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Shawnigan and 'The War We Won Apart'
The legacy of Sonia Butt and Guy D’Artois – who met as spies-in-training during the Second World War and eventually raised a family that included four grandchildren who graduated from Shawnigan – was celebrated on Tuesday night when Nahlah Ayed, the author whose bestselling book chronicles their story, visited the School for a reception and question-and-answer session.
Ms. Ayed’s book, The War We Won Apart: The Untold Story of Two Elite Agents Who Became One of the Most Decorated Couples of WWII, was released in May 2024, on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. It tells the true story of Sonia, a young British woman, and Guy, a French-Canadian soldier, and their whirlwind romance as they trained to infiltrate enemy lines in France during the Second World War. The book follows them through their harrowing time in distant corners of France prior to D-Day, and their lives together in Canada afterward, which included raising a family of six children.
Their daughter Nadya, and her husband, Bob Murdoch '60 (Lake's), were in attendance on Tuesday, along with their son, Eric ’00 (Lake’s) and his young son, Sonia and Guy’s great-grandson. Eric Murdoch is one of four of Sonia and Guy’s grandchildren to graduate from Shawnigan, joining his older brother Patrick ’96 (Lake’s), and Michaela D’Artois ’08 (Groves’) and her sister Sonya ’11 (Groves’).
Prior to the evening event, Ms. Ayed graciously sat down for a short interview with a group of broadcasting students. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., a large group of current students and staff, past staff, and members of the broader community converged in Mitchell Hall for drinks and snacks provided by the kitchen. Grade 10 student Toni D. gave a land acknowledgement and read a poem she had written about Indigenous veterans.
Grade 12 student Sophia W. had the honour of introducing and interviewing Ms. Ayed, asking insightful questions about how she researched and wrote the book, and about some of the major themes, followed by a question-and-answer session from the floor.
“It was so much fun,” Sophia said. “Nahlah was so nice; it felt like I had known her for a long time.”
Sophia had read the book last summer at the suggestion of Head of School Mr. Larry Lamont, then again over November Break to prepare for the interview, so it was fresh in her mind. Sophia came up with all her own questions, some of which surprised even the experienced journalist and author she was interviewing.
“I really liked the story,” Sophia said. “It was a really good wartime love story, and showed what women are capable of in wartime.”
Sophia selected her favourite passage from the book for Ms. Ayed to read during the interview – telling the story of the first time Sonia and Guy held hands, on a boat taking them across a lake to a Christmas Eve midnight Mass during their SOE training.
“I thought that was a powerful moment,” Sophia explained. “It was kind of a moment of calm during a war. I thought it was beautiful.”
Following the event, Sonia and Guy’s family gifted Shawnigan with a unique quilt commemorating the life of Sonia D’Artois. Created by a heritage quilting guild based in Pritchard, BC, near Kamloops, it was donated to the family, and they have decided to give it to Shawnigan, where it will live in the School Museum as an educational resource for our students.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
