Jacqueline Francoise Mary Josephine Nearne MBE (1916 - 1982)

Born 27 May 1916 in Brighton, Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Died 15 Aug 1982 at age 66 in London, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Early Life

Jacqueline Nearne MBE was a British Spy in World War II.

Jacqueline Nearne was born 27 May 1916 in Brighton, England to John Nearne from England and Marie de Plazoala from Spain. ^{[1][2] [3]} She was the youngest of four children, Francis, Frederick. and Eileen. In 1923, the family moved to Grenoble, France where the children became fluent in French. Because of this Jacqueline Nearne growing up in France it made it difficult for others to believe the she was actually British by birth. At the age of 18, she moved to Nice to work as a commercial travelling representative for an office equipment company. At the outbreak of war in 1942, Jacqueline Nearne with her two siblings a sister Eileen and brother Francis, made their way back to London via way of Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Gibraltar and Glasgow, while the rest of the family remained in Grenoble, despite the German occupation.

World War II

On her arrival in England, Jacqueline Nearne applied to serve as a driver in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), but was rejected due to her lack of experience. In 1942, she volunteered to serve with the French Section of SOE and, thanks to her fluency in the language and recent knowledge of the country, was readily accepted. After initial assessment in London she was commissioned into the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) and sent on, as part of the very first group of women trainee agents, for parachute instruction at Special Training School (STS) 51, RAF Ringway – now Manchester International Airport. Jacqueline then completed her training at STS 31 at Beaulieu in Hampshire, was cleared to serve as a courier.^[4]

Jacqueline Nearne was trained as a courier in Scotland, at Garramore House, along with other French-speaking agents. She was taught how to make Morse code transmissions with a suitcase radio. ^[5]

On 25 January 1943 she was parachuted into Haute-Loire, France to work for the vast Stationer circuit in central France. Despite the risks of being exposed or betrayed she travelled by train. She maintained contact with the neighbouring 'Headmaster' network and other SOE networks in the Paris area. She carried spare parts for radios inside a cosmetics bag. After fifteen months in the field, she finally returned to Britain in April 1944 by means of Westland Lysander.^[6]

For 15 months she operated successfully and unobtrusively in France, undertaking long and tiring journeys by train to deliver messages to the far-flung corners of ‘Stationer’ and to other circuits. She was fortunate to avoid capture in September 1943 when the Germans raided the safe house to which she was about to return, and arrested the French family who harboured her. Jacqueline, in poor health, was flown out to England, contrary to her wishes, in April 1944.^[7]

Post World War II

After the war, Jacqueline Nearne and her sister Eileen returned to England by way of Portugal and Gibraltar. Eileen Nearne was suffering psychological trauma because of her experiences and in the years immediately following the end of the war. She then moved to New York to work in the Protocol Department of the United Nations. ^[8] In the 1950s, Brian Stonehouse painted a portrait of her which now hangs in the Special Forces Club in London. Jacqueline eventually returned to care for Eileen in London. Jacqueline died 15 Aug 1982 in London, England. ^[9] and Eileen moved to live in Torquay where she died in Sep 2010.

After Jacqueline Nearne's death in 1982 from undisclosed causes, her body was cremated and her ashes were scattered at specific locations.^[10]

Military Awards and Honors

After World War II, Jacqueline Nearne was appointed a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by King George VI in 1945 for services in France during the enemy occupation. There are conflicting sources reporting on whether or not Jacqueline Nearne was awarded the French Croix de Guerre by the French government for her services in France during the enemy occupation. Research will continue to get the definite answer to the issue.

Jacqueline Nearne Awards and Honors

Movie Career

In 1946, while recovering Jacqueline Nearne played "Cat", a character based on herself, in the RAF's Film Unit production of "School for Danger", which was later released to theatres in a shorter version as "Now It Can Be Told", a drama-documentary about the wartime training and deployment of SOE operatives. Appearing with Jacqueline was her SOE colleague, Captain Harry Ree. ^[11] The film was shot for the most part in newly liberated France while the war was still going on. ^[12] Under the title "Now It Can Be Told" it was released on video in 2001 and DVD in 2007. ^[13] To view the film on-line use the link below.

• Now It Can Be Told (1:08:52)

Books

Below is a list of books written about Jacqueline Nearne and her life to include the time she spent in the SOE and after World War II up to her untimely death. The list includes the book titles and authors.

• "Sisters, Secrets and Sacrifice: The True Story of WWII Special Agents Eileen and Jacqueline Nearne", by Susan Ottaway
• "A Cool and Lonely Courage: The Untold Story of Sister Spies in Occupied Francee", by Susan Ottaway

Also See

• 1946 - Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954 ^[14]
• 1947 - New York, Northern Arrival Manifests, 1902-1956 ^[15]
• 1950 - New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957 ^[16]
• 1952 - New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957 ^[17]
• 1954 - New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957 ^[18]
• 1956 - New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957 ^[19]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 1 May 2024)
   Nearn, Jacqueline Francoise Mary Josephine (Mother's maiden name: De plazaola).
   GRO Reference: 1916 Apr-May-Jun in Brighton Volume 02B Page 387.
2. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZQ-M3J9 : 4 September 2014), Jacqueline Nearne, 1982; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death Registration, Westminster, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2FYM-1RX : 1 October 2014), Jacqueline F M J Nearn, 1916; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Brighton, Sussex, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
4. ↑ West Hill born Secret Agent remembered. The Whistler, 23 Sept. 2016. Web. 20 June 2017. https://westhillwhistler.wordpress.com/2016/09/23/west-hill-born-secret-agent-remembered/.
5. ↑ Jacqueline Nearne. What-when-how.com, n.d. Web. 19 June 2017. http://what-when-how.com/women-and-war/nearne-jacqueline/.
6. ↑ Jacqueline Nearne. Alchetron, n.d. Web. 18 June 2017. https://alchetron.com/Jacqueline-Nearne-776630-W
7. ↑ West Hill born Secret Agent remembered. The Whistler, 23 Sept. 2016. Web. 20 June 2017. https://westhillwhistler.wordpress.com/2016/09/23/west-hill-born-secret-agent-remembered/.
8. ↑ "New York, Northern Arrival Manifests, 1902-1956," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q23H-YYHS : 2 March 2021), Jacqueline Nearne, New York, United States;citing Immigration, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1480 and M1482. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
9. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZQ-M3J9 : 22 October 2021), Jacqueline Nearne, 1982.
10. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 March 2019), memorial page for Jacqueline Nearne (27 May 1916–15 Aug 1982), Find A Grave: Memorial #66999441, ; Maintained by Paul Monaghan (contributor 47155457) Cremated, Ashes scattered, who reports a Ashes scattered at a specific place.
11. ↑ Jacqueline Nearne. Alchetron, n.d. Web. 18 June 2017. https://alchetron.com/Jacqueline-Nearne-776630-W
12. ↑ Jacqueline Nearne. What-when-how.com, n.d. Web. 19 June 2017. http://what-when-how.com/women-and-war/nearne-jacqueline/.
13. ↑ Now It Can Be Told. Perf. Jacqueline Nearne. IMDB. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2017. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177204/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_dt_dt.
14. ↑ "Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK3B-6XWS : 23 February 2021), Jacquiline Nearne, 1946; citing M1464, Soundex Index to Canadian Border Entries through the St. Albans, Vermont, District, 1895-1924, 618, NARA microfilm publications M1461, M1463, M1464, and M1465 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, publication year); FHL microfilm 2,155,388.
15. ↑ "New York, Northern Arrival Manifests, 1902-1956," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q23H-YYHS : 12 March 2018), Jacqueline Nearne, 1947; citing NARA microfilm publication M1480 and M1482 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); roll 00099, FHL microfilm 1,283,766.
16. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24TL-C7Z : 15 March 2018), Jacqueline Nearne, 1950; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
17. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:241G-DPK : 2 March 2021), Jacqueline Nearne, 1952; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
18. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H45-4HR : 15 March 2018), Jacqueline Nearne, 1954; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
19. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HD2-PL2 : 16 March 2018), Jacqueline Nearne, 1956; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• FamilySearch ID: LCXW-S93
• Wikipedia: Jacqueline Nearne
• Wikidata: Item Q3157774, en:Wikipedia