Renée Lemaire (1914-1944) was a Belgian nurse who volunteered her service at an American military aid station during the Siege of Bastogne in December 1944. She was killed during a German air raid on Christmas Eve in 1944.
Renée Bernadette Émilie Lemaire was born on 10 April 1914 in Bastogne to Gustave Lemaire and Bertha Gallée.[1] Her parents owned a hardware store in Bastogne. She had two sisters, Gisèle and Marguerite. Lemaire had been a nurse in Brussels during the war.[1] Renée Lemaire was the fiancée of a Jew arrested in Brussels by the Gestapo earlier in the year.[2]
World War II
In December 1944, Renée Lemaire returned to Bastogne to visit her parents, and was trapped when the Germans launched their Ardennes offensive on December 16, 1944.[1] Along with nurse Augusta Chiwy,[3] she volunteered at an aid station for the American 20th Armored Infantry Battalion on December 21, 1944.[4] In a commendation request from Battalion Surgeon Dr. Jack T. Prior, Lemaire was described as "cheerfully accepted the Herculean task and worked without adequate rest or food...", that she "changed dressings, fed patients unable to feed themselves, gave out medications, bathed and made the patients more comfortable...", and "her very presence among those wounded men seem to be an inspiration to those whose morale had declined from prolonged suffering."[5]
On December 24, 1944, around 8:30PM, Germans bombed the building where the aid station was located. According to a column in a Belgian newspaper, the aid station in the basement of the Sarma Store on rue de Neufchateau was demolished. Lemaire managed to evacuate six soldiers from the burning building, but died while attempting to save a seventh wounded.[6] Dr. Prior recovered her remains, and brought them back to her parents wrapped in a white parachute.[7]
Band of Brothers
In the Band of Brothers episode "Bastogne", a Belgian nurse named Renée (portrayed by Lucie Jeanne) and a Congolese nurse named Anna (portrayed by Rebecca Okot) were shown working tirelessly with American medics, including Eugene Roe, to help wounded soldiers. Historical accounts of Lemaire do not mention Roe.
Addor, Don (2004). Noville Outpost of Bastogne - My Last Battle. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. ISBN978-1-4120-3400-5. Retrieved 20 February 2018 – via Google Books.
AP (12 December 2011). "U.S. Honors Belgian Nurse for Valor in World War II". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
renée, lemaire, topic, this, article, meet, wikipedia, notability, guideline, biographies, please, help, demonstrate, notability, topic, citing, reliable, secondary, sources, that, independent, topic, provide, significant, coverage, beyond, mere, trivial, ment. The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia s notability guideline for biographies Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention If notability cannot be shown the article is likely to be merged redirected or deleted Find sources Renee Lemaire news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Renee Lemaire 1914 1944 was a Belgian nurse who volunteered her service at an American military aid station during the Siege of Bastogne in December 1944 She was killed during a German air raid on Christmas Eve in 1944 Renee LemaireBornRenee Bernadette Emilie Lemaire10 April 1914Bastogne BelgiumDied24 December 1944 aged 30 Bastogne BelgiumOccupationRegistered NurseParent s Gustave LemaireBerth Gallee Contents 1 Early life 2 World War II 3 Band of Brothers 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 External linksEarly life EditRenee Bernadette Emilie Lemaire was born on 10 April 1914 in Bastogne to Gustave Lemaire and Bertha Gallee 1 Her parents owned a hardware store in Bastogne She had two sisters Gisele and Marguerite Lemaire had been a nurse in Brussels during the war 1 Renee Lemaire was the fiancee of a Jew arrested in Brussels by the Gestapo earlier in the year 2 World War II EditIn December 1944 Renee Lemaire returned to Bastogne to visit her parents and was trapped when the Germans launched their Ardennes offensive on December 16 1944 1 Along with nurse Augusta Chiwy 3 she volunteered at an aid station for the American 20th Armored Infantry Battalion on December 21 1944 4 In a commendation request from Battalion Surgeon Dr Jack T Prior Lemaire was described as cheerfully accepted the Herculean task and worked without adequate rest or food that she changed dressings fed patients unable to feed themselves gave out medications bathed and made the patients more comfortable and her very presence among those wounded men seem to be an inspiration to those whose morale had declined from prolonged suffering 5 On December 24 1944 around 8 30PM Germans bombed the building where the aid station was located According to a column in a Belgian newspaper the aid station in the basement of the Sarma Store on rue de Neufchateau was demolished Lemaire managed to evacuate six soldiers from the burning building but died while attempting to save a seventh wounded 6 Dr Prior recovered her remains and brought them back to her parents wrapped in a white parachute 7 Band of Brothers EditIn the Band of Brothers episode Bastogne a Belgian nurse named Renee portrayed by Lucie Jeanne and a Congolese nurse named Anna portrayed by Rebecca Okot were shown working tirelessly with American medics including Eugene Roe to help wounded soldiers Historical accounts of Lemaire do not mention Roe See also EditAugusta Chiwy Siege of BastogneReferences Edit a b c Jans 2014 Beevor 2015 AP 2011 Addor 2004 pp 183 184 Addor 2004 pp 186 Addor 2004 pp 191 Addor 2004 pp 185 Bibliography Edit Addor Don 2004 Noville Outpost of Bastogne My Last Battle Gainesville University Press of Florida ISBN 978 1 4120 3400 5 Retrieved 20 February 2018 via Google Books AP 12 December 2011 U S Honors Belgian Nurse for Valor in World War II The New York Times Retrieved 14 June 2014 Beevor Antony 2015 Ardennes 1944 Hitler s Last Gamble London UK Penguin Books ISBN 978 0 67091 864 5 Jans Reg 2014 Renee Lemaire The Angel of Bastogne Reg Jans Bastogne Battlefield Guide Archived from the original on 9 November 2013 Retrieved 14 June 2014 External links EditRenee Lemaire at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Renee Lemaire amp oldid 1106114664, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
