| Phillipaj | 07 Aug 2011 6:07 p.m. PST |
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| Cardinal Hawkwood | 07 Aug 2011 6:29 p.m. PST |
yep she has nibbled the cheese one last time..
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Wake
I rather like..
She initially refused offers of decorations from Australia saying "The last time there was a suggestion of that I told the government they could stick their medals where the monkey stuck his nuts. The thing is if they gave me a medal now, it wouldn't be love so I don't want anything from them" |
| McWong73 | 07 Aug 2011 6:39 p.m. PST |
Great woman who made a great contribution while enduring significant sacrifice. |
Mal Wright  | 07 Aug 2011 7:35 p.m. PST |
I met Nancy Wake briefly in Melbourne at the commissioning ceremony of HMAS ANZAC in 1996. The year before she left Australia for good. A very self assured lady who radiated confidence, but also had an air of greatness about her. At the reception afterward she was treated with almost God like respect by the Politicians, and all Navy ranks from Admiral downward. The foreign guests also made a fuss to meet her, including the French and German ones. She was sporting medals to rival a Russian General. I remember her launching into a torrent of French when talking to the French Naval attache. My wife had read the story of The White Mouse and was overawed to actually meet her, however briefly. Quite a woman. We had only time to shake hands and exchange a few brief pleasantries because there were so many others who wanted to meet her. May her rest be in peace. |
Shagnasty  | 07 Aug 2011 7:51 p.m. PST |
We were fortunate to have such women in those times. RIP |
| jpattern2 | 07 Aug 2011 8:17 p.m. PST |
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| Etranger | 07 Aug 2011 10:55 p.m. PST |
The word hero/heroine is much overused these days. Nancy Wake really was one. RIP. |
| BlackWidowPilot | 07 Aug 2011 11:02 p.m. PST |
God rest her soul. That was some mouse indeed…
Leland R. Erickson
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| Tom Bryant | 07 Aug 2011 11:25 p.m. PST |
Thank you again Ms. Wake for all you and your husband did. You are reunited at last. Godspeed and Fair Winds to you ma'am. May we be worthy. |
| EagleSixFive | 07 Aug 2011 11:30 p.m. PST |
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| bullant | 08 Aug 2011 2:48 a.m. PST |
A most remarkable person has left this world Bon courage madam |
| Mikey Rebel | 08 Aug 2011 3:27 a.m. PST |
R.I.P 'The White Mouse' your courage should be rememberred..
God bless you! |
| Andrew May1 | 08 Aug 2011 11:29 a.m. PST |
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| Sparker | 08 Aug 2011 3:06 p.m. PST |
Salut une ancienne combattante! The families of many allied servicemen and Jewish refugees have much to thank her memory for. As has been said of her comrade Violette Szabo VC, 'Carve her name with pride'. Nancy Wake.
Commonwealth of Australia Companion of the Order of Australia
United Kingdom George Medal
Commonwealth of Nations 1939–1945 Star
Commonwealth of Nations France and Germany Star
United Kingdom Defence Medal
United Kingdom War Medal 1939–1945
French Republic Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur
French Republic Officier de la Légion d'Honneur
French Republic Croix de Guerre with two Palms and a Star
United States of America Medal of Freedom with Bronze Palm.
French Republic Médaille de la Résistance
New Zealand Badge In Gold |
| Cardinal Hawkwood | 09 Aug 2011 2:24 a.m. PST |
she was a bit of a terror in Woolies at Turramurra for a while as well.. |
| Phillipaj | 09 Aug 2011 5:36 a.m. PST |
Postscript- I've seen posts on other websites claiming she was a Kiwi and had an NZ passport all her life. True? |
| Sparker | 09 Aug 2011 6:54 p.m. PST |
Born in NZ – grew up in Sydney – served with the UK forces… I doubt she was carrying an NZ passport when she was yomping around France undercover strangling boxheads though! |
| Etranger | 09 Aug 2011 7:33 p.m. PST |
In the WWII era she would have had carried a British passport anyway, regardless of whether she was from NZ or Australia. Sparker, you make her sound like an All-Black!  |
| Sparker | 10 Aug 2011 8:24 p.m. PST |
Not sure I understand what you mean about the All-Blacks? (Still a bit grumpy after Saturdays thumping!) |
| Etranger | 10 Aug 2011 9:52 p.m. PST |
Rampaging through the countryside knocking peoples heads off! Saturday was a bit of a reality check, methinks…. |
 Legion 4 | 13 Aug 2011 7:22 a.m. PST |
Very impressive !! See even sporting British jump wings on her uniform. Amazing woman, and soldier, RIP ma'am … |
| Hornswoggler | 27 Sep 2011 9:45 a.m. PST |
Nancy was a feisty lady….. "ASHLEY HALL: Peter FitzSimons told ABC News 24 she was also renowned for her prickly nature. PETER FITZSIMONS: She had a volcano inside her. And one of the sad things is that she was – and she was absolutely up-front about this – she said to me the saddest day of my life was the day the war ended. ASHLEY HALL: And for her commitment to the cause. PETER FITZSIMONS: The launch of the book was July 2001. General Cosgrove gives this description. The commander of the Australian Defence Forces, and he basically says, I'm paraphrasing, we've had many great warriors in Australian history. I don't think pound for pound we've ever had a warrior the equal of Nancy Wake. I'm proud to be here. I'm proud to launch this book. Ladies and gentlemen I give you Nancy Wake. And 300 people, Legacy, Red Cross, ambassadorial people, media stand up, spontaneous standing ovation. And there is Nancy, finally stands up, and for reasons best known to herself glares at the 300 people giving her a standing ovation. And these are her words, okay? Her whole speech she said: I've just got one thing to say. I killed a lot of Germans and I'm only sorry I didn't kill more." DM |
