Mary Elmes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Elmes
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| Born |
Marie Elisabeth Jean Elmes
5 May 1908 Cork, Ireland
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| Died | 9 March 2002 (aged 93 years, 308 days) Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales France
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| Known for | Saving Jewish children from the Nazis, and being the only Irish person to receive the Righteous Among the Nations award |
| Spouse(s) | Roger Danjou |
| Children | 2 |
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Mary Elmes was a brave Irish aid worker. She lived from 1908 to 2002. Mary is famous for saving at least 200 Jewish children during the Holocaust. She often hid them in the boot of her car to keep them safe. In 2015, she became the only Irish person to receive the Righteous Among the Nations award. This special award from Israel honors people who helped Jewish people during World War II. It recognized her amazing work during the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
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Mary Elmes's Early Life
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Mary Elmes was born on May 5, 1908, in Cork, Ireland. Her father, Edward Elmes, was a chemist (pharmacist). Her mother was Elizabeth Waters. Edward moved to Cork from Waterford to open his pharmacy. Mary's mother grew up in Cork.
Mary had one brother named John. He later took over the family business. The Elmes family belonged to the Church of Ireland.
Education and Studies
Mary went to Rochelle School in Cork. In 1928, she started studying at Trinity College Dublin. She was a very bright student. Mary became a Scholar and earned top grades in Modern Literature. She studied French and Spanish.
In 1935, Mary received a scholarship. This allowed her to study International Studies at the London School of Economics. She earned a certificate there. She then received another scholarship to continue her education in Geneva, Switzerland.
Helping People During Wartime
After finishing her studies, Mary Elmes wanted to help others. She joined a special unit that helped people during wars.
Work in the Spanish Civil War
In February 1937, the Spanish Civil War was happening. Mary joined the University Ambulance Unit. She was sent to a children's hospital in Almeria, Spain. In January 1939, a group called the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) asked her to run a hospital. This hospital was being set up in Alicante.
In May 1939, Mary moved to the AFSC main office in Perpignan, France.
Saving Jewish Children in World War II
During World War II, things became very dangerous for Jewish children. In 1942, the French government, called Vichy, changed its rules. Jewish children were no longer safe from being sent to concentration camps.
Mary Elmes worked with her friends to save many children. She found safe places for them to hide. She also helped them escape the country. Mary knew she was taking a huge risk. She often hid children in the boot of her car. Then she would drive them to safe locations. She also helped many others get special documents. These papers allowed them to escape through secret networks in France.
Mary was not a Quaker herself. However, she worked closely with local Quaker groups. Some people even called her the "head of the Quaker delegation at Perpignan."
In early 1943, Mary was arrested. The authorities suspected her of helping Jews escape. She was first held in Toulouse. Later, she was moved to Fresnes Prison near Paris. This prison was run by the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police. Mary spent six months there.
Mary's Life After the War
After World War II ended, Mary Elmes married Roger Danjou. They had two children, Caroline and Patrick. Mary continued to live in Pyrénées-Orientales, France. She lived first in Perpignan, then in Canet-en-Roussillon, and later in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer. She passed away in a nursing home there in 2002.
Awards and Recognition
Mary Elmes received many honors for her brave actions.
- French Legion of Honour: After the war, France offered Mary the Legion of Honour. This was the highest civilian award in France. But Mary humbly refused it. She did not want attention for what she had done.
- Righteous Among the Nations: On January 23, 2013, 11 years after her death, Mary was honored by Yad Vashem. This organization recognized her as Righteous Among the Nations. One of the children she rescued nominated her for this award. Her children and grandchildren accepted the award for her.
- Trish Murphy Award: On September 30, 2016, Mary was given the Trish Murphy Award. This happened at the Network Ireland Business Woman of the Year awards in Cork. Her nephew, Mark Elmes, accepted it for her family.
- Mary Elmes Bridge: On February 25, 2019, Cork City Council announced a new bridge. This pedestrian bridge links Patrick's Quay to Merchant's Quay. It was named after Mary Elmes. The bridge opened to the public on July 9, 2019.
- Mary Elmes Prize: The Holocaust Educational Trust Ireland also has a special award. It is called the Mary Elmes Prize in Holocaust Studies. It is named in her honor.
See Also
- Lois Gunden, another person who helped save Jewish and Spanish Civil War refugees. She also received the title Righteous Among the Nations.
