Mary Lindell
Encyclopedia
Mary Lindell also known as the Comtesse de Milleville, the Comtesse de Moncy and Marie-Claire was a British-born nurse who lived in France and worked independently against the Nazis during World War II
. During the First World War, she served as a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment
(VAD) and subsequently with the Secours aux Blessés, a division of the French Red Cross. She created escape lines in occupied France, helping to get people out of the country. Despite being sentenced to death and arrested, she managed to survive the war. Two of her children were arrested by the Nazis; one was tortured severely, but survived. The other presumably perished in a Nazi concentration camp.
, England. Her mother was a member of the Colls
family, the daughter of a successful architect.
She was decorated for her bravery and service by the French, receiving a Croix de Guerre
in 1918. She was also decorated by the Tsarist Russian governments. She married the Count de Milleville, a member of the French aristocracy, and made her home in France. Following the Nazi invasion of France, Lindell worked with various Allied agencies, at considerable risk to herself and family, to help smuggle downed airmen and others to freedom on the "Pat" line (named after "Pat O'Leary, alias of Albert Guérisse
). Despite a narrow escape, which led to her finding brief refuge in her native Britain, she joined MI9
and returned to occupied France in 1942, where she learned that she, as the Comtesse de Milleville, had been sentenced to death.
She organized a new escape line, the "Marie-Claire" line, after her new name. She continued to work in France until severely wounded, captured and deported to Ravensbrück concentration camp
at the end of 1943. She survived in the camp hospital and was liberated in 1945. Her children were involved in their mother's work. Her son Maurice was interrogated and severely beaten for his activities; her son Oky was similarly interrogated and deported to a concentration camp where it is presumed he died. Lindell was subsequently recognized for her work and was also an advocate for those British civilians who were interned in Nazi concentration camps. A 1991 film One Against the Wind starring Judy Davis
was based upon Lindell's life and she was featured in a television series called Women of Courage about four women who defied the Nazis, produced by Peter Morley
, himself a German Jewish refugee. The other women were Maria Rutkiewicz
, a Polish woman; Sigrid Helliesen Lund
, a Norwegian; and Hiltgunt Zassenhaus
, a German.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During the First World War, she served as a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment
Voluntary Aid Detachment
The Voluntary Aid Detachment was a voluntary organisation providing field nursing services, mainly in hospitals, in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire. The organisation's most important periods of operation were during World War I and World War II.The...
(VAD) and subsequently with the Secours aux Blessés, a division of the French Red Cross. She created escape lines in occupied France, helping to get people out of the country. Despite being sentenced to death and arrested, she managed to survive the war. Two of her children were arrested by the Nazis; one was tortured severely, but survived. The other presumably perished in a Nazi concentration camp.
Biographical details
Lindell was born in 1895 to a wealthy family in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England. Her mother was a member of the Colls
Trollope & Colls
Trollope & Colls was once one of the United Kingdom's largest construction companies.-History:The Company was formed out of the merger of George Trollope & Sons and Colls & Sons .The merged firm started to specialise in civil engineering and during World War...
family, the daughter of a successful architect.
She was decorated for her bravery and service by the French, receiving a Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
in 1918. She was also decorated by the Tsarist Russian governments. She married the Count de Milleville, a member of the French aristocracy, and made her home in France. Following the Nazi invasion of France, Lindell worked with various Allied agencies, at considerable risk to herself and family, to help smuggle downed airmen and others to freedom on the "Pat" line (named after "Pat O'Leary, alias of Albert Guérisse
Albert Guérisse
Major-General Comte Albert-Marie Edmond Guérisse, GC, KBE, DSO was a Belgian Resistance member who organized escape routes for downed Allied pilots during World War II under the alias of Patrick Albert "Pat" O'Leary, the name of a Canadian friend...
). Despite a narrow escape, which led to her finding brief refuge in her native Britain, she joined MI9
MI9
MI9, the British Military Intelligence Section 9, was a department of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence, part of the War Office...
and returned to occupied France in 1942, where she learned that she, as the Comtesse de Milleville, had been sentenced to death.
She organized a new escape line, the "Marie-Claire" line, after her new name. She continued to work in France until severely wounded, captured and deported to Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück was a notorious women's concentration camp during World War II, located in northern Germany, 90 km north of Berlin at a site near the village of Ravensbrück ....
at the end of 1943. She survived in the camp hospital and was liberated in 1945. Her children were involved in their mother's work. Her son Maurice was interrogated and severely beaten for his activities; her son Oky was similarly interrogated and deported to a concentration camp where it is presumed he died. Lindell was subsequently recognized for her work and was also an advocate for those British civilians who were interned in Nazi concentration camps. A 1991 film One Against the Wind starring Judy Davis
Judy Davis
Judy Davis is an Australian actress best known for her roles in Husbands and Wives, Barton Fink, A Passage to India and in the TV miniseries Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows....
was based upon Lindell's life and she was featured in a television series called Women of Courage about four women who defied the Nazis, produced by Peter Morley
Peter Morley (filmmaker)
Peter Morley, OBE is a German-born British television producer and documentary filmmaker. As a nine-year old child, he fled Nazi Germany with his elder siblings and moved to England, where he has lived ever since...
, himself a German Jewish refugee. The other women were Maria Rutkiewicz
Maria Rutkiewicz
Maria Rutkiewicz was a Polish communist and an editor. During the Nazi occupation of Poland, she was a radio operator with the Polish resistance.- Early years and World War II :...
, a Polish woman; Sigrid Helliesen Lund
Sigrid Helliesen Lund
Sigrid Helliesen Lund was a Norwegian peace activist, noted for her humanitarian efforts throughout most of the 20th century, and in particular her resistance to the occupation of Norway during World War II.-Biography:...
, a Norwegian; and Hiltgunt Zassenhaus
Hiltgunt Zassenhaus
Hiltgunt Margret Zassenhaus was a German philologist who worked as an interpreter in Hamburg, Germany during World War II, and later as a physician in the United States. She was honoured for her efforts to aid prisoners in Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Hiltgunt Zassenhaus was born...
, a German.
Sources
- The Royal Air Forces Escaping Society (1994)
- "M.P. To Fight For Ex-Internees" The Times, 17 July 1963, pg 6.
See also
- Nacht und NebelNacht und NebelNacht 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...
- Albert GuérisseAlbert GuérisseMajor-General Comte Albert-Marie Edmond Guérisse, GC, KBE, DSO was a Belgian Resistance member who organized escape routes for downed Allied pilots during World War II under the alias of Patrick Albert "Pat" O'Leary, the name of a Canadian friend...
- "Pat" O'Leary - Elsie MaréchalElsie MaréchalElsie 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'...
- Comet lineComet lineThe 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...
- World War II evasion line