Tomorrow To Be Brave

Born in 1909, Susan Travers dreamed of an adventurous life, but had little chance of such a thing until the Second World War broke out. She signed up for the Free French and sailed to Africa, eventually fetching up as driver to General Koenig of the Foreign Legion. He was to become her lover and the man for whom she would risk everything. At the the great siege of Bir Hakeim, the General's troops were surrounded for 15 days by Rommel's Panzer Division. Susan refused to leave the General's side and eventually, at the wheel of his staff car, led the convoy of vehicles and men across the minefields as part of a daring mass breakout. Hailed as the heroine of the night, Susan was rewarded with the love and loyalty of the legion with whom she served and the first of her many medals. In 1997, in a simple ceremony attended by the few remaining survivors of Bir Hakeim, the Foreign Legion presented her with the "Legion d'Honneur" -- their highest award for bravery.