During a trip to Newhaven I came across a gravestone in the cemetery.

It states: "To the Honour and Proud Memory of Elizabeth Mary Collins who Died on 7 June 1952 aged 65. This Irish Nurse rendered invaluable assistance to wounded Allied Service Personnel During the German Occupation of France 1940-194, She risked her life on many occasions to help prisoners of war escape. She was awarded the Kings Commendation for Brave Conduct and the Bronze Medal of the French Red Cross."

The gravestone today is in a bad way with the lettering so weathered it is barely readable.

I thought I would try to find out more about Elizabeth and hopefully get her headstone replaced.

Unfortunately this has not been an easy business. It turns out the gravestone is the property of the Royal British Legion. I contacted them and, although helpful, they stated that as a result of changes in Charity Law the Charity Commissioners would not allow such expenditure.

So now poor old Elizabeth is stuck in limbo. If nothing is done soon her bravery will be forgotten. Which seems such a travesty.

I also tried the Commonweath War Graves Commission but, as she was a civilian and of Irish citizenship, they too could not help as her grave fell outside their parameters.

I also have tried to find out what she actually did during the war. The London Gazette merely states she won her Brave Conduct medal "for services to the Allied Cause". Not very helpful. Efforts with the French Red Cross proved equally unsuccessful and the checking of national and local newspapers archives left us baffled.

All we found was she had no next of kin and ended her days cycling between Peacehaven and Newhaven working as the local nit nurse to the thousands of children in the area.

It seems so sad a lady who served this county so well both in wartime service and after can't even be given a proper grave to commemorate her life and bravery.

-Mark Allamand, Dunstable