A SOLDIER from Thame who was parachuted into enemy-occupied France in the Second World War has died aged 100.

Arthur Staggs was dropped into north-central France on the night of November 17, 1942 – his 30th birthday – with two other members of the Special Operations Executive (SOE).

They missed the landing ground and came down south-west of the Forest of Fontainebleau.

After burying their parachutes, they got their bearings and caught an early train to Paris where they made their way to a safe house.

They then headed to Lille where they undertook their mission of sabotaging railways and industrial targets.

On one occasion he kept his cover as someone who was synchronising the sound in “talkie” films – because he was carrying radio equipment – by bribing customs officials and showing them the butt of his revolver.

In another incident he concealed a radio under meat and eggs in a basket.

But in December 1943 his safe house in Roubaix was searched and he was arrested and taken to prison in Lille.

During his time there he tore up incriminating photographs of colleagues and ate them and was forced to listen to executions.

He was released due to lack of evidence and because his knowledge of local French slang was so good.

Mr Staggs was born in Bow, east London, on November 17, 1912. His mother died when he was two and when his father joined the Royal Engineers in 1914 he was placed in an orphanage.

At the end of the First World War his father returned with a Frenchwoman who became Mr Stagg’s stepmother and they moved to Roubaix, France.

When the Second World War broke out he returned to England and joined the Army.

After working with the Military Police and the Intelligence Corps, his ability to speak French led to him joining the SOE.

He attended SOE radio school at Thame Park after parachute training at what is now Manchester Airport.

After he was released from prison he lost contact with London and joined the French Resistance.

When Paris was liberated in 1944 he met an intelligence officer with SOE who told him they thought he was dead.

After the war Mr Staggs moved to Burford and worked for a grocers.

He then moved to Thame with his family – he married Elizabeth Wickson in 1942 – and he worked as a sales rep until he retired aged 70.

Mr Staggs died on August 22, 2013, and is survived by his daughter. His funeral took place at St Mary’s Church in Thame on September 10.