Henriette Hanotte, a name whispered with reverence, stands immortalized here in bronze. This statue, Henriette Hanotte et un aviateur anglais, captures a pivotal moment in her extraordinary life. It depicts her aiding an airman’s escape, a scene that played out countless times during World War II. Henriette Hanotte, or “Monique” as she was known in the resistance, was a young woman from Rumes, Belgium. Her seemingly ordinary life took a dramatic turn during the war. Her family’s hotel, located near the French border, became a haven for Allied airmen seeking to evade capture.
Henriette’s knowledge of the local area, her fluency in French, and her innocent appearance made her the perfect guide. This statue depicts her assisting American pilot Charles Carlson. But he was just one of nearly 140 airmen she helped escape. Imagine young Henriette, barely out of her teens, leading these men, often strangers, through treacherous terrain. She navigated secret paths and dodged German patrols. She forged documents and taught airmen how to pass as locals. She even coached them on their accents, ensuring their assumed French identities wouldn’t be questioned.
The risks were immense. Capture meant imprisonment, even death. Yet, Henriette’s courage never wavered. One can imagine the tense train journeys, the hushed conversations, the shared sandwiches wrapped in greaseproof paper. Henriette’s ingenuity was remarkable. She’d buy separate train tickets for herself and the airmen to avoid suspicion. She’d carry stale bread as an alibi if stopped. She’d even pass the airmen off as her boyfriends if questioned.
Henriette’s bravery extended beyond her role as a guide. Her family, too, was deeply involved in the resistance. They housed airmen, provided them with false identities, and helped prepare them for their onward journey. In 1944, a collaborator betrayed Henriette. She was forced to flee to England, following the same escape route she had established for the airmen. In England, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, trained as a parachutist, and prepared to return to occupied Europe. However, an injury during training prevented her from being deployed.
The Henriette Hanotte et un aviateur anglais statue is a tribute not just to Henriette but to all those who risked their lives to help others during the war. It stands as a reminder of the courage, resilience, and quiet heroism of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. Henriette Hanotte died in 2022 at the age of 101. Her legacy, however, lives on in this statue, a symbol of hope and a testament to the indomitable human spirit.