NZ heroine honoured by home country at last

New Zealand heroine Nancy Wake became know as the White Mouse when the Gestapo could not catch her during World War II.

Kiwi war heroine Nancy Wake is to finally get a New Zealand award recognising her outstanding bravery.

Ms Wake, 94, who became known as the White Mouse when Adolf Hitler's Gestapo could not catch her during World War II, will be presented with the Returned Services Association's highest honour, the Badge in Gold and life membership.

It will be presented to her by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, at a Buckingham Palace ceremony on November 1.

The award will be the only one from the country of her birth to recognise her heroism during her war-time work with the French resistance.

RSA national president John Campbell, said Prince Philip, also a Badge in Gold holder and life member of the RSA, had readily agreed to present her award.

"It will be a relatively small affair. Nancy doesn't want a big fuss," he said.

Ms Wake, known as a feisty woman who speaks her mind, lives in London and often needs to use a wheelchair.

RSA chief executive Pat Herbert visited her recently with the organisation's representative in London, Patrick Nolan, and found her in "pretty good health", Mr Campbell said.

"She received them exceptionally well and reminded everybody that she was a New Zealander and would carry her New Zealand passport to her grave."

Ms Wake left New Zealand for Australia when she was very young but had always had a Kiwi passport.

As a journalist before the war she interviewed German dictator Hitler and was shocked by his attitude to Jews.

When war broke out she joined the French resistance and led 7000 guerrilla soldiers against the Nazis.

She helped more than 1000 Allied servicemen escape from behind enemy lines and killed many Germans, including one with her bare hands.

Her husband was executed by the Nazis and she became one of the Gestapo's most wanted fugitives.

She was the most decorated servicewoman of the war.

She was awarded nine medals, including the George Medal from Britain, the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, the Croix de Guerre (twice) the Medaille de la Resistance from France, the Medal of Freedom with Palm from America and in 2004 the Companion of the Order of Australia.

She is the first woman to ever receive the RSA's highest award and is known to be "absolutely delighted".

- NZPA