Nancy Wake
Nancy Wake (born 20 January 1902 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), known as the "French Resistance's most decorated woman" and a New Zealand citizen, was a Resistance fighter during World War II. Her actions in France earned her the Legion of Honour and the George Medal, among other accolades. After the war, she became a spies and intelligence officer, later working in education and human rights.
Early life
Nancy Wake was born as Nancy Grace Wake in Sydney to British parents, Edward Wake and Hilda Wake. Her family moved to New Zealand in 1908, where she spent her childhood and adolescence. She attended Auckland Grammar School and later Victoria University of Wellington, studying economics and history. Her early life in New Zealand shaped her activism and internationalism, which would later define her war efforts.
World War II
In 1939, after World War II broke out, Nancy Wake moved to France, where she met and married [[Henry Fook], a Chinese engineer. When Germany invaded France in 1940, she joined the French Resistance, working with Allied forces to sabotage Nazi operations. She became a special operations executive with SOE (the Special Operations Executive, a British intelligence agency), operating under the code name "Circuit".
Her activities included smuggling weapons, rescuing downed airmen, and organizing Resistance networks. She also assassinated German officials and destroyed railway lines. In 1943, she was captured by Nazi forces after a raid on her safe house, and tortured for several weeks. Despite this, she escaped and continued her work in Resistance.
Post-war
After the war ended, Nancy Wake returned to Australia and New Zealand, where she worked as a teacher and lecturer. She later joined the United Nations as a human rights officer, focusing on refugee crisis and disarmament. In 1977, she was inducted into the Australian National Maritime Museum as a war hero.
Legacy
Nancy Wake is remembered as a symbol of courage and resilience. Her legacy is honored in France, Australia, and New Zealand, where she is celebrated as a national hero. In 2012, she was awarded the Order of Australia for her services to human rights and education.
See also
References
- Official website of Nancy Wake
- Collection details on Nancy Wake's medals
- Article on Nancy Wake's WWII activities
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