The only woman in the French Foreign Legion

When France fell to the Nazis Susan Travers travelled to London and signed up with General De Gaulle's Free French and was attached to the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Legion Etrangere. In Africa, as a driver to the senior officers, she had such nerves of steel that she got nickname "La Miss" from her male comrades. Sent to hold the fort of Bir Hakeim in Libya in 1942, Colonel Marie-Pierre Koenig's forces were hit hard by Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps in one of the major sieges of the Western Desert campaign. With Stuka dive bombers and Panzers the Germans expected to seize the fort in 15 minutes, but the French troops held it for 15 days - and Susan was the only woman among 3,500 men.

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | The only woman in the French Foreign Legion

 

great find... and i always point to that siege when folk berate the french. good one.

 

great story alright

 

Great story. One of those 3500 was from my hometown