Editing Susan Travers (section)

==World War II==
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Travers joined the [[French Red Cross]] as a nurse. Later, she became an ambulance driver with the French Expeditionary Force in [[Finland]] in 1940.{{sfn|Holden|2009}} After the [[Battle of France|fall of France]], she went to London and joined the Free French under [[Charles de Gaulle]]. In 1941, she drove a medical doctor of the [[1st Free French Division]] during [[Operation Exporter]] in Syria and Lebanon, during which the Allied forces invaded and seized Syria and Lebanon from the [[Vichy French]].{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} She served in the [[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion]] as a driver for the medical officer, where she gained the nickname "La Miss".{{sfn|Holden|2009}}

The 13th Demi-Brigade was incorporated into the 1st Brigade of the 1st Free French Division, commanded by Colonel [[Marie-Pierre Kœnig]]. Travers was assigned as the driver to Kœnig. They became lovers.{{sfn|Holden|2009}}

In May 1942, the 1st Free French Brigade was posted at [[Bir Hakeim]], the southern end of the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]]'s line at [[Gazala]] in Libya. As the [[Panzer Army Africa]] prepared to attack the British line, Kœnig ordered all women out of the area. The Axis forces attacked on 26 May, initiating the [[Battle of Gazala]]. [[Battle of Bir Hakeim|Four German and Italian divisions attacked Bir Hakeim]]. Not long after, Travers joined a convoy into the rear area, and Kœnig allowed her to return to Bir Hakeim, as it seemed the Axis attack had failed.{{citation needed|date=April 2018|reason=The BBC article states she remained with Kœnig throughout the battle}} During the next two weeks, the Axis continued to attack, heavily shelling and bombing Bir Hakeim. During the bombardment, a shell tore off the roof of Kœnig's car. Travers, aided by a Vietnamese driver, fixed it on the spot immediately.{{citation needed|date=April 2018|reason=all since the last citation but specifically the sentence about the car}}

During the night of 10–11 June, 1st FF Brigade evacuated Bir Hakeim, with Travers driving Kœnig's staff car. The column ran into minefields and German machine gun fire. Kœnig ordered Travers to drive at the front of the column.{{sfn|Holden|2009}} Travers stated:

{{blockquote|He said, "We have to get in front. If we go the rest will follow." It is a delightful feeling, going as fast as you can in the dark. My main concern was that the engine would stall.{{sfn|Holden|2009}} }}

At 10:30&nbsp;a.m. on 11 June, the column entered British lines. Travers' vehicle had eleven bullet holes,{{sfn|Holden|2009}} with a shock absorber destroyed and the brakes unserviceable.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

Kœnig was promoted to general and left the North African theatre for higher command and a reunion with his wife. Travers, driving a self-propelled anti-tank gun, remained with the French Foreign Legion. She later served in the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] and the [[Western Front (World War II)|Western Front]] (in France and Germany), during which she was wounded when she drove over a land mine.{{sfn|Holden|2009}}