Edith de La Chevalerie
Encyclopedia
Edith Daufresne de La Chevalerie, was born July 05, 1918 to Paris
and died for France on . She was a Free French Forces
volunteer.
at the Jesuit school of the Immaculate Conception, rue de Vaugirard, Paris.
She was the sister of Xavier de La Chevalerie
, also a member of the Free French Forces
and Chief of Staff of the President Charles de Gaulle (1967–1969).
After turbulent teenage years, Edith married in Bogota, Colombia, Koloman von Lehenstein Bruner, an Austrian citizen.
. But, by then, sailing from Colombia to England was not an easy task. Because of the pressure of the Kriegsmarine
few boats ventured to Europe.
For such goal, the only secure port to leave for Europe was at that time, Buenos Aires. In the summer 1942, Edith moved to the capital of Argentina.
After several months of waiting, Edith embarked on the Argo, a ship chartered by the local Free French Forces
Committee. 156 volunteers from Latin America intended to reach Europe, including de La Chevalerie.
Their average age was 22 years, most of them were not French citizens, although they shared French roots. The majority had never set foot in France and many barely speak French.
On November 22, 1942, near the island St. Helena, the Argo was sunk by a U-Boot
, killing this whole battalion of volunteers from the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
Committee statement
"The Free French Forces Committee regrets to inform of the disappearance of the Argo that left the port of Buenos Aires on November 5 and on which volunteers from all the south american countries had embarked to join the Free French Forces in England. Having no more information at that time about the ship, until further notice, we must consider the Argo was sank. Accordingly, the Free French Forces Committee honors the memory of the 156 who died bravely for France. Dated December 30, 1942"
Anxmadae de Leira, La Religion des astres (La religión de las estrellas), 2011.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and died for France on . She was a Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
volunteer.
Background
Edith spent her youth in Paris, she was the niece of Xavier de Beaulaincourt de Marles who was the roommate and life-long friend of Charles de GaulleCharles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
at the Jesuit school of the Immaculate Conception, rue de Vaugirard, Paris.
She was the sister of Xavier de La Chevalerie
Xavier de La Chevalerie
Xavier Daufresne de la Chevalerie, born January 28, 1920 in Paris, died at Saint Nazaire August 21, 2004. Having joined the Free French forces in July 1940, being a career diplomat, Xavier de la Chevalerie was the Chief of Staff of the President General de Gaulle .- Family background :The ancestors...
, also a member of the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
and Chief of Staff of the President Charles de Gaulle (1967–1969).
After turbulent teenage years, Edith married in Bogota, Colombia, Koloman von Lehenstein Bruner, an Austrian citizen.
Volunteer of the Free French Forces
Answering the Appeal of 18 June made by Charles de Gaulle in 1941, Edith decided to join the Free French ForcesFree French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
. But, by then, sailing from Colombia to England was not an easy task. Because of the pressure of the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
few boats ventured to Europe.
For such goal, the only secure port to leave for Europe was at that time, Buenos Aires. In the summer 1942, Edith moved to the capital of Argentina.
After several months of waiting, Edith embarked on the Argo, a ship chartered by the local Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
Committee. 156 volunteers from Latin America intended to reach Europe, including de La Chevalerie.
Their average age was 22 years, most of them were not French citizens, although they shared French roots. The majority had never set foot in France and many barely speak French.
On November 22, 1942, near the island St. Helena, the Argo was sunk by a U-Boot
U-boot
U-boot can refer to:* U-boats, military submarines operated by Germany during World War I and World War II* Das U-Boot, also known simply as U-Boot, a computer software which serves as a bootstrap loader in many embedded systems....
, killing this whole battalion of volunteers from the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
Committee statement
"The Free French Forces Committee regrets to inform of the disappearance of the Argo that left the port of Buenos Aires on November 5 and on which volunteers from all the south american countries had embarked to join the Free French Forces in England. Having no more information at that time about the ship, until further notice, we must consider the Argo was sank. Accordingly, the Free French Forces Committee honors the memory of the 156 who died bravely for France. Dated December 30, 1942"
Sources
Adolfo Costa Du Rels, Les Croisés de la haute mer (Los cruzados de alta mar), 1953.Anxmadae de Leira, La Religion des astres (La religión de las estrellas), 2011.