British Forces

"The White Mouse"

This is New Zealand-born Nancy Wake (born 1912). Married to a French businessman, she spent the 1940-1943 period working for the French Resistance, working as a courier and an operative in the "Garrow" escape network. In the course of this work, she came to be known by the Gestapo as "the white mouse" - because she was so hard to catch. When occupied France became too hot to hold her, she escaped to England (December 1944). Her husband remained behind, and was duly murdered by the Gestapo, something Nancy discovered only after the Liberation. One might have thought that she would have had enough of Resistance; but no, April 1944 found Nancy parachuting into the Auvergne, where she acted as the SOE liaison officer and resistance co-ordinator with the "Tardivat" maquis group - which managed to make a real nuisance of itself to the Germans in the lead-up to D-Day. Nancy picked up her deserved share of honours - George Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-1945 from the UK; Officier de la Légion d'Honneur and Croix de Guerre with two Palms and a Star from France; and Medal of Freedom with Bronze Palm (a rare honour) from the USA. In later years she was also made a Companion of the Order of Australia and was awarded the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association Badge in Gold. She was not invested with the New Zealand award until November 2006 - rather late in the day, given Nancy's exceptional services to the common Allied cause. As far as I can determine, Nancy Wake is still living, in a care facility in London. For Britain, France and New Zealand, a true heroine! With profound appreciation, JR.