Description
Object description
British civilian secretary served with Special Operations Executive in GB, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Stalybridge, GB, 1924-1943: family; details of Stalybridge; education; background of family and memories of childhood; awareness of events in late 1930s; story of cruise in Baltic, 8/1939; request of family to come home; scenes in Kiel Canal in late 8/1939 and story of visit to Danzig including later use of cruise ship for war effort; arrival in GB; outbreak of war; boarding school education including coping with bullying and story of running away; reason for not taking school certificate; story of strawberry tea given to troops evacuated from Dunkirk.
REEL 2 Continues: air raids in final year at school; arrival of American Air Force and evacuation of school; education at Finishing School in Shrewsbury; story of tea party with American Airmen; period at Whitehall Secretarial College in East Knoyle including leisure activities in Shaftesbury.
REEL 3 Continues: story of attempt to join WRNS; interview with Special Operations Executive at 64 Baker Street including false name given for organisation; closure of father's cotton mill and his subsequent stroke; war work of family members; story of telling family about job at Special Operations Executive; offer of work with Special Operations Executive; reaction of parents; search for accommodation in London. Aspects of period as civilian secretary with Special Operations Executive in GB, 1943-1945: story of first day at 96 Baker Street including signing of Official Secrets Act and details of F Section; memories of Captain George Noble on first day; details of files and staff; story of Operation Bomb Proof file; details of Orchard Court.
REEL 4 Continues: details of training schools; wireless operations including involvement of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and concern for agents and wireless operators in field; memories of George Noble's attempt to assassinate a French officer; female wireless operators including memories of Fairy; George Noble's concern for wireless operators.
REEL 5 Continues: posting to Air Operations Department; role of unit; relationship with Bomber Harris; work and opinion of Westland Lysander crews; liaison with RAF and USAAF; story of investigations into Henri Déricourt's circuit and his arrest; outcome of Déricourt's trial and own opinion of guilt; details of work around D-Day including use of BBC to send messages; casualties among agents; story of first V1 raid; messages received about V1 launch sites; V1s near misses on Baker Street; details of accommodation; opinion of need for uniform; arrival of V2s and reactions to them.
REEL 6 Continues: V2 raid close to home; reactions to loss of agents and work of Vera Atkins; offer of job from Vera Atkins after war and reason for turning it down; details of The Cottage; secrecy and effect on relationship with parents and first husband; examples of civil problems in Belgium and Spain including meeting of first husband; story of a double agent in Special Operations Executive; role of Special Operations Executive and animosity with MI6; impression of General De Gaulle; memories of General Gubbins and Mr Marx.
REEL 7 Continues: knowledge of Bletchley Park; lack of recognition for civilians in Special Operations Executive; memories of Colonel Buckmaster; story of Noor Inayat Khan and criticism received by Colonel Buckmaster over her death; memories of Odette Sansom; knowledge of Violette Szabo; memories of Fairy; work of Francis Sutthill's son and assistance given to him; reaction to deaths of Special Operations Executive agents; memories of Vera Atkins; adjusting to civilian life; work with BBC; reflections on service with Special Operations Executive.