Madge Addy facts for kids

Marguerite Nuttall Addy was a brave British woman who lived from 1904 to 1970. She was also known by her married names: Lightfoot, Holst, and Hansen. Marguerite worked as a nurse during the Spanish Civil War and later became a spy during World War II. She was recognized for her courage and important work.

Early Life and Nursing Work

Marguerite was born in 1904 in Rusholme, Manchester, England. She was one of five children. In 1930, she married Arthur W. Lightfoot in Manchester. She also worked as a registered nurse and is thought to have had a hairdressing business.

In 1937, Marguerite went to Spain during the Spanish Civil War. She worked as a head nurse with the International Brigade. This group was made up of volunteers from different countries who went to help fight in Spain. She worked in a monastery near Ucles in Castile. When the war ended in 1939, she was arrested because she was a foreigner. However, the British government asked for her release, and she was allowed to leave Spain.

Spying in World War II

Marguerite Addy was awarded the OBE medal for her brave actions.

In the summer of 1939, Marguerite arrived in France. She appeared to be married to a Norwegian businessman named Wilhelm Holst. She had met him in Spain. This marriage was actually a secret arrangement by the British Intelligence Service. It was later cancelled in 1945.

Both Marguerite and Wilhelm joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE). This was a secret British organization that carried out spy missions during the war. They went to Marseilles, France, to work for MI9. MI9 was a special department of the British War Office. It helped Allied soldiers escape from enemy territory.

Setting Up Escape Routes

Marguerite helped set up a secret escape route called the "Garrow-O'Leary" line. She worked with Ian Garrow and Pat O'Leary. This route helped many Allied soldiers and airmen escape from France to Spain. From Spain, they could return to the United Kingdom.

Marguerite played a very important role. She helped Ian Garrow hide and gave him money. She also used her contacts to help his organization grow. When Garrow was arrested, Marguerite stayed in touch with him in prison. She even sent him food.

Dangerous Missions

In 1941, Marguerite visited Lisbon, Portugal, with her husband. She carried important secret information from the escape organization. On other trips, she traveled as a Norwegian citizen. This meant she had to fly on German planes. She bravely carried secret information sewn into the lining of her coat.

During one visit to Lisbon, Marguerite learned how to use secret inks. This allowed her to send regular updates about the escape organization by mail. She showed great courage and calmness in her dangerous work. She knew that if she was caught, she would face severe punishment as an English woman working in enemy territory. Thanks to her efforts, the "Garrow-O'Leary" organization was successfully set up in Southern France. This helped hundreds of people escape and return home.

Award for Bravery

In January 1946, Marguerite was given a special award. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award recognized her amazing bravery and important contributions during the war.

Later Life and Recognition

After the war, Marguerite married for a third time. She married Thorkil A. D. Hansen in London in 1955. She passed away as Marguerite Hansen in Hendon in 1970. Thorkil had died a few years earlier in 1966.

On May 12, 2018, Marguerite's bravery was remembered in Manchester. The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Eddy Newman, unveiled a blue plaque in her honor. This plaque is on Manchester Road in Chorlton. Representatives from the Royal British Legion and the International Brigade Memorial Trust were also there.

See also

In Spanish: Madge Addy para niños