Anna Mitchell-Hedges was born Anne Marie Le Guillon on 1st January 1907 in Port Colborne, Canada. She was the sixth of ten children. Her Mother had emigrated to Canada from Breton, France while pregnant. Maybe this is why traveling was to play such an important role in Anna’s life.

Anna grew up to be a bright, lively, mischievous child.

Early childhood

Anna’s first memory occurred when she was five. Tragedy struck when she and her seven year old sister were playing by the Port Colborne canal. Her sister was playfully pushed into the canal by another girl and drowned. Another sister was burned to death when their house caught fire.

When she was seven years old, World War One broke out and her Father returned to France to fight. Her Mother tried to correspond with her parents back in France and not getting any reply sensed all was not well. Unable to leave all her children, Anna’s mother decided to send Anna back to France to find out what had happened. And so began Anna’s first great adventure.

On board the ship going to France, Anna sighted what she thought was a stick in the water. She pointed it out to one of the crew and next thing she knew panic reigned around her as everyone hastened to put on lifejackets. It was one of the first submarine sightings of the war. Fortunately, the ship wasn’t torpedoed.

Anna eventually arrived safely at her grandparent’s farm to find that her mother’s younger sister was living there. Anna was given some straw bedding and told to sleep in the roof. From there she saw her aunt taking food out to a barn. Anna sneaked into the barn where she discovered her elderly grandparents.

She ran off in an attempt to find her uncle who lived several miles away. When she didn’t return, her aunt sent men on horseback to look for her. Anna evaded them by hiding in a ditch and behind trees. She eventually found her uncle’s house and her aunt was eventually evicted from the farm. Anna returned to Canada – mission accomplished!

Her father returned on leave and Anna’s mother conceived another child. However, tragedy was once again to affect young Anna’s life. Back in France, her father died of the effects of gassing. Then her mother died in childbirth. Anna remembers being in the garden and hearing her mother’s screams. The baby was still-born.

Anna’s house was opposite a hotel where guests used to stay whilst on fishing vacations. Two Americans were regular guests and they took a liking to young Anna who used to find worms for them to use as bait. Occasionally, they would bring an English friend of theirs to stay who was also keen on fishing. His name was Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges. On hearing of Anna’s parents death, the two Americans tried to persuade Mitchell-Hedges to adopt her.

Anna wanted to stay at Port Colborne and was frightened of the Englishman with his dark skin like a Red Indian and deep voice. However, her eldest sister was unable to look after all the children and so against Anna’s wishes she was put on a train with Mitchell-Hedges and they traveled to his New York apartment. Once there, Anna was shown her room. It overlooked Central Park and Anna used to sit on the window seat looking down at the park and all the people in the street.

At first, despite Mitchell-Hedges kindness, Anna was too frightened to speak or go out. Indeed she was so afraid that ‘I used to pray, I never prayed so much in all my life.’

After a few days, he asked Anna to put some of his clothes away whilst he was at work. When doing this, Anna found a lot of dirty socks and washed them. However, she was frightened to leave them hanging up to dry in case he scolded her so she hid them until he went out again. When the socks were dry, Anna began mending them. As she was listening to the gramophone, she failed to hear Mitchell-Hedges returning and was caught with darning needle in hand.

Danger, my daughter

Mitchell-Hedges was surprised at the youngsters darning skills. The incident started a dialogue between them and formed a bond that was to last 43 years until Mitchell-Hedges death in 1959.

When Anna once did something silly, Mitchell-Hedges jokingly said ‘You silly Sam!’ The nickname stuck and Anna became known as Sammy.

A few weeks after adopting her, Mitchell-Hedges intended sending Sammy to boarding school but the thought of being parted from each other was too much for both of them and, literally at the railway station, they decided to stay together and Anna accompanied Mitchell-Hedges on his first expedition to Central America.

Anna relished Mitchell-Hedges’ company and quickly learnt to fish, become an accurate shot with the rifle and revolver and a difficult player to beat at poker. For the first time in her life she was truly happy.

However, as revolution broke out Mitchell-Hedges decided it was becoming too dangerous for a little girl of twelve and with great reluctance Anna was sent to a boarding school.

On Anna’s next trip abroad aged 13 when she was left on a small island with an elderly man named ‘Brownie’ with instructions to guard their supplies whilst Mitchell-Hedges and his co-explorer Lady Richmond Brown set off for the interior.

During the wait, Anna fished and caught a poisonous sea-snake. Fortunately, Brownie was at hand to kill it before it could bite Anna.

After twelve days, Anna feared that she would never see her Father alive again and well remembers her relief and excitement when his boat was sighted.

It was when her Father was supervising excavations at Lubaantun, Anna made a discovery that was to change her life. She saw a bright object sparkling amongst the stones of the pyramid and on her 17th birthday sufficient stones were removed for her to be lowered down to reach the object. It was the Crystal Skull.

Anna accompanied her Father on numerous fishing trips around the Bay Islands which encompassed stops at islands of archaeological interest for excavations. in between fishing trips.

Traveling in between the islands, Anna often did a spot of fishing herself catching rays and sharks that often weighed more than she did. She also landed the heaviest hammerhead shark ever caught by a woman. It weighed 1,500lbs – a record which stood until the late 1980’s.

For her own safety amongst natives, many of whom had never seen a white woman before, Anna carried a whip and a pistol. On two occasions she was forced to use the pistol to save the life of Jane Harvey Houlson – her father’s secretary. The first was when the two women were walking down a street when they were confronted by three rough men, all armed, who had drunkenly stumbled out a bar. They made unwanted advances towards the women. Anna ran off but Jane was seized. They went for their guns then Anna shot all three men with her pistol. Not one of them got up and the women escaped.

On the other occasion, Jane had refused to pay one of the crew from their boat as she knew he had not done some work he had been told to do. This particular man, Joe, was a known murderer and fugitive and had been, up to this point, a great deterrent to other troublemakers. As Joe came to see Jane, Frenchy shouted a warning to Anna in French as to what Joe’s intentions were. When Joe reached for his gun, Anna shot him through the hand.

It was whilst planting a sprouting coconut – something her father encouraged her to do for the benefit of future generations – that Anna made another fabulous discovery. Her spade connected with something solid and metallic. Much frantic digging later three chests full of treasure were unearthed obviously buried by pirates centuries earlier.

Travelling the world

In between expeditions, her father bought various properties in Dorset and Cornwall where Anna kept house.

In 1934 Anna went to Paris to learn a trade as a beautician. She was taught by none other than Antwon who was the most respected hairdresser in the world. He slept in a white satin lined coffin every night.

When she qualified, she cut and styled the hair of some of the most famous figures of Parisian society including Ann Morgan and Ann Vanderbelt, and Elsie De Wolfe and Rothschild of Paris. Other notable clients were Edward and Mrs. Simpson Duke of Windsor. Sammy remembers how incredibly nervous she was the first time she ever did Mrs. Simpson’s hair and described the Duke as having ‘the loveliest feet I have ever pedicured and he’s so nice and simple in his ways, too’.

Between 1935 to 1938, Sammy was the manageress of the Beauty Salon on board the Normandie ocean liner. During that time she met many famous people including Maurice Chevalier an acquaintance from Paris, Marlene Dietrich, Jack Benny and President to be Hoover .

During World War II, Anna lived with her Father at Fordingbridge in Hampshire. Here they entertained many Americans including General Hague and General Alexander. Anna also met Churchill, General Montgomery and General de Gaulle. It is typical of her generous nature that Anna also made a jungle stew (everything goes in it!) for the Italian prisoners who were clearing the River Avon that ran alongside the property. The Italian soldiers were so hungry they didn’t leave any for her!

Whilst painting a ceiling standing on as chair, Anna fell off and hit her head. She awoke in hospital to find a Priest standing over her bed administering the last rites to her – somewhat prematurely!

After the war, Anna and Mitchell-Hedges were invited to South Africa by General Smuts. Whilst there, they visited St. Lucia where Anna witnessed the most magnificent sight she’d ever seen – a spectacular sunset with flocks of flying flamingos.

After casually mentioning to Mitchell-Hedges that she could happily spend the rest of her life there, he casually mentioned to her the next day that he had bought the hotel and surrounding houses and shops for her. And so began a career in the hospitality business.

After nearly two years, Anna became restless again. To by-pass the difficulty of getting the proceeds from the sale of St. Lucia out of South Africa, the Russian icon The Virgin of Kazan was bought.

By this time, years of exploration had taken their toll on Mitchell-Hedges’ health and Anna devoted herself to looking after him. They moved to Farley Castle near Reading where they received a procession of visitors including Archbishops from the Russian Orthodox Church eager to see the icon. It was here that Anna found a faithful and loyal companion – her Pekingese dog. She would own one for the rest of her life.

They moved to Shaldon House at Shaldon in Cornwall where to, Anna’s great grief and dismay, her father passed away in 1959.

A comrade in arms

Mitchell-Hedges had asked his long-serving secretary Cynthia Cowles to look after Anna after his death. A promise Cynthia kept with great loyalty and dedication causing Anna to affectionately refer to her as ‘my Sergeant-Major’.Anna moved back to Reading for a while and it was here that she planned to carry out her Father’s other last wish. She returned to the Caribbean for the remaining pirate treasure chest and gave the contents of it to the two Americans who had originally brought Mitchell-Hedges and Anna together.

Anna also planned to sell the icon. Although she had numerous offers to purchase it from wealthy institutions and individuals, she wanted it to be returned to what she considered to be its rightful owners - the Russian Orthodox Church.

She agreed a price with the Church of Fatima in Washington, New Jersey and kindly allowed them six years to raise donations to pay for the exquisite icon.

In 1967, Anna returned to Canada where she embarked on a number of lecture tours about Mitchell-Hedges life and showing the Crystal Skull.

Whilst driving through Kitchener, she stopped to let her Pekinese dogs out the car and saw a motel which was for sale. She asked Cynthia if she would like to take on the challenge of running it and when Cynthia’s response was enthusiastic, bought it for her. Between them, they spent an enjoyable six years running it and built up a loyal and appreciative clientele.

Anna then returned to England where she lived for a number of years with relations before again returning to Kitchener.

After Cynthia passed away in 1990, Anna was never idle or lonely. She welcomed thousands of visitors to her home to show them the Crystal Skull and give interviews to journalists, authors, documentary-makers and interested members of the public.

Shortly after having reached her centenary anniversary, Anna passed away in April 2007.

Tags: Anna Mitchell-Hedges | crystal skull | Mitchell-Hedges skull

Posted: 02|8|08 at 3:38 am. Category: The Family.
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