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In 1943 she married Peter Jordan, an architect. She then ceased working. They had two children and divorced after 25 years. She was a keen horse rider into her 90s. In her later years Jordan lived in the
Elmbridge Retirement Village in Cranleigh, Sussex. She died 19 August 2021, at the age of 102.
159:, as the German army advanced rapidly. Under the banner of the Red Cross, the medical unit treated both German and Allied troops. In June 1940, she was ordered south in a convoy that came under German attack outside
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148:, who was the father of one of her friends, she joined the Sections Sanitaires Automobiles FĂ©minines. This was a medical unit within the French army. It was managed by the
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in central France. After the armistice, she traveled alone further south seeking to return to Great
Britain. During this journey she was given papers to take to
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in a tearoom during a visit to Munich, before he came to international significance. Her education resulted in her being fluent in
English, French and German.
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She delivered the papers to de Gaulle and her linguistic skills led to her becoming his driver and interpreter at the headquarters of the
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120:, Hertfordshire and grew up in Kent. She was the fourth daughter of Christabel (born Stogdon) and Trevor Matthews, the chairman of
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247:"Last Word: Jimmy Greaves (pictured), Sir Clive Sinclair, Olivia Jordan, Carolyn Shoemaker, 6.57 - 14.02 minutes"
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Eager to become involved, she travelled to France in
January 1940. With help from General Pierre HĂ©ring, the
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Army Girls: The secrets and stories of military service from the final few women who fought in World War II
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100:(née Matthews; 28 January 1919 – 19 August 2021) was an ambulance driver in France at the start of the
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128:, Berkshire and with a French governess. In 1937 she attended a finishing school in Germany and saw
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on 8 March 1941 when it was bombed, resulting in damage to her hearing. She used her father's
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with Polish troops, after initially being denied passage on the last
British ship to leave
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After minimal training in driving and nursing, she was sent north towards the
309:"War veteran from Cranleigh who survived the Blitz celebrates 100th birthday"
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British wartime ambulance driver then interpreter and driver (1919–2021)
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in London. She continued in this role until 1943, including during the
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214:. In 1993, she was invited to the inauguration of a statue of
366:"The 101-year-old who was once Charles de Gaulle's chauffeur"
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work in Second World War; ambulance driver and interpreter;
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in
Carlton Gardens. Jordan was one of those included in
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because they were reluctant to take a woman on board.
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19:For the American TV host, actress and model, see
336:"Les sections sanitaires automobiles féminines"
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198:car until an official vehicle was assigned.
116:Olivia Matthews was born 28 January 1919 in
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210:for her courage and endurance by General
124:. She was educated at boarding school at
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206:In June 1941 she was presented with the
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282:Dunlop, Tessa (8 September 2021).
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334:Monsuez, Jean-Jacques (2007).
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447:British women in World War II
108:in London from 1940 to 1943.
140:Work during Second World War
340:Revue historique des armees
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452:20th-century British women
437:British women centenarians
146:military governor of Paris
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394:. Headline. p. 368.
313:West Sussex County Times
284:"Olivia Jordan obituary"
167:. She finally boarded a
182:government-in-exile in
390:Dunlop, Tessa (2021).
432:People from Bushey
126:Downe House School
315:. 5 February 2019
216:Charles de Gaulle
173:Saint-Jean-de-Luz
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69:(2021-08-19)
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427:2021 deaths
422:1919 births
251:BBC Radio 4
180:Free France
76:Nationality
416:Categories
230:References
220:Army Girls
48:1919-01-28
169:destroyer
150:Red Cross
91:1939-1945
370:BBC News
346:: 98–113
196:Wolseley
79:British
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202:Awards
118:Bushey
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