Researcher Franck Signorile labored many months to create a searchable database of French helper names based on the images of their names from the list of helpers at the British National Archives. By late December 2014 it was complete. It contains 20,286 names, for letters A-Z, and is available below in an Excel database. The names are sorted both by name and city. Each listing is linked back to the image of the page where it appears on this website. Note the three subject headings (at the bottom of each page),
- Read Me First
- Helpers – Sorted by Name
- Helpers – Sorted by City.
Be sure that the display of the Excel database on your computer screen is not spilling over the bottom of the edge of the screen obscuring the three subject headings. Use Cntrl+F to search for a helper name or the name of a city.
Note that in “Read Me First” he explains how to do advanced searches, such as combining a first name (where the full name is not known) and the name of a department. You can do even more, combining any combination of title, last name, first name, city, department, and grade. Note that many names of French cities and towns contain hyphens. A search for a city without including the hyphen may miss some listings.
There will be more features to come. Here is the link: FrenchHelpers A-Z
WWII Netherlands Escape Lines 
found my step-father, his father and his uncle ! (Alexandre Crestey and his son, and Eugène Crestey).
They hid Sergeant Reginald Overwijn ( Overwyn ), Dutch pilot 320th Squadron , from 26 November to 2 December 1943 in the construction business Delacotte located 184 rue de la Duchy in Cherbourg.
Alexander Crestey part with his boss Jean Delacotte network resistance ” Delbo – Phoenix” organized by Paul Talluau .
Talluau Paul was arrested and deported in early January 1944 and died in exile . Jean Delacotte arrested a few days later was released.
Sergeant R. Overwijn was involved in a bombing of the launch site located at V1 flying bombs Martinvast . Its North American B- 25 Mitchell No registered FR146 NO- O was shot down by flak , two occupants killed , another survivor but taken prisoner.
Then led by Paul Talluau from Cherbourg to Paris , supported by Mr. Bracassac , R. Overwijn managed to reach England via the Pyrenees April 10, 1944 . He arrived in time to celebrate the first anniversary of his son .
R. Overwijn was born in Fulham (England) February 5, 1920 .
Looking for further information because I try to reconstruct the whole story. I would like to contact the Overwijn family.
They hid Sergeant Reginald Overwijn ( Overwyn ), Dutch pilot 320th Squadron , from 26 November to 2 December 1943 in the business site Delacotte located 184 rue de la Duchy in Cherbourg.
Crestey Alexander , and his boss Jean Delacotte was a member of the resistance (underground) network ” Delbo – Phoenix” organized by Paul Talluau .
Talluau Paul was arrested and deported in early January 1944 and died in exile . Jean Delacotte arrested a few days later was released.
Sergeant R. Overwijn was involved in a bombing of the V1 flying bombs launch site located at Martinvast . Its North American B- 25 Mitchell No FR146 NO- O was shot down by flak , two occupants killed , another survivor but taken prisoner.
Then led by Then led by Paul Talluau from Cherbourg to Paris , supported by Mr. Bracassac , R. Overwijn managed to reach England via the Pyrenees April 10, 1944 . He arrived in time to celebrate the first anniversary of his son .
R. Overwijn was born in Fulham (England) February 5, 1920 .
I am looking for further information because I try to reconstruct the whole story. I would like to contact the Overwijn family.
Yann,
Glad you could find information in the French Helper DB I am building.
I will be happy to help you, if I can. Contact info : nf.signorile AT gmail.com (French language is welcome)
big thank you to Franck for his great help!
Hi. Am looking for information regarding Bethune helpers; katherine mcCarthy, Sylvette Lelue and Madame Tardiveau. Have been in contact with Keith who has been very helpful. Am reading ‘The Vilde Affair’ which may shed further light. Thank you. Catherine Fleming
Hi Cathering. Did Keith tell you about the helper files from NARA? Franck
hello, I found the third son of Reginald Overwijn who send me photos.
see https://www.facebook.com/Reginald-Overwijn-222217198209268/
I found the exact location of the crash of his plane (B-25 NO-O) on novembre 26 1943 too, and a photo of this place taken by the RAF in april 1944 (just here http://ncap.org.uk/frame/1-1-24-3-197)
I even talked with a witness of the crash !
Two of the helpers -Paul Talluau from Cherbourg, and Paul Bracassac from Paris- were deported to Mathausen in the same convoy of 6 April 1944, and both died in this camp
(http://monument-mauthausen.org/63197.html)