Born in New Zealand, she grew up in Australia and married a Frenchman. She helped downed pilots escape France and carried out spy tactics in Vichy France. The Gestapo called her "The White Mouse". She escaped to Britain, got training for militia fighting and parachuted back into France. After D-Day she led 7,000 resistance fighters and was a key to preventing the Germans from sending reinforcements. She was the most decorated British operative of the war.