World War II heroine whose work as a British spy only became known after her death

Hundreds of mourners are expected at the funeral of a World War II heroine whose work as a British spy only became known after her death (and see earlier WVoN story).

Eileen Nearne, 89, died in her home in Torquay, Devon, on 2 September, after suffering a heart attack.

BBC News reports that as a young woman she was recruited by the Special Operations Executive and captured by the Nazis in France but never talked about it.  A search for documents that might help locate her family instead yielded a treasure trove of medals and papers.

These revealed the life of a woman once known as Agent Rose who defied the Nazis as a wireless operator in occupied France. The fluent French speaker was captured three times by the Germans and endured spells in concentration camps, managing to escape each time.

She was due to have a council funeral but these plans changed as a result of the publicity about her past.

Military charities donated cash and a local funeral director offered to fund a service more befitting a war heroine.

Representatives of the armed forces will attend the service at Our Lady Help of Christians and St Denis Roman Catholic Church in Torquay, with the last post due to be played by a French bugler.

Later Miss Nearne’s ashes will be scattered at sea.