Evening star., 1941-11-21
Scarlet Pimperne|'
From D. T.. Enabled
British 10 Flee Nazis
Artist Who Studied Here
Is in R. A. F. After Trying
To Join Two Other Armies

An American Scarlet Pimpernel
who helped wounded British SOL
diers escape from France has been
identified as Charles Fawcett, Is, a
former art student here.
Mr.. Fawcett, who was in Paris
continuing his art studies when the
Germans started their invasion of
Poland, the British press said in a
release today, is now serving In
the r. A. F.
Hoping to join the Polish Army. he
Immediately set out for Warsaw and
succeeded in arriving there before
the Germans. Because of his ma
tionality, the Poles refused to allow
him to enlist. so he returned to
Paris. There he attempted to join
the French Air Force. but again he
was barred by his nationality.
Determined to become a member
Of some armed force against Hitler,
Mr.. Fawcett came back to the
United States to obtain official per-
mission to Join an Allied Amy.
Removed English Soldiers.
When permission was not forth
coming. he returned TO France via
Italy, this time as member OF an
ambulance unit. He was Ill Paris
when the French collapse began and
happened to hear of some wounded
British soldiers who We're stranded.
Aided by some friends. he bor-
rowed an ambulance and removed a
load of wounded TommieS from the
hospital heading south under the
cover of night. The rescue attempt
seemed thwarted when the ambu-
lance ran out of gasoline and had
to be abandoned. Removing iden-
tifying marks from the wounded,
Mr.. Fawcett managed to get them
on freight train as French cas-
ualtieS
The train was extremely slow and
did not reach Marseilles until the
last boat had departed Mr.. FaW-
cett found a shelter for the soldiers
and kept them supplied with food
until all of them had recovered
sufficiently to walk. Then, one by
one, he effected their escape to
Britain.
The last to leave was Mr.. Faw-
eett. He was frequently questioned
BY officials, but always succeeded In
quieting their suspicious. Finally,
he contrived to slip away
Had Many Friends Here.
The identity of Mr.. FaWcett was
verified In Z wire to The Star from
his wife. the former Lillian Sendrey.
Hungarian singer, who is now in
New York.
Mr.. Fawcett had many friends here
in art and diplomatic circles. He
came to Washington from Green
vile, S. c., about four years ago
and entered the Corcoran School of
Art. He lived here at the Phi Sigma
Kappa fraternity house.
He frequently left Washington to
"see the world" signing on tramp
steamers and circled the globe at
least twice. While in Marseille.
apparently at the same time he was
sheltering the stranded British SOL
diers, he married Miss Sendrey.
When he left for England she
attempted 70 enter the United States
10 Join her parents in New York,
succeeding finally after much dim
Guilty.
According 10 Mrs. Fawcett. her
husband naFsowly escaped detain-
ment by ths German Gestapo. He
received the French War Cross from
the former French government.
Mr.. Fawcett obtained several COM
missions for his work, among which
were helping to paint murals for
the Polish pavilion at the New
York Worlds Fair and windows at
the st. Paul and St. Peter Chapel
nt tho National CotheIrol