The Silent Woman. The award of the George Cross to a British woman who refused to betray her comrades under Nazi torture was announced today, Tuesday. Sent into occupied France, Mrs Odette Marie Selina Sansom, MBE, was arrested by the Gestapo. The Germans needed information about two offices, but despite torture inflicted with a hot iron and the removal of all her toenails, Mrs Sansom kept silent. The citation of her George Cross states that 'by her bravery and determination, she not only save the lives of the two offices, but enable them to carry on their most valuable work.' After her capture, Mrs Sansom managed to speak to her commanding officer, and they agreed for mutual protection to maintain that they were married. She then contrived to draw the Gestapo suspicion from her 'husband' to herself, stating that he had only come to France at her insistence. Taking full responsibility, she agreed that she and not the officer should be shot. By this action, continues the citation, ' she caused the Gestapo to cease paying attention to her commanding officer'. Today Mrs Sansom, who lives in Kensington, with her three school girl daughters, is on holiday with them in Hampshire. Picture shows, Mrs Odette Marie Celina Sansom, GC, MBE, photographed with her three daughters in Hampshire. Today, Tuesday. 20 August 1946