Kathleen Helen Mary (MacCarthy-Morrogh) Summersby (1908 - 1975)

Born 23 Nov 1908 in Derreennatra, Skull, County Cork, Ireland

Ancestors

Wife of Gordon Thomas Summersby — married Jun 1936 in Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom

Died 20 Jan 1975 at age 66 in Southampton, Suffolk, New York, United States

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Biography

Kay (MacCarthy-Morrogh) Summersby is Notable.

Kathleen was born 23 Nov 1908, Derreennatra Townland, Co. Cork, daughter of Donald MacCarthy Murragh, Chaplin 4th R.M.F. ^[1] She was a member of the British Mechanised Transport Corps during World War II. She served as a chauffeur to president Dwight D. Eisenhower during his period as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in command of the Allied Forces in north west Europe. She was also his personal secretary later on.

Her father descended from the MacCarthy Reagh Princes of Carbery, originally from County Kerry. Her mother was born in Wales, daughter of an English father and mother who descended from the Morrogh family. Her father, she described as "black Irish" who was a retired Lieutenant Colonel, of the Royal Munster Fusiliers.

As a young woman she moved to London where she worked as a film studio extra. She dabbled in photography and eventually became a fashion model. She married, 1936, to a British Army officer, Gordon Summersby. When they divorced she retained his surname. After her divorce she was later on engaged to marry Lieutenant Colonel Richard "Dick" Arnold, however, this ended with the death of her fiance while clearing a mine during the Africa campaign.

When Britain entered the Second World War in 1939, Kay joined the British Mechanised Transport Corps (MTC). She drove an ambulance throughout London in 1940-1941. When the United States joined the Allies after the German declaration of war in December of 1941, Summersby became one of many MTC drivers assigned as chauffeurs to high-ranking American officers.

She was assigned to drive then Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower when he arrived in London, May of 1942. She later became his secretary until November of 1945. Eisenhower was based at his home, Telegraph Cottage on Warren Road, Coombe, Kingston upon the Thames. During this time he rose to a five-star General of the Army, and Commander of the European Theatre. Kay, with his help became a U.S. citizen and a commissioned officer in the U.S. Women's Army Corps (WAC). She left the service as a captain in 1947.

Captain Summersby achieved many awards, including the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 1945. The award was given at the insistence of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He presented it to her along with a signed photograph of himself. This was done onboard the MV Britannic in New York. Other awards include:

• Bronze Star Medal
• Women's Army Corps Service Medal
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze campaign stars
• World War II Victory Medal
• Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp
• British Empire Medal (United Kingdom)
• Defense Medal (United Kingdom)
• War Medal 1939-1945 (United Kingdom)
• Six overseas service bars

There are questions concerning whether or not Kay ever consummated her romance with Eisenhower during the war, as there is no evidence that she did. Many people knew about their relationship but none alleged that there was an affair. She herself acknowledged her love for Dwight D. Eisenhower, including having a romantic interest, but there was no indication that they ever had sex. She admits to glossing over some information regarding her intimacy with General Eisenhower and herself in her writings. Another account suggest that General George C. Marshal had a discussion with General Eisenhower concerning a potential divorce between General Eisenhower and his wife so as to potentially marry Kay Summersby. The advice from General Marshal was, that this would destroy the career of General Eisenhower. Other accounts suggest that they were definitely in love with each other. One such account can be found in Kay's second book, "Past Forgetting."

She left the service in 1947, and settled in the United States. She married, Reginald H. Morgan in 1952. The marriage ended in divorce in 1958.^[2]

She passed away in 1975.^[3] She passed away while living at her home in Southampton, Long Island, New York. She died of cancer. Her ashes were scattered in County Cork, Ireland.

Sources

1. ↑ https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1908/01630/1652304a.pdf
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Summersby
3. ↑ https://findagrave.com/memorial/7590318

• https://familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GDQM-YVB