Vera Leigh born Vera Glass in Leeds England and was abandoned by her parents soon after birth and adopted by H Eugene Leigh an American racehorse trainer who raced in America and Europe. He owned stables in Maison Laffitte Nr Paris.
After completing her education - Leigh became a fashion designer and in 1927 became a partner in the Grand Maison (Fashion house) called Rose Valoie in the Place Vendome Paris.
After the fall of Paris in the Second World War, Leigh went to Lyon and became involved with the French Resistance and she was actively involved in the escape line for Allied Servicemen who were trapped behind enemy lines.
In 1942 she used the same escape route to cross the Pyrenees to Spain and then to England.
Once in England Vera offered her services to the War effort, and she soon came to the attention of The French Section of the Special Operations Executive her knowledge of languages and she was of course fluent in French. Leigh joined S.O.E and excelled at her training and was the best shot in her group.
Leigh was sent to France in May 1943 to work with Henri Dericourt- she stayed at a safe house and then took an apartment in Paris. Vera acted as a courier taking messages in and out of the City and going as far as the Ardennes.
One day in Paris she met a friend who ran a safe house for Allied Servicemen who were escaping from France. Vera offered valuable assistance to this operation often taking the servicemen through the Streets of Paris to another safe house.
Leigh openly socialised with other agents in Paris.
In October 1943 Leigh was arrested and taken to Fresnes Prison,the Germans already knew about Leighs activities and she was taken to Gestapo Headquarters at 84 Avenue Foch. She was brutally interrogated and tortured.
She was later transferred to Natzweiler Concentration Camp and upon arrival was injected with phenol then placed in the crematorium furnace.
Vera Leigh : Posthumously Received The King's Commendation:
For Brave Conduct.
A Plaque stating she died for her country is on the wall of the Holly Trinity Church in Maisons Laffitte France.
After completing her education - Leigh became a fashion designer and in 1927 became a partner in the Grand Maison (Fashion house) called Rose Valoie in the Place Vendome Paris.
After the fall of Paris in the Second World War, Leigh went to Lyon and became involved with the French Resistance and she was actively involved in the escape line for Allied Servicemen who were trapped behind enemy lines.
In 1942 she used the same escape route to cross the Pyrenees to Spain and then to England.
Once in England Vera offered her services to the War effort, and she soon came to the attention of The French Section of the Special Operations Executive her knowledge of languages and she was of course fluent in French. Leigh joined S.O.E and excelled at her training and was the best shot in her group.
Leigh was sent to France in May 1943 to work with Henri Dericourt- she stayed at a safe house and then took an apartment in Paris. Vera acted as a courier taking messages in and out of the City and going as far as the Ardennes.
One day in Paris she met a friend who ran a safe house for Allied Servicemen who were escaping from France. Vera offered valuable assistance to this operation often taking the servicemen through the Streets of Paris to another safe house.
Leigh openly socialised with other agents in Paris.
In October 1943 Leigh was arrested and taken to Fresnes Prison,the Germans already knew about Leighs activities and she was taken to Gestapo Headquarters at 84 Avenue Foch. She was brutally interrogated and tortured.
She was later transferred to Natzweiler Concentration Camp and upon arrival was injected with phenol then placed in the crematorium furnace.
Vera Leigh : Posthumously Received The King's Commendation:
For Brave Conduct.
A Plaque stating she died for her country is on the wall of the Holly Trinity Church in Maisons Laffitte France.
Vera Leigh born Vera Glass in Leeds England and was abandoned by her parents soon after birth and adopted by H Eugene Leigh an American racehorse trainer who raced in America and Europe. He owned stables in Maison Laffitte Nr Paris.
After completing her education - Leigh became a fashion designer and in 1927 became a partner in the Grand Maison (Fashion house) called Rose Valoie in the Place Vendome Paris.
After the fall of Paris in the Second World War, Leigh went to Lyon and became involved with the French Resistance and she was actively involved in the escape line for Allied Servicemen who were trapped behind enemy lines.
In 1942 she used the same escape route to cross the Pyrenees to Spain and then to England.
Once in England Vera offered her services to the War effort, and she soon came to the attention of The French Section of the Special Operations Executive her knowledge of languages and she was of course fluent in French. Leigh joined S.O.E and excelled at her training and was the best shot in her group.
Leigh was sent to France in May 1943 to work with Henri Dericourt- she stayed at a safe house and then took an apartment in Paris. Vera acted as a courier taking messages in and out of the City and going as far as the Ardennes.
One day in Paris she met a friend who ran a safe house for Allied Servicemen who were escaping from France. Vera offered valuable assistance to this operation often taking the servicemen through the Streets of Paris to another safe house.
Leigh openly socialised with other agents in Paris.
In October 1943 Leigh was arrested and taken to Fresnes Prison,the Germans already knew about Leighs activities and she was taken to Gestapo Headquarters at 84 Avenue Foch. She was brutally interrogated and tortured.
She was later transferred to Natzweiler Concentration Camp and upon arrival was injected with phenol then placed in the crematorium furnace.
Vera Leigh : Posthumously Received The King's Commendation:
For Brave Conduct.
A Plaque stating she died for her country is on the wall of the Holly Trinity Church in Maisons Laffitte France.
After completing her education - Leigh became a fashion designer and in 1927 became a partner in the Grand Maison (Fashion house) called Rose Valoie in the Place Vendome Paris.
After the fall of Paris in the Second World War, Leigh went to Lyon and became involved with the French Resistance and she was actively involved in the escape line for Allied Servicemen who were trapped behind enemy lines.
In 1942 she used the same escape route to cross the Pyrenees to Spain and then to England.
Once in England Vera offered her services to the War effort, and she soon came to the attention of The French Section of the Special Operations Executive her knowledge of languages and she was of course fluent in French. Leigh joined S.O.E and excelled at her training and was the best shot in her group.
Leigh was sent to France in May 1943 to work with Henri Dericourt- she stayed at a safe house and then took an apartment in Paris. Vera acted as a courier taking messages in and out of the City and going as far as the Ardennes.
One day in Paris she met a friend who ran a safe house for Allied Servicemen who were escaping from France. Vera offered valuable assistance to this operation often taking the servicemen through the Streets of Paris to another safe house.
Leigh openly socialised with other agents in Paris.
In October 1943 Leigh was arrested and taken to Fresnes Prison,the Germans already knew about Leighs activities and she was taken to Gestapo Headquarters at 84 Avenue Foch. She was brutally interrogated and tortured.
She was later transferred to Natzweiler Concentration Camp and upon arrival was injected with phenol then placed in the crematorium furnace.
Vera Leigh : Posthumously Received The King's Commendation:
For Brave Conduct.
A Plaque stating she died for her country is on the wall of the Holly Trinity Church in Maisons Laffitte France.
Gravesite Details
Books : Flames In The Field. by Rita Kramer.
