View Full Version : World War II agent's secret is out
World War II agent's secret is out
http://fayobserver.com/articles/2010/09/15/1030851?sac=Mil
"LONDON - Her secret is out. But it is too late for Eileen Nearne to bask in the glory Britain loves to bestow on its World War II heroes.
She died alone, uncelebrated, on Sept. 2 of a heart attack at age 89. Only on Tuesday did the nation learn of her bravery behind enemy lines: She went on a clandestine mission to France in 1944 at the tender age of 23 to operate a wireless transmitter that served as a vital link between the French resistance and war planners in London................."
She was one Quiet Professional right up to the end.
greenberetTFS
09-15-2010, 05:18
World War II agent's secret is out
http://fayobserver.com/articles/2010/09/15/1030851?sac=Mil
"LONDON - Her secret is out. But it is too late for Eileen Nearne to bask in the glory Britain loves to bestow on its World War II heroes.
She died alone, uncelebrated, on Sept. 2 of a heart attack at age 89. Only on Tuesday did the nation learn of her bravery behind enemy lines: She went on a clandestine mission to France in 1944 at the tender age of 23 to operate a wireless transmitter that served as a vital link between the French resistance and war planners in London................."
She was one Quiet Professional right up to the end.
From what I've read on her from your info,I second your motion.................:D:D:D
Big Teddy :munchin
Thanks, Pete...we don't hear enough of these good stories.
Keeping a secret for 66 years? Now that's someone who took her oaths seriously. I'm glad they will give her a proper burial.
I heard this on the BBC News report on NPR.
I suspect there are millions of such stories out there in the world about people like Ms Nearne who perform rarely noticed amazing deeds of selfless service to society...and then live out their lives in relative anonymity.
Such stories (for me) help to rejuvenate and maintain my faith in humankind amongst the nearly constant cacophony of the doomers.
Thank you, Ms Nearne. RIP.
Richard
1stindoor
09-15-2010, 07:39
Such stories (for me) help to rejuvenate and maintain my faith in humankind amongst the nearly constant cacophony of the doomers.
Thank you, Ms Nearne. RIP.
Richard
Agreed. Well said...and all of us, could learn from her example.
Pete,
Great Post, Thank You
What a brave humble lady. Here are pictures of Ms. Nearne (codename Rose) , the small flat she lived in, and the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp she survived.
Truly inspirational, RIP Ma'am
Red Flag 1
09-15-2010, 13:11
A true Quiet Professional, Rest in God's Peace Ms. Nearne. A greatful nation thanks you.
I suspect there are millions of such stories out there in the world about people like Ms Nearne who perform rarely noticed amazing deeds of selfless service to society...and then live out their lives in relative anonymity.
Bless them all.
Rest in Peace, Ma'am. And thank you.
cetheridge
09-15-2010, 23:15
Originally Posted by Richard
I suspect there are millions of such stories out there in the world about people like Ms Nearne who perform rarely noticed amazing deeds of selfless service to society...and then live out their lives in relative anonymity.
Richard....you are correct.
Pete....thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Ms. Nearne....Rest in Peace, Ma'am.
These people are truly the Greatest Generation!
Not meaning to take anything away from Ms. Nearne.....I relate this only to emphasize what Richard said. They did not talk about what they did, because they did not want any glory or praises heaped upon them. Even up to the last breath.
My mother was French and was with the French Resistance during her teenage years. She never talked about her time with the Resistance. She died in 1994 after fighting breast cancer for 3 years. A friend of hers encouraged her to write a book about her service, which she did during the last 2 years of her life. She was 70 at the time of her death. I got the chance to read the proof copy, with tears in my eyes, on the day of her funeral.
She, my uncle, and grandmother were all with different cells of the Resistance for security purposes.
My mother and grandmother were both arrested by the Gestapo and held for 10 days in separate jail cells. Beaten and questioned, they, luckily told the same lies and were released.
Mom assisted with moving and hiding downed Allied pilots, hiding Jews from the Nazis, translating and typing coded messages to and from England. She transporting weapons under potato sacks on a cart attached to her bicycle with her little sister sitting on the sacks through Nazi camps.
At the end of the war, she was decommisioned by the French Government as a 2LT and received a small pension. All of this I learned after her death and reading the book.
My grandmother moved to the states where she eventually moved to D.C. to work as a cook and nanny for high ranking Government officials and ex-ambassadors.
During my SF training, while attending DLI in Arlington, she told me that one of her friends told her that as Special Forces, I was like the Gestapo and SS. She was extremely upset. I assured that we are not!
R.I.P. and Thank You for your service, Ms. Nearne, Mom, Grandma Marguerite, and Uncle Jean (John)! They were truly QP's.
Carl
drymartini66
09-17-2010, 00:28
An extrodinary woman who wanted to live a quiet, oridinary life. No fanfare or any such thing, just quietly went about her business and got the job done. So many of today's "leaders" could learn from her example. I thank God she was there to risk her life to assure the freedoms we have today. We are truly in her debt.