A 102-year-old woman has an unbelievable life story which includes fighting the Nazis.
Irene Husain, from St Helens, recently celebrated her 102nd birthday at St Helens Hall Care Home.
In 1941, at the age of 21, she joined Free French, the government-in-exile led by Charles de Gaulle during the Second World War, fighting the German army.
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Her service saw her stationed far from home in Algiers, where she was greeted by tracer bullets on arrival, and under the direct command of General de Gaulle as the secretary of his Lt Colonel Bonnafe.
From there she rose through the ranks to become sergeant in the air section of the National Defence Command, then secretary to commander of the military cabinet before reaching the rank of lieutenant.
Irene was awarded the Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France and even declined the Croix de Guerre – awarded to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism – saying she had not earned it.
Irene puts her longevity down to 'looking after her health'.
She married her husband of 25 years Abdulali ‘Tutti’ Husain and they had two children - daughter Zarina, who died in a house fire in 2017, and son Jamil.
Irene moved to St Helens in 2018 to be closer to her son Jamil, a dentist, and her two grandchildren.
Amanda Clark, Registered Manager of St Helens Hall Care Home, an award-winning specialist dementia residential and short-term respite care home, said: “We were delighted to help Irene celebrate such an impressive birthday with a lovely home-made cake.
"Irene spent her birthday with her son, whom she adores.”
