Despite the loss of her husband in early 1939 and, despite finding herself a widow with 6 children (4 daughters and 2 sons) and an ageing mother to look after, Chetta Chevalier was to form a crucial role within the Rome Escape Line - assisting an estimated 4000 civilians, refugees and Allied prisoners-of-war in avoiding capture by the German Gestapo. The Henrietta Chevalier Memorial Garden - located within the Malta Aviation Museum compound - was unveiled in November 2012 - and a visit is well recommended! Chetta Chevalier - Wikipedia Malta Aviation Museum - Memorial Garden Henrietta Chevalier: the unsung Maltese heroine - The Malta Independent Tony Buckley www.asiawargraves.com
For an interesting account of living in her household in Rome, written by submariner Cecil 'Bill' Flood of HM Submarine Saracen, see my book 'Twixt the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea' (available only on line from lulu.com). Flood's original document is in the Submarine Museum, Gosport. Her 'boys' called her Momma. Vitellino
