Roger Grosjean
Encyclopedia
Roger Grosjean started his career as a French Air Force fighter pilot in France, England and North Africa. This involved a short stint as a Security Service (MI5
) double agent
during World War II (code name FIDO). He then became a very successful archeologist in Corsica
.
Grosjean was born on July 25, 1920, in Chalon-sur-Saône
, France. He entered the French Air Force
in 1939 and spent the next three years in various postings, among them Fighter Group (GC) 2/1 in Le Luc, Var. When the Germans invaded the non-occupied part of France in November 1942, Grosjean was demobilized.
So as to join de Gaulle in London, he put together a very risky strategy: he made the Germans believe that if they helped him get over to England, he would send back various types of information. Grosjean reached England in July 1943 and reported his cover story at the start of his stay at the Royal Victoria Patriotic School (London Reception Centre). He agreed to act as a double agent for the Security Service (MI5
) and was part of the Double Cross System
from August 1943 to May 1944.
During that time he was also a member of the Free French Air Force
. In the summer of 1944 he was sent to Algeria and then to Morocco where he was an instructor on P39s. He ended his French Air Force career in 1946 and was awarded a number of French distinctions, among them the Legion of Honour.
After a transition period, during which he trained as an archeologist and took part in digs with L'Abbé Henri Breuil
, the famous French archeologist, he joined the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). In 1954, he left for Corsica
and began what was to be a very successful research career spanning twenty years studying the Corsican megalithic civilization. He uncovered quite splendid sculpted menhirs at Filitosa
, Cauria
and Palaghju, for example, as well as megalithic fortified settlements at Alo-Bisucce, Cucuruzzu and Araghju
.
In the summer of 1975, at the height of his career, and while working on his new museum in Sartène
, Roger Grosjean died of a heart attack. He was fifty-five years old.
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
) double agent
Double agent
A double agent, commonly abbreviated referral of double secret agent, is a counterintelligence term used to designate an employee of a secret service or organization, whose primary aim is to spy on the target organization, but who in fact is a member of that same target organization oneself. They...
during World War II (code name FIDO). He then became a very successful archeologist in Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
.
Grosjean was born on July 25, 1920, in Chalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the largest city in the department; however, the department capital is the smaller city of Mâcon....
, France. He entered the French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
in 1939 and spent the next three years in various postings, among them Fighter Group (GC) 2/1 in Le Luc, Var. When the Germans invaded the non-occupied part of France in November 1942, Grosjean was demobilized.
So as to join de Gaulle in London, he put together a very risky strategy: he made the Germans believe that if they helped him get over to England, he would send back various types of information. Grosjean reached England in July 1943 and reported his cover story at the start of his stay at the Royal Victoria Patriotic School (London Reception Centre). He agreed to act as a double agent for the Security Service (MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
) and was part of the Double Cross System
Double Cross System
The Double Cross System, or XX System, was a World War II anti-espionage and deception operation of the British military intelligence arm, MI5. Nazi agents in Britain - real and false - were captured, turned themselves in or simply announced themselves and were then used by the British to broadcast...
from August 1943 to May 1944.
During that time he was also a member of the Free French Air Force
Free French Air Force
The Free French Air Force was the air arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War.-Fighting for Free France — the FAFL in French North Africa :...
. In the summer of 1944 he was sent to Algeria and then to Morocco where he was an instructor on P39s. He ended his French Air Force career in 1946 and was awarded a number of French distinctions, among them the Legion of Honour.
After a transition period, during which he trained as an archeologist and took part in digs with L'Abbé Henri Breuil
Henri Breuil
Henri Édouard Prosper Breuil , often referred to as Abbé Breuil, was a French Catholic priest, archaeologist, anthropologist, ethnologist and geologist...
, the famous French archeologist, he joined the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). In 1954, he left for Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
and began what was to be a very successful research career spanning twenty years studying the Corsican megalithic civilization. He uncovered quite splendid sculpted menhirs at Filitosa
Filitosa
Filitosa is a megalithic site in southern Corsica, France. The period of occupation spans from the end of the Neolithic era and the beginning of the Bronze Age, until around the Roman times in Corsica.-Location:...
, Cauria
Cauria
Cauria is an archaeological site in Corsica. It is located in the commune of Sartène....
and Palaghju, for example, as well as megalithic fortified settlements at Alo-Bisucce, Cucuruzzu and Araghju
Araghju
Araghju is an archaeological site in Corsica. It is located in the commune of San-Gavino-di-Carbini....
.
In the summer of 1975, at the height of his career, and while working on his new museum in Sartène
Sartène
Sartène , is a commune in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica.Its history dates back to medieval times and granite buildings from the early 16th century still line some of the streets. One of the main incidents in the town's history was an attack by pirates from Algiers...
, Roger Grosjean died of a heart attack. He was fifty-five years old.
Selected publications
- Grosjean, R. (1955). Les statues-menhirs de la Corse I. Études corses, 7-8, 5-36.
- Grosjean, R. (1961). Filitosa et son contexte archéologique. Monuments et Mémoires Piot T. 52 - Paris: P.U.F.
- Grosjean, R. (1964). Le complexe torréen fortifié de Cucuruzzu (Levie, Corse). Première campagne de fouilles 1963. Bulletin de la société préhistorique française, LXI, 1, 185-194.
- Grosjean, R. (1966). La Corse avant l’histoire. Paris: Klincksieck.
- Grosjean, R. (1966). Recent work in Corsica. Antiquity, XL, 159, 190-198.
- Grosjean, R. (1967). Le complexe monumental fortifié torréen du Castello d’Araggio (Commune de San-Gavinodi-Garbini. Corse). Bulletin de la société préhistorique française, LXV, 9, cclvj-cclcvij.
- Grosjean, R. (1968). Nouvelles statues-stèles découvertes en Corse. Bulletin de la société préhistorique française, LXV, 8, 195-198.
- Grosjean, R. (1972). Les alignements de Pagliaiu (Sartène, Corse). Bulletin de la société préhistorique française, LXIX, 2, 607- 617.
- Grosjean, R. (1975). Torre et Torréens : Âge du Bronze de l’île de Corse. Collection: Promenades archéologiques, 3. Centre de Préhistoire corse.