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Born in NZ in 1912, Nancy spent most of her childhood and early teenage years on Sydney's Lower North Shore.  Nancy was a rebel, and a beautiful one at that!  She ran away from home at 16 to become a nurse, then upon receiving money from her Aunt she embarked on a journey to England.  Later she became a freelance journalist in France, before marrying Henry Fiocca in 1930 and joining the French Resistance in 1940.


Nancy Wake - Paris 1932

Nancy is a true heroine... She was clever, resourceful, feisty, strong, smart and a simply amazing woman.  She suffered personal tragedy, and showed great physical strength and aptitude.  I admire her greatly, please check these links from The New Zealand Edge, and diggerhistory for more information about her. 

Code-named the "White Mouse" by the Gestapo, Nancy Wake is one of the most decorated women of the Second World War. She received the George Medal, 1939–45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, British War Medal 1939–45, French Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, French Croix de Guerre with Star and two Palms, US Medal for Freedom with Palm and French Medaille de la Resistance for her courageous endeavours. Wakes' medals are on display in the Second World War gallery at the Australian War Memorial.

There have been movies made about her story, and books, I particularly enjoyed Australian journalist Peter Fitzsimons, Nancy Wake: A Biography of Our Greatest War Heroine, published by Harper Collins, 2001.  I read it at a time when I thought that the world was rather bleak; this helped to put things in perspective and motivate me.


Nancy Wake - London 2003

She is a shining example of someone who took action to fight for what she believed in and put it all on the line; she sure makes the world a better place.