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Lily Sergeyev, a Frenchwoman of White Russian origin, had agreed to come to England as a double agent on condition that her beloved little dog, Babs, was smuggled in for her by MI5. When MI5 failed to do that, she was so angry she looked for revenge. Lily believed Babs had been sacrificed by MI5 – had been killed as a convenient solution to Lily’s nagging and threats about ceasing to mislead German Intelligence. We can never truly understand the close relationship Lily had with her dog. We have all had a dog or maybe lost one but every day Lily was reminded that the double cross system she worked for double crossed her.

Michele Collings Jimeson
3/4/2018 08:59:50 pm

Lily was quite certain that the British shot her dog to rid themselves of the inconvenience of having to deal with the issue. After the war Lily married my father, an American Major. She was a young woman with only her dog as her companion in a field where deception was the game. However, the idea that she would betray the British and therefore France is far fetched. She never would have done anything to harm the allied effort. She hated the German occupation of her homeland, France.

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Lucy Hepworth
7/19/2018 03:13:47 am

From what I know of Lily I agree with your assessment Michele. Lily was a great friend of my grandparents Mary and Redvers Coate. When she stayed with them during the war she would set up her transmitter in the attic!. I have more regarding Lily if you are interested?.

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Oli
9/10/2018 05:25:13 am

Hello Lucy.
I am working for Picasso Film production as researcher. We are working on project called « Spies of war » (co-production with T2MP, a French audiovisual production company). In your comment you mentioned that you have more regarding Lily. I would like to ask, if you have also some pictures regarding her. We are extremely interesting to add some pictures of her to episode 01 called D-DAY SPIES. Please, if you have or you know where we can found some pictures of her, let me know.
Please, contact me by mail [email protected]
Thank you in advance.
OLI Valdmanová

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Michele Jimeson
12/8/2019 07:55:57 am

Ms Valdmanova, I as well as Lily's neices saw your documentary and it was ridiculous and completely untrue! You do realize that the British jailed and executed spies they thought would double cross them? You, among others, have tried to make this situation with her dog a "sensational" story that could have affected the outcome of the war! That is hogwash. Does anyone actually believe the British would just let her go if that had been the case???? Lily was very ill and had been given six months to live, so the MI5 had someone copy her style of telegraphing and they stopped using her. Did she dislike her British handlers? Yes and with good reason. You might want to read about Virginia Hill and how she was treated also. Lily dealt with that same sexism very prevalent back then. As historians and/or journalists you should deal with facts, not sensational fiction. That there were women who, dispite the discriminating sexism, were willing to risk everything including the lives of their families, should be honored. How dare you fictionalize her bravery and contribution to the allied victory!

michele jimeson
7/19/2018 05:53:35 am

Lucy, I would love to make contact with you! You can reach me at [email protected] Please use "Lily" in the subject line so I will know it is you and don't delete! Thank you for responding.

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Don
7/18/2019 11:51:39 pm

Lilly's story is included in Richard Collier's "The Road To Freedom" (1983 American edition). If you know anything about natal astrology, that she was born with Venus opposing her Pluto may interest you. Also see Alice Moats's superb book about her WWII experiences, "No Passport For Paris."

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