were evacuated by a British military aircraft from a eld near Angers to

England on February 4th 1944. After her departure, Lavigne was tried

in Lyon as a terroris and convicted in absentia to life imprisonment.

After her arrival in England she was sent for formal training including

para-military work and despiteher sentance in absentia, she was

prepared for a new mission.

Madeline returned to a join a new circuit - SILVERSMITH - located

near Reims. She landed by parachute on the evening of 22nd/23rd

May 1944. Her new mission was to act as a courier and wireless

operator for the circuit. Lavigne kept wireless sets in her house in

Lyon. She also rented a house in Épernay to serve as a base. Her

colleague Henri Borosh joined her as head of SILVERSMITH. For the

next several months she worked as a courier delivering messages and

arranging with SOE in London for air drops of weapons and supplies

to the French resistance. “The Germans were everywhere and [she]

often had to pass through areas under re, showing great courage

and common sense.”

According to her personnel le, Henri Borosh, now the head of the

circuit stated “had it not been for her, he would not have been able to

stay on in Epernay, as she inspired such condence in the Benazets,

restaurant proprietors, that they assisted him to rent two houses” in

the area.

Lavigne also participated in many sabotage actions with

SILVERSMITH, putting her training to good use.