World War II Heroine. Born in London, England, she was living in Brittany with her French-born husband, Alex Lefort, at the outbreak of World War II. The couple fled to England, but allowed their home to be made part of an escape line for downed Allied pilots. In 1941, Lefort joined the British Women's Auxiliary Air Force. In 1942, answering a call for French speakers, she volunteered to serve with the F Section of the Special Operations Executive. She was flown to France in June of 1943 and inserted behind enemy lines. She worked as a courier with the "Jockey" network in southeastern France. Lefort was arrested by the Gestapo in September 1943. After enduring a Gestapo interrogation, she was sent to the Fresnes Prison in Paris before being shipped to Ravensbrück concentration camp. At the end of 1944 Ravensbrück became no more than a death camp. The Soviet Army's approach in the Spring of 1945 led to the mass extermination of as many prisoners as possible. Suffering from malnutrition and exhaustion, Lefort was sent to the gas chamber on May 1, 1945. Her body was disposed of in the camp crematorium. She was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre by the government of France and was listed on the "Roll of Honor" at the Valençay SOE Memorial. Her name is also listed on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 277, in Surrey.
World War II Heroine. Born in London, England, she was living in Brittany with her French-born husband, Alex Lefort, at the outbreak of World War II. The couple fled to England, but allowed their home to be made part of an escape line for downed Allied pilots. In 1941, Lefort joined the British Women's Auxiliary Air Force. In 1942, answering a call for French speakers, she volunteered to serve with the F Section of the Special Operations Executive. She was flown to France in June of 1943 and inserted behind enemy lines. She worked as a courier with the "Jockey" network in southeastern France. Lefort was arrested by the Gestapo in September 1943. After enduring a Gestapo interrogation, she was sent to the Fresnes Prison in Paris before being shipped to Ravensbrück concentration camp. At the end of 1944 Ravensbrück became no more than a death camp. The Soviet Army's approach in the Spring of 1945 led to the mass extermination of as many prisoners as possible. Suffering from malnutrition and exhaustion, Lefort was sent to the gas chamber on May 1, 1945. Her body was disposed of in the camp crematorium. She was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre by the government of France and was listed on the "Roll of Honor" at the Valençay SOE Memorial. Her name is also listed on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 277, in Surrey.
Bio by: Iola
Inscription
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE
SECTION OFFICER
LEFORT C.M
Gravesite Details
9900
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