Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A Rose By Any Other Name

She did her duty and asked for no fame. Nobody knew what she did during the Second World War.

And she died without anyone to bury her:

Eileen Nearne died aged 89 at her home in the town of Torquay on September 2. In the absence of any known relatives to make funeral arrangements, authorities entered the flat to take charge several days later, a local council spokeswoman said. A search for documents that might help locate relatives instead yielded a treasure trove of medals and papers that revealed the life of a woman once known as "Agent Rose," who defied the Nazis as a wireless operator in occupied France.

The Royal British Legion stepped up to arrange the funeral for that remarkable woman.

Rest in Peace, Eileen Nearne. And thank you.