Augusta Chiwy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Augusta Chiwy
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| Born | 6 June 1921 |
| Died | 23 August 2015 (aged 94) Belgium
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| Nationality | Belgian |
| Occupation | Registered Nurse |
| Known for | Serving as a volunteer nurse during the siege of Bastogne |
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Augusta Marie Chiwy (born June 6, 1921 – died August 23, 2015) was a very brave Belgian nurse. She volunteered to help during a major battle in 1944. This battle was called the Siege of Bastogne. She worked with a U.S. Army doctor, John Prior. She also worked with another Belgian nurse, Renée Lemaire. They treated many injured soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge.
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Augusta Chiwy's Life Story
Augusta Chiwy was born in 1921 in the Belgian Congo. Her father was a veterinarian from Bastogne, Belgium. Her mother was Congolese. When Augusta was nine years old, she moved to Belgium.
In 1940, when she was 19, she went to Leuven. There, she trained to become a nurse.
Helping During the Battle of the Bulge
On December 16, 1944, German forces started a big attack. This attack was part of the Battle of the Bulge. Augusta had returned to Bastogne to spend Christmas with her family. At first, the town seemed safe with American soldiers there. But soon, German troops surrounded Bastogne.
Augusta helped injured civilians and soldiers. She worked with her uncle, who was a doctor. On December 21, she decided to volunteer as a nurse. She joined a first-aid station of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion. This station was led by Dr. John Prior.
Augusta worked at the aid station on Rue Neufchateau. She even put on an Army uniform. This allowed her to go out into the battlefield. She would collect wounded soldiers while under enemy fire.
Surviving a Bomb Attack
On December 24, 1944, the first-aid station was hit by a German bomb. More than 30 wounded men died. Another volunteer nurse, Renée Lemaire, also died. Augusta was in a nearby building with Dr. Prior. The bomb blast blew her through a wall. Luckily, she was not hurt.
She kept helping the American forces. She continued her brave work until the siege ended. The siege was finally lifted two days later.
Life After the War
After the war, Augusta Chiwy worked in a hospital. She treated people with spinal injuries. She married a Belgian soldier and had two children.
Augusta rarely talked about her experiences during the war. Because of this, some history books thought she had died during the battle. But a British historian named Martin King found her. He was researching his book Voices of the Bulge. He found her in a retirement home near Brussels. He heard her story and shared it with the public.
A documentary film about Augusta Chiwy was made. It was called Searching for Augusta: The Forgotten Angel of Bastogne. In July 2015, this film won an Emmy Award for Historical Documentary.
Her Final Years
Augusta Chiwy passed away on August 23, 2015. She died near Brussels, Belgium. She is buried at the cemetery in Bastogne.
Awards and Recognition
Augusta Chiwy received several important awards for her bravery.
On June 24, 2011, she was made a Knight of the Order of the Crown. This is a high honor in Belgium. Belgium's Minister of Defence, Pieter De Crem, gave her the medal. He presented it on behalf of King Albert II of Belgium.
On December 12, 2011, she received the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service. This award came from the United States Department of the Army. The U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Howard Gutman, presented it to her.
On March 21, 2014, her hometown also honored her. Bastogne recognized her as a "Citizen of Honor."
