CWGF launches digital exhibition - Noor Inayat-Khan: A Woman of Conspicuous Courage to mark International Women’s Day

The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF) marked International Women’s Day by launching a new interactive way for families and young women to explore the story of the remarkable spy princess, Noor Inayat-Khan.

The digital exhibition has been developed with the help of young women from the Girlguiding Association in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, who have turned the story of this inspiring female heroine of the Second World War, into a ground-breaking experience and learning resource for young women, shaped by young women.

Armed with a false passport and a pistol, Noor became the first female radio operator to be sent to Nazi–occupied France. Noor was an unlikely candidate to engage in espionage in the Second World War, but she did so with a “steely strength of will”. During her mission she was captured and tortured for information but never gave anything away and was eventually executed by the Nazis. In 1949 Noor was posthumously awarded the George Cross, the highest civilian award for bravery.

As a young refugee living in London, Noor faced many prejudices throughout her life, even as she was being trained and prepared for her work as a secret agent. The exhibition uncovers how Noor’s Special Operations Executive (SOE) assessors initially had little faith in her abilities.

“Not overburdened with brains but has worked hard and shown keenness, apart from some dislike of the security side of the course. She has an unstable and temperamental personality and it is very doubtful whether she is really suited to work in the field.” (Colonel Frank Spooner, 21 May 1943)

Noor went on to overcome this prejudice and her own concerns. She broke new ground as a Muslim female operative. Her legacy lives on as a heroine and a woman who proved that an indomitable spirit can have a powerful impact and overcome even extreme adversity.

The harrowing tale of how she came to die for her country is told at CWGC’s Runnymede Air Forces Memorial in the new digital exhibition Noor Inayat-Khan: A Woman of Conspicuous Courage.

The public will be able to put their code-breaking skills to the test and discover the scientific and technical skills of a wireless radio operator needed for the field. The exhibition has been funded by the AIM Biffa Award History Makers Scheme. The Scheme is managed by Biffa Award, a multi-million-pound fund that helps build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to communities and environmental projects across the UK as part of the Landfill Communities Trust.

Julian Evans, Director of International and Community Engagement at CWGC said:

Noor’s story is an inspirational one and we believed it important, as the custodians of the memorial on which her name is inscribed, to help give it greater prominence. Thanks to the award from AIM/Biffa we have been able to do this in an innovative way, by creating a digital exhibition whose content was developed with the help of members of the Girlguiding Movement. We hope that the exhibition will encourage more people to visit the Air Forces Memorial to explore the story of Noor and the 20,000 other members of the Commonwealth Air Forces who are commemorated here.

Jasmine Theti, a 15-year-old member of Girlguiding Berkshire and Buckinghamshire said:

“We must never forget her and the sacrifice she made. I loved learning the Morse Code it was good fun. Although I wouldn't have liked sending messages in a cold Parisian park whilst looking over my shoulder all the time. Noor was an inspiration”

Gillian French, Biffa Award Head of Grants said: “It is a privilege to be able to support the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation in creating their new digital exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Noor Inayat-Khan. It is extremely important that we continue to support projects like this that remind people of some of the inspiring people who came before us and who played such significant and courageous roles in our history.”

Visitors to the CWGC’s Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, will be invited to self-guide themselves around the iconic memorial that remembers more than 20,000 air forces personnel killed in the Second World War, who have no known grave.

Among them, is Noor Inayat Khan: poet, author, musician – secret agent.