractive looking; but spoke with a lisp.
On the last day of his stay in Paris he met there Mme. Germaine (known), a grey haired, distinguished looking woman of about 60 who brought him to the house of Mme. Veuve (widow) Delorme (known), 4 Rue Ernest Cresson, Paris. Danhaive remained there for 17 days (30-4-1994 till 16-5-1944)

On 15-5-1944 he was joined by a Dutchman known as "JAN" (Biallosterski), who later became known as James Oliver when the party reached Spain. He left Madrid on 6-7-1944 and is supposed to have reached this country shortly afterwards.

On 16-5-1944 they set out for Toulouse with a guide, a middle-aged man of medium build, well dressed, name not known, to whom they were introduced by Mme. Germaine at Austerlitz station. He had with him another escapee, a Belgian named Georges Marcq who was later arrested by the Germans between Perpignant and the frontier and nothing more has been heard of him since.
They reached Toulouse at 10:30 hours the following morning and no control took place on the way. Here Danhaive added that before leaving Paris he was supplied by Mme. Germaine with a new identity card, as well as a Carte de Travail. They were both in the name of Francois Denizot and he was supposed to reside in Conde-sur-Aisnes.

In Toulouse Danhaive and his two companions were lodged in a modest compartment over a cycle shop. Next day Danhaive and the Dutchman were taken by a man known as Le Commandant to another address, 9 Rue du Mas. St. Augustin, Toulouse, where they lodged untill 23.5.1944 (Note: Reference to Le Commandant was recently made by Vincotte RPS. 21818 and he also cropped up in the report on Dupreel RPS. 21816)

On the latter date Danhaive and his companion (Biallosterski) were brought by Le Commandant to the railway station, where they were introduced to another guide, a Spaniard aged about 29, tall, with slightly rounded shoulders, with whom they travelled to Perpignan. They stayed overnight with two friends of this guide, also Spaniards, and were brought by the next morning (24-5-2015) to the house of a wine grower some 7 kms further south, where they remained to 2 days.

During this time they learned that the other Belgian, Georges Marcq , whom they left in Toulouse, had been caught in a trap together with another Belgian, and their guide, after leaving Perpignan. Owing to this breakdown in the line, Danhaive and his companion had to return to Toulouse, (26^th or 27^th May 1944), where they were left by the guides chez M. Cabrit, 6 Rue Rossignol, who was aged about 46 and was a furniture dealer before the war. He now worked in a metallurgical works.
They remained with him until 11-6-1944 and then left for Montrejeau together with another guide, aged about 34, short and stocky with a poch-marked face, to whom they were introduced by Le Commandant. They were also joined by an American, Norman Pero and together they boarded a train leaving at 09:00 hours. However, owing to sabotage on the line, they were considerable delayed and only reached Montrejeau at 17:00 hours.

They were met at the station by a young, tall fair looking Spaniard, most un-Spanish appearance, and each member of the party having been supplied with a bicycle, they set out in the direction of the Spanish Frontier. They halted after covering about 10 kilometres and were than handed over to another Spanish guide known as Angele (this man id identical with the Angele referred to in the report on Vincotte -para. 26)
Having had refreshment and food, they set out once more, at about 22:00 hours and after a long and arduous journey, came to a place known as La Cabane, where they waited while one of the guides returned to Montrejeau to collect two Belgians, Jean Drapier (RPS. 22241) and Rene Soudan (RPS. 22268) and an American, Richard Elliott.
Having joined forces, the party set out once more (13-6-1944) and after a three day trek, reached the Frontier (16-6-1944), close to the Col de Roumaillou (Rouminque), near Hospice de France.

The guides remained with the party until a hide-out known as La Caverne was reached some 45 kilometres from the Frontier. At this point they were to be met by a car and driven to Barcelona. The car turned up on the second day, but just outside Graus it was held up by Civil Guards and all members of the party were detained.

The following day (21-6-1944), they were sent under escort via Huesca to Saragossa, arriving on 22-6-1944. When he was arrested Danhaive gave his name as Anthony Butler and declared his nationality as Australian, having been advised to do this before leaving Belgium if he got into difficulties.
He was just about a week in Saragossa and the British Authorities having intervened on his behalf, he was allowed to proceed to Madrid on 29-6-1944. He put up at the Hotel Medicdia (known) and during his stay saw both Mr. Cresswell and M. Wodon, the British and Belgian represtentatives.
He eventually left Madrid on 26-7-1944 together with Drapier and Soudan and a number of Frenchmen, the party being in the care of a British official with whom they travelled via San-Roque to Gibraltar. A day later Danhaive was put on board a plane and sent to this country.

May 15^th, Biallosterski joins Danhaive in a Paris safehouse', 4 Rue Ernest Cresson.
May 16^th, Biallosterski, Danhaive & Marcq leave Paris for Toulouse by train.
May 17^th, 10:30 hrs Biallosterski, Danhaive & Marcq arrive at trainstation Toulouse.
May 17^th, Biallosterski, Danhaive & Marcq stay in a safehouse above a bicycledealer.
May 18^th, Biallosterski and Danhaive are moved to another safehouse, 9 Rue du Mas St.Augustin.
May 23^rd, Biallosterski and Danhaive leave Toulouse for Perpignan.
May 24^rd, Biallosterski and Danhaive leave Perpignan for a village 7 kms further south.
May 26^th, Biallosterski and Danhaive return to a safehouse Toulouse, 6 Rue Rossignol.

June 11^th, Biallosterski, Danhaive and Pero leave Toulouse for Montrejeau.
June 11^th, Biallosterski, Danhaive and Pero cycle towards the Pyrenees, spent the night in La Cabane.
June 12^th, Drapier, Soudan and Elliott are moved from Toulouse to La Cabane.
June 13^th, Whole party with at least two guides starting their walk towards the Spanish border.
June 16^th, Crossing the French / Spanish border.
June 17^th, Late afternoon, begin of the evening. Party arrives at hidding place La Caverne.
June 18^th, Resting.
June 19^th, Car for transport to Barcelona is found during the evening.
June 20^th, Party is arrested by the Guardia Civil just outside Graus.
June 21^st, Everbody is moved under escort from Graus to Barbastro.
June 22^nd, All group members are moved from Barbastro via Huesca to Zaragossa.
June 29^th, Party moves from Zaragossa to Madrid.

July 6^th, Biallosterski leaves Madrid for Gibraltar.
July 8^th, Biallosterski arrives in Gibraltar en takes a BOAC plane to the UK.
July 9^th, Biallosterski arrives in Bristol.
July 26^th, Danhaive, Drapier & Soudan leave Madrid for Gibraltar.

RAPPORT SECRET No 300 of rapport No D75.

"A partir de l'hiver 41, 42 DANHAIVE cherche à rejoindre l'UK et dans ce but cherche des contacts. A partir de ce moment s'occuppé d'oeuvres patriotique et entre un rapport avec HENRI FREDERICQ qui se serai occupé d'une service en France. Ne trouve aucune ligne. Henri Fredericq partir de Juin 1943, tout en continuant ses études apporte sa collaboration à HENRI NEUMAN (CAESAR) 28 ans, docteur en droit à l'ULB. En Juin il fournit à Henri Neuman qui était recherche un gite chez les parent Danhaive en Basecles. Vers la fin de Juillet, sert d'intermédiare pour la compte de Henri Neuman afin de mettre en contact un groupe de résistance de Basecles (anciennement du Front Independance) avec le Groupe "G" de sabotage dont le Chef JEAN BURGERS aurait été arrêté vers Avril 1944 et dont Henri Neuman était Chef adjoint. Plus tard Danhaive met Groupe "G" de sabotage avec une carrière (région d' Ecausines) pour la fourniture de poudre noir. Fin Octobre 1943, s'occupe de réception d'armes par parachutage (opération finalement décommandée) et réalisée plus tard à Leuze (dorp ten noorden van Namen). Groupe "G" étant parti pour L' Angleterre, Danhaive ne le revoit que en février 1944, et en mars Groupe "G" lui fait demander s'il serait d'accord de partir en UK et subit un entrainement pour se faire parachute ensuite. Au debut d'avril Danhaive marque son accord, et reçoit instruction d'attendre. Prévenu le 23 avril 1944 par la femme dún agent de Henri Neuman que un certain JACQUES GUYOT qui devait partir comme recrue pour le service de renseignement le lendemain n'a pu être touché et qu'il peut partir à sa place. Il quitte Basecles le 24 avril 1944 et est à Bruxelles le 25 avril, avec le guide LUCIEN va jusque Paris via Mouscron, ou il arrive le 26 avril dans l'après midi (avec comme papiers un Reisbescheinigung fait à son nom, profession employé à Telefunken. Loge à Hotel de la Civette justqu'au 30 Avril, est conduit chez Madame DELORME à Rue Ernest Cresson 4, Paris 18^eou il reste 17 jours.
Le 13 mai 1944, est rejoint par un Hollandais J. DAUBRY (Biallosterski). Le 16 Mai quittent ensemble Paris, avec un guide et un plus GEORGE 'Le Commandant', pour Toulouse avec carte d'indentité françaiseet certificat de travail. Ils sont conduits chez un marchand de vélo. Le Chef local de la ligne qui se faisait appeler Q ou Monsieur EDOUARD vient chercher Danhaive et le Hollandais laissant la George 'Le Commandant'. Ils arrive à un autre gite et repartent le 22 mai 1944 pour Perpignant. Quittent Perpignant le 26 mai et rentrent suite à un accident survenu a George 'Le Commandant', leur dit-on à Toulouse chez Monsieur CABRIT, Rue de Rossignol 6. Repartent le 11 Juin de Toulouse rencontrent un Américan (Norman Pero) qui suit jusqu'a Montrejeau (cabane de bucherons, houthakkers) le 12 Avril 1944 rejoint par un Américan (Richard Elliot) et deux Belges, DRAPIER et SOUDAN. Dès lors le voyage est identique à la relation No. D76."

" ... J'ai frenchi la frontière espagnole le 16 Juin 1944 et ai été arrêtte par la police le 20 Juin 1944 à Graus. ou j'ai été maintenu pendant une nuit; de là, j'ai été transféré a Huesca ou j'ai passé nuit également, puis, j'ai été achemine sur Saragosse ou j'ai vu le Consul de Grande Bretagne, qui m'a évité le séjour dans un camp de concentration espagnol. J'ai quitté Saragosse le 29 Juin 1944 pour Madrid; j'y suis arrivé le 30 Juin 1944. Parti de Madrid le 26 Juillet 1944 et j'ai atteint Gibraltar le 27 Juillet 1944 et j'ai quitté cette ville le 28 Juillet 1944. J'ai débargué à Bristol le 29 Juillet 1944 et j'ai été dirigé le même jour ..."

Source: TNA, London.

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