- Contributed by听
- Civic Centre, Bedford
- People in story:听
- Mary Askman, Peggy Hammond, Jean RIVI脠RE
- Location of story:听
- Paris, Versailles
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A2718704
- Contributed on:听
- 07 June 2004
The WREN in Paris
This is about my sister Mary Askman, who sadly died last year, (2003). She was of the six WREN's who went to France as part of SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force), which was under the control of General Eisenhower.
As a member of the SHAEF team, she was based at the Palace of Versailles, a posting that she very much enjoyed. Whilst working in Paris, as a worker for SHEAF she was presented with a rainbow like shoulder flash, however, she was never allowed to wear it as it could only be worn by combatants, and women were not considered to be combatants.
In January 1945 she was given 7 days leave, when with her friend Peggy Hammond who was also a WREN, was one of the first, along with M, Jean RIVI脠RE, the French ambassador to Dublin, to come off the first boat train to Paris since 1939.
Given by Rina Elliot, (nee Askman), to Ian Nutley at Bedford 3rd June 2004.
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