My Research into the Secret Operations Executive (SOE)

For my new book, The Highland Raven, I’m diving head-long into a new research: the British Intelligence Organization: Secret Operations Executive, abbreviated SOE.

The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a secret British World War II organization that existed from 22 July 1940 until its official dissolution on 15 January 1946.

Hugh Dalton and Winston Churchill

SOE fell under the responsibility of the Ministry of Economics Warfare headed by Hugh Dalton. Winston Churchill breathed life into SOE with as its purpose conducting espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance against the Axis powers (Italy and Germany) in occupied Europe. Or, as Churchill put it: “to set Europe ablaze”. A secondary purpose was to aid and strengthen local resistance movements and to exchange intelligence information.

Later in WW2, SOE also operated in Japan-occupied Southeast Asia, but for my new book, The Highland Raven, I will only focus on SOE Section F. (France). More on that research later. Lets get a complete overview of SOE first.

Initially, SOE was also involved in the formation of the Auxiliary Units, a top secret “stay-behind” resistance organization which would have been activated in the event of a German invasion of Britain.

Though - as I stated - I will focus mainly on SOE Section F, the overall organization operated in all occupied or attacked territories, except for the United States and the Soviet Union. Use was also made of neutral territory, including the planning, and preparing for neutral countries coming under attack by the Axis.

SOE employed over 13,000 people, about 3,200 of whom were women.

SOE Headquarters in 64 Baker Street, London

Few people outside the organization knew of its existence. It was indeed a top-secret group. By insiders it was often referred to as the "Baker Street Irregulars", as the SOE London headquarters were in Baker Street. Other nicknames were "Churchill's Secret Army" or the "Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare". Its various branches, and sometimes the entire organisation, were concealed for security reasons behind such names as the "Joint Technical Board" or the "Inter-Service Research Bureau", or fictitious branches of the Air Ministry, Admiralty or War Office.

SOE was dissolved after the war in 1946. Many of its secret dealings remained secret for many more decades. And a lot of evidence was destroyed in a fire in 1947. Moreover, the organization wasn't without controversy. More on that in later blog posts.

The official memorial to all those who served in the SOE was unveiled on 13 February 1996 on the wall of the west cloister of Westminster Abbey by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. A further memorial to SOE's agents was put on display in October 2009 on the Albert Embankment in London. The Valençay SOE Memorial honors 104 SOE agents who lost their lives while working in France. And there are plenty of other memorials that honor the brave men and women who served as secret agents in SOE.

More on that later, too.

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