Edith de La Chevalerie

Edith Daufresne de La Chevalerie, was born July 1918, 5 to Paris and died for France on November 1942, 22. She was a Free French Forces volunteer.

Background
Edith spent her youth in Paris, she was the niece of Xavier de Beaulaincourt de Marles who was the roommate and lifelong friend of Charles de Gaulle at the Jesuit school of the Immaculate Conception, rue de Vaugirard, Paris.

She was the sister of Xavier de La Chevalerie, also a member of the Free French Forces and Chief of Staff of the President Charles de Gaulle (1967–1969).

After turbulent teenage years, Edith married in Bogota, Colombia, Koloman von Lehenstein Bruner, an Austrian citizen.

Volunteer of the Free French Forces
Answering the Appeal of 18 June made by Charles de Gaulle in 1941, Edith decided to join the Free French Forces. But, by then, sailing from Colombia to England was not an easy task. Because of the pressure of the Kriegsmarine few boats ventured to Europe.

For such goal, the only secure port to leave for Europe was at that time, Buenos Aires. In the summer 1942, Edith moved to the capital of Argentina.

After several months of waiting, Edith embarked on the Argo, a ship chartered by the local Free French Forces Committee. 156 volunteers from Latin America intended to reach Europe, including de La Chevalerie.

Their average age was 22 years, most of them were not French citizens, although they shared French roots. The majority had never set foot in France and many barely speak French.

On November 22, 1942, near the island St. Helena, the Argo was sunk by a U-boat, killing this whole battalion of volunteers from the Free French Forces

Free French Forces Committee statement

"The Free French Forces Committee regrets to inform of the disappearance of the Argo that left the port of Buenos Aires on November 5 and on which volunteers from all the south american countries had embarked to join the Free French Forces in England. Having no more information at that time about the ship, until further notice, we must consider the Argo was sank. Accordingly, the Free French Forces Committee honors the memory of the 156 who died bravely for France. Dated December 30, 1942"