There is one thing that makes Britain (and Ireland) great, the women that it has grown, nurtured and inspired to change the world. Some did good things whilst others will be remembered simply for their courage and determination. Of course there are those whose actions themselves may not be worthy of praise, yet the repercussions led the way to a better life. Many of these women you might already know of, some may have been previously overlooked. They will however be names that you should never forget. After all, for many of us, our lives would be a lot different had they never lived.

Friday 28 February 2014

Mary Katherine Herbert 1903 – 1983

Mary Herbert
Mary Herbert was born 1903 in Ireland.  After the outbreak of World War 2, she went to work in the British Embassy in Warsaw, before becoming a Civilian Translator for the Air Ministry in London.  She spoke many languages including French and German. 
            In 1941, she joined the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) as a general duties and intelligence clerk.  Then in 1942, she requested to be released from the WAAF in order to join the SOE (Special Operations Executive).
            After completing her SOE training in 1942, Mary travelled to Bordeaux in France.  Here she acted as a courier for the Scientistcircuit under the codename ‘Claudine’.  It was her job to liase with the different scientist groups and transport messages.  She was also used to seek out ‘safe houses’ and find potential recruits for the SOE. 
            In 1944, ‘Claudine’ was arrested by the Gestapo in Poitiers.  She endured many months in prison under harsh conditions.  She was tortured many times but told the Germans nothing.  The whole time she managed to stick to her story, that she was a French woman from Egypt.  Her knowledge of the French language and a previous trip to Cairo meant that she was able to pull it off.  The Germans finally released her and she hid in Poitiers until the end of the war.

            Later in life, she worked as a translator and language teacher, but suffered from a deep depression and committed suicide in 1983 at the age of 79.  She was one of the few women who never received any medals, for the bravery they showed whilst working for the British resistance during WW2.
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