Don Mitchell - The Lady Is a Spy: Virginia Hall, World War II Hero of the French Resistance

V irginia Hall was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 6, 1906. Her grandfather, John W. Hall, stowed away on one of his fathers clipper ships when he was nine years old. John would later become the master of a ship engaged with the China trade. He would go on to make his fortune in Baltimore as president of the Gas and Electric Company and president of the First National Bank. Johns son, Edwin Ned Lee Hall, was Virginias father. He had banking interests and owned several movie houses in Baltimore. Ned married his secretary, Barbara Virginia Hammel.

Baby Virginia in her mothers lap.

Virginias only sibling was her brother, John, who was four years older. Family lore had it that in their childhood years, John mispronounced Virginias name, calling her Dindy, and the nickname stuck. They were a close-knit family.

Young Virginia and her brother, John, with flowers.

The Halls had an apartment in Baltimore, but Edwin and Barbara purchased a country home outside of BaltimoreBox Horn Farmin Parkton, Maryland. Their house in the country was a welcome respite from the city, particularly in the hot summer months. The farmhouse had plumbing but no central heating until after World War II, so it was most comfortable during the spring and summer. There were woodstoves and fireplaces to provide warmth during cold weather.

The family home at Box Horn Farm.

In order to satisfy the childrens curiosity, the homes library was filled with books. The farm had over one hundred acres and was looked after by a tenant farmer who worked the property for the family. A train, called the Parkton Local, ran regularly between Baltimore and Parkton, and it made the commute easy for Edwin to attend to his business interests in Baltimore. During some parts of the school year, Virginia would also take the commuter train from the farm to her school in Baltimore.

Virginia with pigeons.

Virginia and John loved spending time on the farm. There were hills, orchards, and woods to play in, and the two learned to hunt and fish. The barn was home to horses, goats, chickens, and cows. Handling farm animals would later become valuable to Virginia in ways she could not have imagined during her childhood. Looking back at her time there, Virginia once reminded her niece, Lorna Catling, how important it was to learn everything you can. She remarked that learning to milk the cows for fun turned out to be very handy.

Young Virginia riding piggyback on John.

Virginia and John (left and middle) on the farm.

In 1912, six-year-old Virginia Hall began attending the prestigious Roland Park Country School in Baltimore, where she immediately distinguished herself. Virginia loved sports and was an excellent athlete, playing tennis and baseball and going on to become captain of the schools varsity basketball and field hockey teams. She also enjoyed acting in the schools theatrical productionswhere she sometimes portrayed male characters, a necessity in the all-girls school.