Manon Tardon

Yvonne Renée Manon Tardon, known as Manon Tardon (17 August 1913–23 December 1989) was a landowner and French Resistance fighter from Martinique, who was one of the only women to be present at the surrender of Nazi Germany. She was awarded a croix de guerre with vermeil palm for her military work during the Second World War.

Biography

Tardon was born on 17 August 1913 in Fort-de-France. Her parents were Asthon Tardon (1882–1944) and Berthe Marie Waddy (1887–1961) and she was the third of five children in a wealthy, upper-class, Creole family. Her father was a landowner and was also Mayor of Le Prêcheur for several decades, and a general councillor of Martinique. The family lived at Anse Couleuvre in Le Prêcheur.

At the age of 15, three years earlier than usual, Tardon passed the Baccalaureate exams. where she enrolled at the Sorbonne to study History.

Already a lieutenant in the Auxiliaires féminines de l'Armée de terre (AFAT),

Legacy Tardon's home, Residence Anse Couleuvre, which dates from the seventeenth century, is reportedly available to visit.

Rue Manon-et-Raphaël-Tardon, a street in the Didier district of Fort-de-France, is named after Tardon and her brother.

Awards

Free France War Cross, with vermeil palm.