Born: 30 August 1912, New Zealand
Died: 7 August 2011
Country most active: France
Also known as: The White Mouse, Madame Fiocca, Nancy Fiocca
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, also known as Madame Fiocca and Nancy Fiocca, was a nurse and journalist. She played important roles in the French Resistance and Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II. After the war, she briefly worked as an intelligence officer.
M. R. D. Foot, the official historian of the SOE, said her positive attitude was a joy to everyone who worked with her. Many of her World War II stories are only found in her book “The White Mouse” and aren’t verified by other sources.
Nancy Wake was born in Wellington, New Zealand, and grew up in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. In the 1930s, she moved to Marseille with her husband Henri Fiocca. When World War II started, she became a courier for the Pat O’Leary escape network. This group helped Allied airmen escape from the Germans and get to Spain. She managed to escape to Spain herself later on, but her husband was captured and executed.
In the UK, Nancy joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE) as “Hélène.” In April 1944, she parachuted into France’s Allier department as part of the “Freelance” SOE team. Her job was to connect the SOE with Maquis groups in the Auvergne region, overseen by Émile Coulaudon, codenamed “Gaspard.” One notable event was her involvement in a fight between the Maquis and a large German group in June 1944. After the battle, where the Maquis lost, she rode her bicycle an incredible 500 kilometers to give a situation report to the SOE in London.
Nancy Wake received several awards for her efforts, including the George Medal from the United Kingdom (awarded on July 17, 1945), the Medal of Freedom from the United States (1947), the Légion d’honneur from France (Knight in 1970, Officer in 1988), the Companion of the Order of Australia (awarded on February 22, 2004), and the Badge in Gold from New Zealand (2006). Her determination and dedication continue to inspire generations, showcasing the remarkable legacy she’s left behind.
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