Canonical name: Travers, Susan
Birthdate: 1909-09-23
Date of death: 2003-12-18
Gender: female
Nationality: UK
Birthplace: London, England, UK
Place of death: Paris, France
Occupations: ambulance driver
chauffeur
nurse
Organizations: French Foreign Legion
Awards and honors: Légion d'honneur
Croix de Guerre
Médaille Militaire
Short biography: Travers was born in Southern England, the daughter of a Royal Navy admiral, but grew up in the south of France, where she was a semi-professional tennis player.At the outbreak of the Second World War, Travers joined the French Red Cross as a nurse, but later became an ambulance driver with the French Expeditionary Force in Finland. With the German invasion of Denmark and Norway, she retreated from Denmark to Finland. She then escaped by ship to Iceland and returned from there to England where she joined General Charles de Gaulle's Free French forces.By 1941, she was the chauffeur for a medical officer of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the French Foreign Legion, during the Syrian campaign in which Vichy French legionnaires fought Free French legionnaires. She was nicknamed "la Miss" by the legionnaires.

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Tomorrow to be brave by Susan Travers

I am very passionate about History and I always try to found interesting books to read and to learn more concerning my favourite topic.
Also I am very attracted by stories of a particular person or people have done in the especial historic circumstances, for instance in a war or revolution where, very often, it appears the best and the worst of a human being.
In this quest, I have just read a remarkable woman autobiography, “Tomorrow be brave”, an extraordinary story of love and heroism written by Susan Travers, a British lady born in 1909 who lived almost her life in France or within French people.
Why her life was so astonishing?
Essentially, because she was the only woman to join the French Foreign Legion in the WW2. With this bunch of foreigner, who chosen to follow general De Gaulle instead to accept the Vichy regime defeat, she lived and experienced several important events, among them, the terrible siege of Bir-Hakeim. In this dry and isolated place in the Libyan dessert, the Free French Forces held and resisted during three weeks the fierce attacks from the German and Italian forces led by Marshall Erwin Rommel in order to give to the 8th British Army enough time to reorganize.
The chapter, where she gives us a crude, realistic and particularly honest account of the long and bloody battle and the dared French night break through three fortified Germans lines. She was not a superwoman, far from that; nonetheless she felt the fear driving the command-car by night in the dessert and across the minefields, holes shells, under the enemies’ bullets and explosions. She accomplished this exploit not only for her own sake, but also in behalf of general Koenig, the French General-in-Chief. She had the vital mission to lead him to a safe place.
Nevertheless, in the middle of this conflict, where she was shelled and where saw disappear many beloved friends; she lived a great love story with all the suitable ingredients.

I decidedly recommend this book, as it is not about how to make money, become a pop star or a celebrity; as matter of fact, it is essentially a moved real story about fillings, courage, passions and love.… (more)

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JuanCarlosGarcia | Jan 27, 2019 |

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