×
Home Intro People Events Equipment Places Maps Books Photos Videos Other Reference FAQ About
     

World War II Database

Travers file photo [8189]

Susan Travers

SurnameTravers
Given NameSusan
Born23 Sep 1909
Died18 Dec 2003
CountryUnited Kingdom, France
CategoryMilitary-Ground
GenderFemale

Contributor:

ww2dbaseSusan Travers, an English socialite who had spent mush of her early life in the South of France (and had once been a competitor at the Wimbledon Tennis tournament), was the only woman to ever join the French Foreign Legions. After a failed attempt to become an Ambulance Driver during the Winter War in Finland, she went as a nurse to join the Free French in Dakar, West Africa. Here she persuaded the Red Cross to allow her to accompany the Foreign Legion to Eritea. There she gave up nursing and joined the Legion as a driver. She went with them to Syria and ultimately into the Western Desert, being present during the obstinate siege and breakout from Ben Hacheim. Later in the War she sould be an ambulance Driver with the U.S. 5th Army in Italy before being reunited with the Legion during the invasion of Southern France in 1944.

ww2dbaseIn August 1945 Susan Travers was formally enlisted as the only female member of the French Foreign Legion. Her wartime career would earn her a Military Medal and the Legion d' Honneur. Posted to Indo-China she became pregnant and married a fellow legionaire, Nicholas Schlegelmilch. They would have two children and when Nicholas left the Legion in 1950 they moved back to Paris where they would live until Susan's death in 2003.

Last Major Revision: Jul 2009

Susan Travers Timeline

23 Sep 1909 Susan Travers was born.
18 Dec 2003 Susan Travers passed away.




Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds




Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed C. Peter Chen says:
14 Jun 2009 02:18:51 PM

"She was exceptionally brave", said French General Marie Pierre KÅ“nig who employed Travers as a driver in North Africa.

Later in WW2, Travers drove ambulances and a self-propelled anti-tank gun for the Allies in Italy, France, and Germany. She also saw action in the Vietnam War.

Travers was the only woman to ever serve in the French Foreign Legion.
2. minnie says:
22 Sep 2017 11:45:31 PM

we need heros like her in our crazy world today.... cannnot see any man of ages19 to 30 to survived any conflict today...
her family must be so proud
3. Anonymous says:
17 Apr 2018 11:37:39 AM

she was brave
4. Anonymous says:
18 Dec 2018 12:31:37 PM

I am doing a schools assignment on Susan Travers and I am just baffled about how much a woman did to er country when told it was only fo men
5. Anonymous says:
11 Nov 2019 12:22:08 PM

wow

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Change View
Desktop View

Search WW2DB
More on Susan Travers
Event(s) Participated:
» Campaigns in the Middle East
» Battle of Gazala

Famous WW2 Quote
"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win the war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country!"

George Patton, 31 May 1944


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!