Mona Parsons
Mrs. Willem Leonhardt
Mona Parsons Leonhardt Foster
1901 – 1976
Tombstone
Wolfville Nova Scotia
Located in Willowbank Cemetery on the east side of GaspereauAvenue
GPS location: 45°05’11″N 64°21’23″W
Photographed on 10 June 2004
Photographed on 11 June 2004
Mona Parsons was born in 1901 in Middleton, Nova Scotia.
During World War Two 1939-1945, she became part of a
resistance unit in Nazi-occupied Holland. In 1941, she was
condemned by a Nazi tribunal to death by firing squad, for
helping downed Allied airmen to escape from Holland.
In 1942, this sentence was commuted to a long term of
imprisonment. She managed to escape and made her way
to safety by posing as a German. Mona was presented with
citations from General Eisenhower and Air Chief Marshal Tedder
of the Royal Air Force for helping Allied airmen evade enemy capture.
Photographed on 11 June 2004
From “Poise and Dignity Saved Mona Parsons”
by Patrick Watson, National Post, 23 June 2005
Mona Parsons Canadian Encyclopedia Featured Article
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?
PgNm=ArchivedFeatures&Params=A2144
The citation to Mona Leonhardt from Arthur W. Tedder, AirChiefMarshal ofthe RoyalAirForce
and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force
Photographed on 30 April 2008 in Spryfield, Nova Scotia
Arthur William Tedder Wikipedia
The citation to Mona Leonhardt from Dwight Eisenhower
Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force
Commanding General United States Forces European Theater
Photographed on 30 April 2008 in Spryfield, Nova Scotia
Dwight David Eisenhower Wikipedia
Digitally enhanced detail from the Eisenhower citation:
“European Theater of Operations U.S.A. H.Q.”
Mona Parsons Canadian Encyclopedia
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?
PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0009759
Mona Louise Parsons Historica Minutes
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do;jsessionid=89C653
F93B2B01CB686B5A7AE5C1D062.tomcat2?id=14740
Mona Parsons Wolfville Historical Society Memorial Book
http://wolfvillehs.ednet.ns.ca/memorialbook/Parsons-Mona.htm
Mona Louise Parsons, by Athabasca University
http://www.athabascau.ca/wmst/november.php
