Elsie Maréchal
Encyclopedia
Elsie Maréchal was an English woman who became active in the Belgian Resistance
helping Allied airmen to escape from the German forces. Having been betrayed, she was sentenced to death and subjected to the 'Nacht und Nebel
' policy designed to make such opponents of the Nazis 'disappear'. She survived to tell her story to her family back in England and to receive awards for her work.
, the daughter of Robert Edward Bell and Alice Mary (née Gowen). After attending school in Great Yarmouth
, Elsie trained at Norwich Teacher Training College and, on leaving in 1915, was accepted as a teacher by the London County Council
.
While working in London during the First World War she met a young Belgian soldier, Georges Maréchal, who had been sent to a hospital in London to recover after contracting pneumonia while serving in the water-logged trenches of South West Belgium.
They were married on 21 June 1920 and started married life in Koblenz
, Germany where Georges was working in the High Commission. They had three children: Lilian Grace, who died as a toddler, Elsie and Robert. In 1929 Georges returned with his family to Brussels.
, the two Elsies being part of the 'Comet
' network which helped many Allied airmen who had been shot down over enemy territory to evade capture and reach safety by smuggling them through France to neutral Spain. Like many others involved in such networks, they were eventually betrayed by someone who had been captured and interrogated by the Germans. On 18 November 1942 the whole family was arrested and taken for questioning. Robert, who was only sixteen, was eventually released in January 1943.
The rest of the family were kept in solitary confinement and repeatedly, and often brutally, questioned. They refused to reveal what they knew and on 15 April 1943 they were tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. On 20 October 1943 Georges and several other men were executed by firing squad.
On New Year's Day 1944 the two Elsies left the St Gilles prison in Brussels and began nearly eighteen months of being moved around between various prisons and concentration camps. This was meant to make them impossible for the Allies to trace, a system known as 'Nacht und Nebel
' (Night and Fog). They survived and were eventually rescued from captivity by the Swiss Red Cross.
In due course both the Elsies (and Georges posthumously) received a number of awards and honours from the British, American, and Belgian governments in recognition of their work.
Elsie died on 25 March 1969 in Uccle
, Belgium.
Belgian resistance
Belgian resistance during World War II to the occupation of Belgium by Nazi Germany took different forms. "The Belgian Resistance" was the common name for the Netwerk van de weerstand - Réseau de Résistance or Resistance Network , a group of partisans fighting the Nazis...
helping Allied airmen to escape from the German forces. Having been betrayed, she was sentenced to death and subjected to the 'Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel was a directive of Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 signed and implemented by Armed Forces High Command Chief Wilhelm Keitel, resulting in the kidnapping and forced disappearance of many political activists and resistance 'helpers' throughout Nazi Germany's occupied...
' policy designed to make such opponents of the Nazis 'disappear'. She survived to tell her story to her family back in England and to receive awards for her work.
Early life
Elsie Mary Bell was born on 21 June 1894 in Acton, MiddlesexActon, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
, the daughter of Robert Edward Bell and Alice Mary (née Gowen). After attending school in Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
, Elsie trained at Norwich Teacher Training College and, on leaving in 1915, was accepted as a teacher by the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
.
While working in London during the First World War she met a young Belgian soldier, Georges Maréchal, who had been sent to a hospital in London to recover after contracting pneumonia while serving in the water-logged trenches of South West Belgium.
They were married on 21 June 1920 and started married life in Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
, Germany where Georges was working in the High Commission. They had three children: Lilian Grace, who died as a toddler, Elsie and Robert. In 1929 Georges returned with his family to Brussels.
World War two
From early 1941 the family were involved in the Belgian ResistanceBelgian resistance
Belgian resistance during World War II to the occupation of Belgium by Nazi Germany took different forms. "The Belgian Resistance" was the common name for the Netwerk van de weerstand - Réseau de Résistance or Resistance Network , a group of partisans fighting the Nazis...
, the two Elsies being part of the 'Comet
Comet line
The Comet line was a World War II resistance group in Belgium/France which helped Allied soldiers and airmen return to Britain. The line started in Brussels, where the men were fed, clothed and given false identity papers before being hidden in attics and cellars of houses...
' network which helped many Allied airmen who had been shot down over enemy territory to evade capture and reach safety by smuggling them through France to neutral Spain. Like many others involved in such networks, they were eventually betrayed by someone who had been captured and interrogated by the Germans. On 18 November 1942 the whole family was arrested and taken for questioning. Robert, who was only sixteen, was eventually released in January 1943.
The rest of the family were kept in solitary confinement and repeatedly, and often brutally, questioned. They refused to reveal what they knew and on 15 April 1943 they were tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. On 20 October 1943 Georges and several other men were executed by firing squad.
On New Year's Day 1944 the two Elsies left the St Gilles prison in Brussels and began nearly eighteen months of being moved around between various prisons and concentration camps. This was meant to make them impossible for the Allies to trace, a system known as 'Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel was a directive of Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 signed and implemented by Armed Forces High Command Chief Wilhelm Keitel, resulting in the kidnapping and forced disappearance of many political activists and resistance 'helpers' throughout Nazi Germany's occupied...
' (Night and Fog). They survived and were eventually rescued from captivity by the Swiss Red Cross.
In due course both the Elsies (and Georges posthumously) received a number of awards and honours from the British, American, and Belgian governments in recognition of their work.
Elsie died on 25 March 1969 in Uccle
Uccle
Uccle or Ukkel is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.-History:...
, Belgium.
Sources
- A Quiet Woman's War by William Etherington Publisher: Mousehold Press 2002 ISBN 1-874739-24-2
- http://www.uea.ac.uk/menu/admin/com/broadview/files/bvmarch03.pdf
- http://www.keswickhall.ik.org/gallery/1183524077.ikml