Winchester Group of the Hampshire Genealogical Society talk

Sue Atrill, from the group, said: “The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was set up to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europe during the Second World War. Churchill gave the orders to set Europe ablaze. The aim was to stir up the local population against the Nazis, but they were classed as secret agents not spies. 

“Churchill’s aim was to bring all background groups into one to damage Europe.

“The headquarters was in Baker Street and worked with Governments in exile. They organised parachute drops of weapons and other equipment to help the Resistance to fight back against the Germans when the moment of liberation came. 

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“The agents had to have good knowledge of countries and were trained in Beaulieu. A highly secret operation in the New Forest which gave cover to what was going on in some of the large houses on the Beaulieu estate. They were taught silent killing as well as parachute skills and the use of radios and Morse code. Both men and women learnt the same skills.

“Different nationalities were trained there but they did not mix! With 175 staff employed at the Finishing School with a mirror school set up in Canada just in case the UK school was lost. The Germans knew of Beaulieu and named it “The Gangster School”. Guy Burgess and Kim Philby were there to teach mind games to undermine the German troops' morale. 

“Nick told of how the training involved breaking into Palace House and removing something like a cheque but not leaving any sign of entry Over 3,000 agents were trained there.

“He went on to talk about Noor Inayat Khan who was a pacifist but joined the WAAF and agreed to go to France to help the French. She recruited women to go into a combat role but didn’t find this easy as she was brought up not to tell lies. 

“Her messages were very long with 20 minute or more attracting the Germans, which would put her in grave danger. She was the last remaining operator in Paris and refused to leave as it would leave Paris without an agent. She was taken to jail in Germany but gave her name as Norah Baker, born in London. 

“She was murdered in Dachau.

“There is a memorial in Gordon Square and in the Cloisters in Beaulieu Abbey.”

The group's next meeting is on Zoom on Thursday, October 19 at 7pm for 7.30pm. The speaker is Simon Fowler who will talk about researching ancestors who fought in the two world wars.
For more details, contact winchester@hgs-online.org.uk.