Jacqueline de Chambrun

Jacqueline de Chambrun was born as Jacqueline Retourné in 1920 in Casablanca, Morocco.[1][2] Her father, Henri Retourné, was a veteran of World War I.[1] Her mother was a dressmaker.[1]

De Chambrun graduated from the University of Montpellier, where she studied medicine.[1]

De Chambrun was a paediatrician.[1]

In 1942, in the midst of World War II, de Chambrun joined Combat, a group within the French Resistance.[1][2] She escaped from the Gestapo in Montpellier in July 1943, and she served in Combat in Paris, Marseille and Lyon.[1] She escaped from the Gestapo once again in January 1944, this time in Lyon.[1] Taking the pseudonym of Lieutenant Noëlle, she joined the Maquis du Mont Mouchet, serving until June 1944.[2] She subsequently joined another maquis which focused on sabotaging trains.[1]

De Chambrun was a member of the Commission nationale consultative des droits de l'homme, where she championed the human rights of the homeless and undocumented immigrants.[2] She campaigned for abortion rights in France.[1] She also volunteered for Planned Parenthood and served on the board of trustees of the Secours populaire français.[1][2][3]

De Chambrun was the subject of a 2008 documentary, Sans jamais renoncer, directed by her grandson, Axel Ramonet de Chambrun.[2] She was a Commander of the Legion of Honour.[2]

De Chambrun married Gilbert de Chambrun.[2] They had four children.[2] She died on 24 September 2013 in Marvejols, France.[1] She was 92 years old.[1] Her funeral was held at the église Notre-Dame de la Carce in Marvejols.[2]