Hundreds mourn reclusive spy who defied Nazi torturers to battle V1 rocket menace

Family, friends and members of the three armed services came together to remember Eileen Nearne MBE, the reclusive 89-year-old who worked as an undercover agent called Rose during the Second World War.

Documents found in Miss Nearne's Devon home after her death revealed she was sent to occupied France as a member of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). She was captured three times and endured spells in concentration camps, managing to escape each time.

She died after a heart attack on September 2 and a low-key council funeral had originally been planned.

But yesterday more than 300 people, including civic dignitaries and members of Britain's three armed forces, filled Our Lady Help of Christians and St Denis Roman Catholic Church in Torquay for a requiem mass to honour her.

Also attending the service were members of the Royal British Legion, the Special Forces Club – a London-based organisation founded in 1946 by surviving members of the SOE – and members of the French military.

Mourners also lined the streets of Torquay and around 100 gathered outside the church to listen to the 90-minute service.

Miss Nearne fled to Britain from occupied France but parachuted back there to play a vital role in helping the Allies defeat the V1 rocket menace. Her bravery earned her the MBE and the French Croix de Guerre.

Her niece, who wants to remain anonymous, said: "I would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and support at this very sad time.

She added: "I hope that in death, she will be remembered along with other SOE Agents with pride and gratitude for the work they did both here and behind enemy lines during the Second World War."