Set Europe Ablaze

British officer served as Head of F Section, Special Operations Executive in GB, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of period as Head of F Section, Special Operations Executive in GB, 1941-1945: prior recollection of service as intelligence officer during Dunkirk Evacuation and Dakar landings, 1940; recruitment to Special Operations Executive via Gerald Templer; personnel at Headquarters, Baker Street; initial task of establishing links with French industrialists; assessment of potential of resistance in France; appointment as Head of Section, 9/1940; recruitment of non-French nationals; deployment of first agent George Begue and problems with early wireless sets; question of types of individuals to be recruited to French Resistance; identification of areas of France to build up networks; casualty rates amongst F Section agents; importance of security at district level; story of verifying Harry Ree's authenticity to Rodolphe Peugeot; problems decoding agent wireless messages; qualities needed by wireless operators; selection of personnel for Special Operation Executive groups; use of women as couriers. REEL 2 Continues: Special Operations Executive reunions; recruitment of F Section personnel and qualities needed by recruits; instances of recruits opting out of F Section missions; Vera Atkin's work with agents' families; training of recruits at STS 5 Wanborough Manor and STS 21 Arisaig House; Peter Churchill's reaction to physical training; specialist training at Beaulieu; final priming of agents in London; relations with Secret Intelligence Service; problem of aircraft supply; story of Bomber Command's request for evidence of successful sabotage of Peugeot works at Sochaux by Harry Ree; Prime Minister Winston Churchill's interest in Special Operations Executive; story of Hugh Verity transporting agent's family from France; purpose of Prime Minister Winston Churchill's meeting with Francis Suttill, 5/1943; fate of Francis Suttill; making preparations for D-Day from 1/1944 including plans to attack German armoured divisions; degree of success against German armoured divisions, 1944. REEL 3 Continues: General Dwight D Eisenhower's appraisal of contribution of Special Operations Executive and French Resistance; German reprisals against French populace; question of knowledge of bridge blowing operations; number of agents in France; story of British troops' reaction to appearance in First Aid Nursing Yeomanry uniform of Lise de Baissac in liberated France; opinion of role of Pearl Witherington; question of different training for women; role of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry within Special Operations Executive; opinion of Denis Rake; opinion of Richard Heslop's Maquis group; dangers of involvement with Maquis in Vercors; Charles De Gaulle's attitude towards Special Operations Executive; opinion of Free French operations; dangers to agents of collaborators; elements of training for life in France; camaraderie within Special Operations Executive.