Funeral of Eileen Nearn
Discussion
the funeral of Eileen Nearne seems to have passed by without much comment on here.
SOE during the war. Captured by the Nazis, tortured in the infamous Paris "establishment". Never broke, didnt utter a word.
One comment about her after the war made me smile, she resigned from her local Special forces club during the 90s I think as they would no longer let her bring her "guard dog" into the members dining room.
She was given the equivalent of a State funeral on Tuesday, with military honour guard and attendance by the French military attache, but in a typical quiet rural English way.
We had a discussion about "hard guys" a few months ago. Ill throw in Eileen Nearne into that mix, tortured by the Nazis and didnt break I think carries more than a few kudos points.
SOE during the war. Captured by the Nazis, tortured in the infamous Paris "establishment". Never broke, didnt utter a word.
One comment about her after the war made me smile, she resigned from her local Special forces club during the 90s I think as they would no longer let her bring her "guard dog" into the members dining room.
She was given the equivalent of a State funeral on Tuesday, with military honour guard and attendance by the French military attache, but in a typical quiet rural English way.
We had a discussion about "hard guys" a few months ago. Ill throw in Eileen Nearne into that mix, tortured by the Nazis and didnt break I think carries more than a few kudos points.
Edited by DJC on Friday 24th September 06:38
Of her time as an agent, she told one interviewer: "It was a life in the shadows, but I think I was suited for it. I could be hard and secret, I could be lonely, I could be independent, but I wasn't bored. I liked the work. After the war, I missed it."
Think it would be hard to any of her calibre in todays society.
Think it would be hard to any of her calibre in todays society.
Gargamel said:
Utterly amazing. Thats one determined, driven woman, here's hoping we never have need for such people again.cal72 said:
Of her time as an agent, she told one interviewer: "It was a life in the shadows, but I think I was suited for it. I could be hard and secret, I could be lonely, I could be independent, but I wasn't bored. I liked the work. After the war, I missed it."
Think it would be hard to any of her calibre in todays society.
It was hard then too.Think it would be hard to any of her calibre in todays society.
However, people like this always step forward when the time arrives.
Think of Robert Nairac in the 1970s.
I bet there are undercover agents working in Afghanistan as we speak.
Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 24th September 09:27
Eric Mc said:
cal72 said:
Of her time as an agent, she told one interviewer: "It was a life in the shadows, but I think I was suited for it. I could be hard and secret, I could be lonely, I could be independent, but I wasn't bored. I liked the work. After the war, I missed it."
Think it would be hard to any of her calibre in todays society.
It was hard then too.Think it would be hard to any of her calibre in todays society.
On a semi-related note, I remember being really shocked when my grandmother told me about all the looting that went on during the war. If a house was bombed, it was quite often the case that neighbours would ransack the place.
Gargamel said:
Absolutely.NDA said:
Eric Mc said:
cal72 said:
Of her time as an agent, she told one interviewer: "It was a life in the shadows, but I think I was suited for it. I could be hard and secret, I could be lonely, I could be independent, but I wasn't bored. I liked the work. After the war, I missed it."
Think it would be hard to any of her calibre in todays society.
It was hard then too.Think it would be hard to any of her calibre in todays society.
On a semi-related note, I remember being really shocked when my grandmother told me about all the looting that went on during the war. If a house was bombed, it was quite often the case that neighbours would ransack the place.
Stiff upper lip, all pitching in to fight the jerrys, etc.
I really don't think it would be any different today, although people wouldn't get a chance to help as much as they did back then. Nowadays a war can be won from 30,000 feet in the sky.
This is my Grandfathers obituary:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1457732...
He always seemed very grumpy and pessimistic when I knew him, but I only knew him when his eyesight was failing and he was very old so that probably explains it.
Frankeh said:
This is my Grandfathers obituary:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1457732...
Amazing.... The passing of elderly relatives and their stories/history is, apart from being sad, rather irritating when you reach the age when you want to explore their past. Frank Stone sounded a fascinating chap with a treasure trove of memories no doubt.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1457732...
Hats off to Eileen of course and rip.
But we should be proud of all those who did their 'bit' in the various war, from the WRVS to the SOE. Not everyone could contribute in the way Eileen did due to luck, good or bad depends on your POV, skills, right time place etc. People on active service were a fairly small proportion of the total war effort. The unsung heroes who worked horrendous hours or in terrible conditions without complaint in reserved occupations are equally as valuable, as are the farmers who fed the country. Without the skills and dedication of the man/woman making Spitfire widgets 16hrs a day we might all be speaking German. There had to be a firm base for the country to rest on to be able to launch the various offensives and resist the attacks etc that eventually paid off.
But we should be proud of all those who did their 'bit' in the various war, from the WRVS to the SOE. Not everyone could contribute in the way Eileen did due to luck, good or bad depends on your POV, skills, right time place etc. People on active service were a fairly small proportion of the total war effort. The unsung heroes who worked horrendous hours or in terrible conditions without complaint in reserved occupations are equally as valuable, as are the farmers who fed the country. Without the skills and dedication of the man/woman making Spitfire widgets 16hrs a day we might all be speaking German. There had to be a firm base for the country to rest on to be able to launch the various offensives and resist the attacks etc that eventually paid off.
Edited by peterperkins on Saturday 25th September 08:02
Jasandjules said:
Made of stern stuff!
A shame that the BBC are not doing more to tell the world about this fantastically brave woman.
Why would it be the BBC's responsibility? There are other broadcasters and media outlets too.A shame that the BBC are not doing more to tell the world about this fantastically brave woman.
By all accounts this lady was very private and wanted it to stay that way. I would guess that some form of documentary may be made about her - or about operations in which she and others were involved - sometime in the future.
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