I am researching the wartime exploits of Madame Maino MARECHAL, nee Snape (1888-1972). Have been told that in 1952 she travelled to the UK to receive a medal for her work in the resistance in France in WW2. Would very much like to know what this medal was, as family sources can only say that it was awarded for: "having found a way to remove the tattoos of stars from Jewish people in order to help them obtain new identities, and for helping airmen to escape France" Maino was her real name & she was born in Dudley, Staffordshire in 1888 as Maino Amelia Amy SNAPE. She is assumed to have married a frenchman Claude MARECHAL, a chemist (date & place of marriage not yet found). She died in Kent in 1972. It is not known wether she was ever interned in France, as she may have had French citizenship through her marriage. Have had no luck looking in the online indexes of the London Gazette, National Archives Kew, Times Newspaper, or British Newspaper Archives under her married or maiden names. As it is not in the London Gazette, I assume it may not be the OBE, George Medal, BEM or similar UK government award, and wonder if it may be a special medal from another allied country, free Polish Government etc, or from a civilian organisation such as an RAF ex-services escape Society, or a Jewish organisation. Any hints as to where to look next would be welcome. Thanks.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Manio Marechal Death Age: 83 Birth Date: 21 May 1888 Registration Date: Jan 1972 [Feb 1972] [Mar 1972] Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar Registration district: Tonbridge Inferred County: Kent Volume: 5f Page: 2575 England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Name: Mario Snape [Mano Snape] Registration Year: 1888 Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun Registration district: Dudley Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District Inferred County: Staffordshire Volume: 6c Page: 128 TD
It could well be either the King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom. or the King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom. King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom - Wikipedia King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom - Wikipedia They're not easy to research. The Service Medal was catalogued in the Treasury Series (Ceremonial) T339 at Kew; the Medal for Courage in T441.
The Kings Medal for Courage and the Kings Medal for Service It might be worth you contacting member Jedburgh22 - I have made him aware of this thread TD
Thank you both for your replies. I had never heard of these two UK awards & seems to fit with Maino's visit to UK in 1952 to receive her "medal", as the older thread you link to says some recommendations were still being worked on in 1953. The member of her family I am helping is thrilled with the information. I will contact Jedburgh22. Although she died in Kent, Maino lived most of her adult life in France, and as TD also found, there are very few events on ancestry, FMP etc after the 1901 census. As we do not know the date & place of her marriage we have not ruled out the possibility that she received the medal in her maiden name. Thank you again.
An obvious statement - perhaps you need to search French records as well as UK - she may have married in France after all TD
