Mademoiselle from Armentières - Patricia Hartshorne

[@Renaud-H]

Marie Lecocq alias "Mademoiselle From Armentières" This young lady who was no longer one at the time of the events (married since 1909) inspired one of the most famous songs across the Channel as its French equivalent "La Madelon". Who was she? Marie Lecocq, born in 1890 (August 8) rue Solferino, today rue Paul Bert in Armentières, Marie Lecocq, widowed for a few years, remarried in 1915 (August 18) and became Mme Vandewalle. Marie Lecocq was a courageous woman who, during the First World War, held several jobs (textile spinner, housewife and waitress), due to the absence of men, it was necessary to work well and also did not hesitate to transmit orders from the Place d'Armentières to the trenches. It was in a cafe near Armentières station (Café de la Paix, rue de la gare), that a saucy gesture on his person (by a British soldier) and made by a resounding slap, during his time of service, gave birth to one of the most famous songs, sung, whistled by the Tommies hanging on the Western front facing the German lines, thanks to the talent of a sergeant Edward Rowland, music hall artist in the civilian, accompanied on the piano by a Canadian sergeant, Lt Gitz Rice. Marie Lecocq inspired, morally supported by her gentleness, her presence and her courage, the Tommies in combat. Her example has made her, a true icon of Women, the Bride left behind for a number of "Boys" in France or Belgium, from all the armies of the Commonwealth and even American! Just after the war, her fame earned her many visits from British officers, she divorced and remarried in 1926, then the couple moved to Marquette. She resided there until her death in 1945 (July 02). gw.geneanet.org/renaudh1_w?n=lecoq&oc=0&p=marie+octavie&type=fiche

[@cjsuk1]

"..... if I get back. SO sad!

[@cjsuk1]

Wasted on that audience. Poor little souls had no idea of its significance!