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Susan Travers

January 07, 2023

For the actress, see Susan Travers (actress).

Susan Mary Gillian Travers (23 September 1909 – 18 December 2003) was a British nurse and ambulance driver who served in the French Red Cross during the Second World War.[1] She later became the only woman to be matriculated[clarification needed] in the French Foreign Legion, having also served in French Indochina, during the First Indochina War.

Susan Travers
Born23 September 1909
Kensington, London, England
Died18 December 2003(2003-12-18) (aged 94)
Ballainvilliers, Île-de-France, France
AllegianceFrance
Service/branchFrench Army
Years of service1940–1948
RankAdjudant-chef
UnitFrench Foreign Legion
Battles/warsWorld War II First Indochina War
AwardsChevalier de la Légion d'honneur
Croix de guerre 1939-1945
Médaille coloniale
Officier de l'Ordre du Nichan Iftikhar
Médaille militaire
Spouse(s)Nicolas Schlegelmilch
Children2

Early life

Travers was born in Kensington and spent her early years in England, the daughter of Francis Eaton Travers, a Royal Navy Admiral,[2] and his wife Eleanor Catherine (née Turnbull).[3]

World War II

At the outbreak of World War II, Travers joined the French Red Cross as a nurse. Later, she became an ambulance driver with the French Expeditionary Force to Finland in 1940.[2] After the fall of France, she went to London and joined the Free French under de Gaulle. In 1941, she drove a medical doctor of the 1st Free French Division during Operation Exporter in Syria and Lebanon, during which the Allied forces invaded and seized Syria and Lebanon from the Vichy French.[citation needed] She served in the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion as a driver for the medical officer, where she gained the nickname "La Miss".[2]

The 13th Demi-Brigade was incorporated into the 1st Brigade of the 1st Free French Division, commanded by Colonel Marie-Pierre Kœnig. Travers was assigned as the driver to Kœnig. They became lovers.[2]

In May 1942, the 1st Free French Brigade was posted at Bir Hakeim, the southern end of the British Eighth Army's line at Gazala in Libya. As the Panzer Army Africa prepared to attack the British line, Kœnig ordered all women out of the area. The Axis forces attacked on 26 May, initiating the Battle of Gazala. Four German and Italian divisions attacked Bir Hakeim. Not long after, Travers joined a convoy into the rear area, and Kœnig allowed her to return to Bir Hakeim, as it seemed the Axis attack had failed.[citation needed] During the next two weeks, the Axis continued to attack, heavily shelling and bombing Bir Hakeim. During the bombardment, a shell tore off the roof of Kœnig's car. Travers, aided by a Vietnamese driver, fixed it on the spot immediately.[citation needed]

During the night of 10–11 June, 1st FF Brigade evacuated Bir Hakeim, with Travers driving Kœnig's staff car. The column ran into minefields and German machine gun fire. Kœnig ordered Travers to drive at the front of the column.[2] Travers stated:

He said, "We have to get in front. If we go the rest will follow." It is a delightful feeling, going as fast as you can in the dark. My main concern was that the engine would stall.[2]

At 10:30 a.m. on 11 June, the column entered British lines. Travers' vehicle had eleven bullet holes,[2] with a shock absorber destroyed and the brakes unserviceable.[citation needed]

Kœnig was promoted to general, and left the North African theatre for higher command and a reunion with his wife. Travers, driving a self-propelled anti-tank gun, remained with the French Foreign Legion. She later served in the Italian Campaign and the Western Front (in France and Germany), during which she was wounded when she drove over a land mine.[2]

Post-war

After the war, her military status was regularized. She applied to and was formally enrolled in the Légion Étrangère, as an adjudant-chef.[2]

Travers served in Indochina. She married Legion Adjudant-Chef Nicolas Schlegelmilch, who had fought at Bir Hakeim with the 13th Demi-Brigade. In retirement, they lived on the outskirts of Paris. The couple are survived by two sons.[2]

She waited for all the other principals in her life story to die before writing it. Then in 2000, aged 91, assisted by Wendy Holden, she wrote her autobiography, Tomorrow to Be Brave: A Memoir of the Only Woman Ever to Serve in the French Foreign Legion (ISBN 0552148148).[2]

Decorations

Notes

  1. ^ Travers & Holden 2001, p. 249.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Holden 2009.
  3. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 13 June 2022.

References

  • Holden, Wendy (24 September 2009), "The only woman in the French Foreign Legion", BBC News
  • Travers, Susan; Holden, Wendy (2001), Tomorrow to be Brave, New York: Free Press, ISBN 0-7432-0001-2

External links

  • (German) La Miss und die Legionäre, Der Spiegel, 34/2001

January 07, 2023
susan, travers, actress, actress, susan, mary, gillian, travers, september, 1909, december, 2003, british, nurse, ambulance, driver, served, french, cross, during, second, world, later, became, only, woman, matriculated, clarification, needed, french, foreign,. For the actress see Susan Travers actress Susan Mary Gillian Travers 23 September 1909 18 December 2003 was a British nurse and ambulance driver who served in the French Red Cross during the Second World War 1 She later became the only woman to be matriculated clarification needed in the French Foreign Legion having also served in French Indochina during the First Indochina War Susan TraversBorn23 September 1909Kensington London EnglandDied18 December 2003 2003 12 18 aged 94 Ballainvilliers Ile de France FranceAllegianceFranceService wbr branchFrench ArmyYears of service1940 1948RankAdjudant chefUnitFrench Foreign LegionBattles warsWorld War II Battle of Bir HakeimFirst Indochina WarAwardsChevalier de la Legion d honneurCroix de guerre 1939 1945Medaille colonialeOfficier de l Ordre du Nichan IftikharMedaille militaireSpouse s Nicolas SchlegelmilchChildren2 Contents 1 Early life 2 World War II 3 Post war 4 Decorations 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditTravers was born in Kensington and spent her early years in England the daughter of Francis Eaton Travers a Royal Navy Admiral 2 and his wife Eleanor Catherine nee Turnbull 3 World War II EditAt the outbreak of World War II Travers joined the French Red Cross as a nurse Later she became an ambulance driver with the French Expeditionary Force to Finland in 1940 2 After the fall of France she went to London and joined the Free French under de Gaulle In 1941 she drove a medical doctor of the 1st Free French Division during Operation Exporter in Syria and Lebanon during which the Allied forces invaded and seized Syria and Lebanon from the Vichy French citation needed She served in the 13th Demi Brigade of the Foreign Legion as a driver for the medical officer where she gained the nickname La Miss 2 The 13th Demi Brigade was incorporated into the 1st Brigade of the 1st Free French Division commanded by Colonel Marie Pierre Kœnig Travers was assigned as the driver to Kœnig They became lovers 2 In May 1942 the 1st Free French Brigade was posted at Bir Hakeim the southern end of the British Eighth Army s line at Gazala in Libya As the Panzer Army Africa prepared to attack the British line Kœnig ordered all women out of the area The Axis forces attacked on 26 May initiating the Battle of Gazala Four German and Italian divisions attacked Bir Hakeim Not long after Travers joined a convoy into the rear area and Kœnig allowed her to return to Bir Hakeim as it seemed the Axis attack had failed citation needed During the next two weeks the Axis continued to attack heavily shelling and bombing Bir Hakeim During the bombardment a shell tore off the roof of Kœnig s car Travers aided by a Vietnamese driver fixed it on the spot immediately citation needed During the night of 10 11 June 1st FF Brigade evacuated Bir Hakeim with Travers driving Kœnig s staff car The column ran into minefields and German machine gun fire Kœnig ordered Travers to drive at the front of the column 2 Travers stated He said We have to get in front If we go the rest will follow It is a delightful feeling going as fast as you can in the dark My main concern was that the engine would stall 2 At 10 30 a m on 11 June the column entered British lines Travers vehicle had eleven bullet holes 2 with a shock absorber destroyed and the brakes unserviceable citation needed Kœnig was promoted to general and left the North African theatre for higher command and a reunion with his wife Travers driving a self propelled anti tank gun remained with the French Foreign Legion She later served in the Italian Campaign and the Western Front in France and Germany during which she was wounded when she drove over a land mine 2 Post war EditAfter the war her military status was regularized She applied to and was formally enrolled in the Legion Etrangere as an adjudant chef 2 Travers served in Indochina She married Legion Adjudant Chef Nicolas Schlegelmilch who had fought at Bir Hakeim with the 13th Demi Brigade In retirement they lived on the outskirts of Paris The couple are survived by two sons 2 She waited for all the other principals in her life story to die before writing it Then in 2000 aged 91 assisted by Wendy Holden she wrote her autobiography Tomorrow to Be Brave A Memoir of the Only Woman Ever to Serve in the French Foreign Legion ISBN 0552148148 2 Decorations EditLegion d honneur Croix de Guerre Medaille commemorative 1939 1945 with clasp Afrique Italie Liberation Medaille Coloniale du merite syrien de 4e classe Croix de liberation finlandaise Officier de l Ordre du Nichan Iftikhar Medaille militaireNotes Edit Travers amp Holden 2001 p 249 a b c d e f g h i j k Holden 2009 Index entry FreeBMD ONS Retrieved 13 June 2022 References EditHolden Wendy 24 September 2009 The only woman in the French Foreign Legion BBC News Travers Susan Holden Wendy 2001 Tomorrow to be Brave New York Free Press ISBN 0 7432 0001 2External links Edit German La Miss und die Legionare Der Spiegel 34 2001 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Susan Travers amp oldid 1117850356, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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