Susan Hibbert
Encyclopedia
Susan Hibbert (21 May 1924 – 2 February 2009) was one of the secretaries who typed the English versions of the German surrender document at the conclusion of the Second World War. After her death, there was believed to be only one surviving witness to the surrender ceremony, Albert Meserlin
, who himself died on 29 March 2009.
Hibbert was born the elder child of the Right Honourable Sir Lionel Heald
(1897-1981) and his first wife Flavia Forbes (1902-1959), the daughter of Lt.-Col. James Stewart Forbes and Angela Selina Blanca St. Clair-Erskine. Through her maternal grandmother, Hibbert was a great-grandchild of Robert St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn
.
During World War II Heald served as a sergeant in the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service. She was assigned to type the English version of the German surrender. Three other secretaries typed the French, German and Russian versions. She and the other typists were present at the signing ceremony.
Another assignment she received was to type the message informing the War Office
in London that the war was over.
Later she worked in the Allied Control Commission, first in Frankfurt
, and then in Berlin
, where she met her husband Basil, a former RAF fighter pilot
.
In 1950 her father Lionel Heald
was elected as member of parliament for Chertsey, subsequently serving for two years as Attorney General
in Winston Churchill
's final administration. Susan became his secretary, and continued to work at Westminster for him and other Conservative MPs for the next 35 years.
Her husband Basil, a former RAF
pilot, died in 2001; the couple had no children.
Albert Meserlin
Albert B. Meserlin, Jr. was staff photographer to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. With the passing of British Staff Sergeant Susan Hibbert, Mr. Meserlin was believed to be the last surviving witness to the German surrender ceremony at the end of World War II.As staff photographer, he also caught...
, who himself died on 29 March 2009.
Hibbert was born the elder child of the Right Honourable Sir Lionel Heald
Lionel Heald
Sir Lionel Frederick Heald, QC, PC, was a British barrister and Conservative Party politician.At the 1950 general election, Heald was elected as Member of Parliament for the Chertsey constituency in Surrey...
(1897-1981) and his first wife Flavia Forbes (1902-1959), the daughter of Lt.-Col. James Stewart Forbes and Angela Selina Blanca St. Clair-Erskine. Through her maternal grandmother, Hibbert was a great-grandchild of Robert St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn
Robert St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn
Robert Francis St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn , styled Lord Loughborough until 1866, was a Scottish Conservative politician...
.
During World War II Heald served as a sergeant in the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service. She was assigned to type the English version of the German surrender. Three other secretaries typed the French, German and Russian versions. She and the other typists were present at the signing ceremony.
Another assignment she received was to type the message informing the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
in London that the war was over.
Later she worked in the Allied Control Commission, first in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, and then in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where she met her husband Basil, a former RAF fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
.
In 1950 her father Lionel Heald
Lionel Heald
Sir Lionel Frederick Heald, QC, PC, was a British barrister and Conservative Party politician.At the 1950 general election, Heald was elected as Member of Parliament for the Chertsey constituency in Surrey...
was elected as member of parliament for Chertsey, subsequently serving for two years as Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
's final administration. Susan became his secretary, and continued to work at Westminster for him and other Conservative MPs for the next 35 years.
Her husband Basil, a former RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
pilot, died in 2001; the couple had no children.