Helpers

This hub links to research material on the men and women who formed the escape lines—couriers, guides, safe-house families and resistance leaders. Use the resources below to trace individual stories or supply information to the ELMS archive.

Research tools

• ELMS Helper Database: Contact the society archivist via Contact for access to indexed helper records and oral-history transcripts.
• National Archives (UK & France): Consult MI9, SOE and FFI files (e.g. series WO 208, HS 6, GR 28) for debriefing reports and commendations.
• Municipal archives: Local town halls in Brussels, St-Girons, Bayonne, Turin and Sulmona maintain civil registers and memorial plaques referencing helper families.

Submit information

• Provide scanned documents, photos or letters via the ELMS archive dropbox (details from the archivist).
• Record short interviews with family members remembering wartime helpers—guidance notes available on request.

Related collections

• Escapers & Evaders stories feature biographies linked to many helpers listed here.
• Comète Line and Pat O’Leary Line pages include helper roll calls and recommended reading.