The Sussex Network

Patricia Cleveland-Peck on the part played by a French cafe in the Sussex Network operations during the Second World War.

It was the casual remark made in the 1980s by a friend in Paris that led to my discovery of a little-known piece of Second World War history – the Sussex Network. ‘Did I know,’ my friend asked, ‘about the café in rue Tournefort where la patronne sheltered allied airmen during the war?’

I did not, but thinking it worth investigation I set off – only to find that the café had just closed down. Disappointed and fearing that the owner had died (my friend said she had run the café since 1928) I pushed a note through the door and thought no more about it until a few weeks later when I received a letter informing me that the owner, Andrée Goubillon, was alive and well and would be happy to meet me and tell me her story.

To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive.

Buy Online Access  Buy Print & Archive Subscription

If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.

Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.