| Name | Fernande MONDET | Aliases | |
| Date of birth | 4 April 1897 | Profession | |
| Address | 161
rue Lesage, Reims and 60 avenue Jean Jaures, Reims, Marne, France |
Spouse/ Children |
<widowed
or separated> / Simone Marie (24), Germaine Bayen, Jeanne |
| Position | Safe-house, R/T post | Awards | Medal of Freedom (US) - Fernande Mondet |
| References | NARA:RG498/290/55/27/2 Box 295 - Awards' file - Simone Marie Mondet |
Last updated on
10 June, 2009
|
It was through Abbé Lundy, that the Mondet family (mother, three daughters and grandmother) were introduced to Mme. Bulart, who was responsible for the organisation of safe-houses in Reims. Fernande Mondet's house in "rue Lesage" was used, rather than "avenue Jean Jaures". Seven airmen were sheltered from October to December 1943:
28 Oct - 1 Nov 1943 |
William Dunning (USAAF) Charles Bronner (USAAF) |
Received from Gaston Bruno & collected by Conrad Lafleur. |
5 Nov - 20 Nov 1943 |
Kenneth Nice (USAAF) Lester Knopp (USAAF) |
Collected by Conrad Lafleur. |
22 Nov - 20 Dec 1943 |
William Howell (USAAF) Jay Jolley (USAAF) |
Received from André Aubert & sent to M. Pillier, rue de Courcy, Reims. |
2 Dec - 20 Dec 1943 |
William Chapman (USAAF) | Sent to M. Pillier. |
Many others came to dine or spend short periods of time there. Bruce Kilmer and Donald Ogilvie (USAAF) went there for meals on Mondays, during November and December 1943. The Mondets supplied food and other necessities for the three airmen staying with the Pilliers.
During December 1943, Lafleur operated his radio from a room on the ground floor and it was there, on 29th December, just as he had finished a transmission, that the Germans raided the house. However, with the help of Raymonde Beuré he managed to get away. Fernande, Germaine and Jeanne Mondet were interrogated for several hours, but not arrested. The Germans came again the next day, but it was on 4th January 1944 that Fernande Mondet was arrested.
On 12/18th February 1944, the Mondets arranged for William Howell, Jay Jolley and William Chapman to travel to Mme. Collin of Carignan. She sheltered them on a farm in the Ardennes. Also, sometime after 23rd March 1944, Jeanne Mondet conveyed Tollie Berry and Robert Henry (USAAF) to Mme. Collin. They had been staying with M. & Mme. Pehu of Verzy (or Verzenay)
Fernande Mondet was deported to Ravensbrück on 20th June 1944, where she died in February 1945.
Note, for personal reasons, Simone Mondet refused to accept the US Medal of Freedom awarded to her.