List of female SOE agents

The following is a list of female agents who served in the field for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II. SOE's objectives were to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europe (and later, also in occupied Southeast Asia) against the Axis powers, and to aid local resistance movements. Most of SOE's female agents worked in France.

In 1981, the official historian of the SOE, Michael R. D. Foot, said that the staff of SOE consisted of about 10,000 men and 3,000 women. Of that number, "A few highly accomplished and gallant [women] were agents operating in France or Yugoslavia." Foot cautioned that "On these few there is a large popular literature, almost all of it worthless and much of it about the wrong people."[1] The declassification of SOE documents beginning in the 1990s permitted more accurate assessments of agents and their accomplishments.

Female SOE F Section agents in France

Estimates of the number of F Section female agents vary. Thirty-nine female SOE agents were trained in Britain. The following list of forty-one agents is taken from M.R.D. Foot, the official historian of the SOE, with two additions: Madeleine Barclay who served (and died) on a ship contracted to SOE and Sonia Olschanezky, a locally-recruited courier who was executed. Of the forty-one SOE F section female agents listed, a few served in France for as much as two years, most for only a few months. Twenty-five of them survived World War II. Twelve were executed by the Germans, one died when her ship was sunk, two died of disease while imprisoned, and one died of natural causes. Female agents ranged in age from 20 to 53 years.[2]

Most SOE agents were sent to France as part of a network or circuit of three persons consisting of an "organiser" who was the leader of the team, a wireless operator, and a courier. Women were most often employed as couriers as they could travel more easily than men who were regarded with suspicion and might be impressed as labourers. Pearl Witherington was the only woman to officially head an SOE network in France, although others fulfilled that role on occasion.

In addition to this list of female F Section agents in France, eleven women agents of the RF section of SOE were sent to France in 1944. The RF section was under the direction of Charles de Gaulle's Free French Government in exile with SOE lending logistical support and financial assistance. Conversely, F section worked with all factions of the French Resistance although leery of assistance to communists.[3]

According to Foot[4]
Name Birthplace Born Died Awards Date of entry Notes
Francine Agazarian France 1913 1999 MiD 17 March 1943, Lysander aeroplane Code name: Marguerite; Courier, Prosper network.

Wife of SOE agent Jack Agazarian.

Juliane Aisner France 1899 1947 KCBC 17 May 1943, Lysander aeroplane Code name: Clair; Farrier network.
Lise de Baissac Mauritius 1905 2004 MBE, CdeG, LdH 24 September 1942, parachute; 9 April 1944, Lysander WAAF Code name: Odile, Marguerite; Courier, Scientist network.

Sister of SOE Agent Claude de Baissac

Madeleine Barclay France 1911 1943 WRNS Née: Madeleine Victorine Bayard.

Died when HMS Fidelity was sunk on 1 January 1943

Yvonne Baseden France 1922 2017 MBE, LdH, CdeG 16 March 1944, parachute WAAF Code name: Odette: Radio Operator, Scholar network.

Captured 26 June 1944, survived Ravensbrück concentration camp

Yolande Beekman France 1911 1944 MiD 18 September 1943, Lysander aeroplane WAAF Code name: Yvonne: Wireless Operator, Musician network.

One of four women executed at Dachau, 13 Sept 1944.

Denise Bloch France 1916 1945 KCBC, LdH, CdeG 2 March 1944, Lysander aeroplane Code name: Ambroise; Wireless Operator, Clergyman network. Executed at Ravensbrück concentration camp 5 February 1945.
Andrée Borrel France 1919 1944 CdeG 24 September 1942, parachute Code name: Denise; Courier, Physician and Prosper networks.

Executed at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp, 6 July 1944.

Sonya Butt England 1924 2014 MBE, MiD 28 May 1944, parachute WAAF Code name: Blanche; Courier, Headmaster network.

Married fellow SOE agent Guy D'Artois. Youngest SOE woman agent.

Muriel Byck England 1918 1944 MiD 8 April 1944, parachute WAAF Code name: Violette; Wireless operator, Ventriloquist network.

Died of meningitis at Romorantin Hospital, 23 May 1944.

Blanche Charlet England 1898 1985 MBE 1 September 1942, boat Code name: Christiane; Courier, Ventriloquist network. Arrested, escaped from French prison in Sept 1943.
Marie-Thérèse Le Chêne France 1890 MBE, CdG 31 October 1942, boat Code name: Adele; Courier, Plane network.

Oldest SOE woman agent.

Yvonne Cormeau China 1909 1997 MBE, LdH, CdeG 22 August 1943, parachute WAAF Code name: Annette; Wireless operator, Wheelright network.
Madeleine Damerment France 1917 1944 LdH, CdeG 29 February 1944, parachute Code name: Solange; Courier, Bricklayer network. Arrested on landing; one of four women executed at Dachau, 13 September 1944.
Elizabeth Devereux-Rochester United States 1917 c. 1983 LdH, CdeG 18 October 1943, Hudson aeroplane FANY[a] Code name: Elizabeth; Courier, Marksman network. Aka: Elizabeth Reynolds. Arrested 20 March 1944, sent to prisoner of war camp, survived.
Yvonne Fontaine France 1913 1996 MdlR 25 March 1944, boat WAAF Code name: Mimi; Courier, Minister network. Prior to becoming SOE agent worked with Tinker network as Nenette.
Giliana Gerson Chile 1910 May 1941 First SOE agent sent to France; stayed one month, collected intelligence and documents, such as ration cards which could later be copied by SOE.
Virginia Hall United States 1906 1982 MBE, DSC (USA) (1) August 1941; (2) 21 March 1944, boat Code names: Marie, Diane; Courier, Heckler, Saint networks. Called "Limping lady" due to amputated lower leg. Post-war worked for the CIA
Mary Katherine Herbert Ireland 1903 1983 CdeG 31 October 1942, boat WAAF Code name: Claudine; Courier, Scientist network. First WAAF Officer to join the SOE. Married SOE agent Claude de Baissac, daughter born December 1943, arrested and released 1944.
Ginette Jullian France 1917 1962 7 June 1944, parachute Code name: Adele; Wireless Operator, Permit network.
Noor Inayat Khan Russia 1914 1944 GC, MBE, CdeG, MiD 16 June 1943, Lysander aeroplane WAAF Code name: Madeleine; Wireless operator, Cinema, Phono networks. Indian Muslim origin. One of four women executed at Dachau concentration camp, 13 September 1944.
Marguerite Knight France 1920 2004 MBE, CdeG 6 May 1944, parachute Code name: Nicole; Courier, Donkeyman network. Known as Peggy
Phyllis Latour South Africa 1921 2023 MBE, CdeG 1 May 1944, parachute Code name: Genevieve; Wireless operator, Scientist network.
Madeleine Lavigne France 1912 1945 23 May 1944, parachute Code name: Isabelle; Wireless operator, courier, Silversmith network. Died in Paris of an embolism on 24 February 1945.
Cecily Lefort England 1900 1945 CdeG, MiD 16 June 1943, Lysander aeroplane WAAF Code name: Alice; Courier, Jockey network. Executed at Ravensbrück concentration camp c. 5 February 1945.
Vera Leigh England 1903 1944 KCBC 23 May 1943, Lysander aeroplane Code name: Simone; Courier, Inventor Network. Executed at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp on 6 July 1944.
Eileen Nearne England 1921 2010 CdeG, MBE 2 March 1944, Lysander aeroplane Code name: Rose; Wireless operator, Wizard network. Known as "Didi." Sister of SOE agents Jacqueline & Francis Nearne. Arrested July 1944; escaped Ravensbrück concentration camp, 13 April 1945.
Jacqueline Nearne England 1916 1982 MBE 25 January 1943, parachute FANY Code name: Jacqueline; Courier, Stationer network. Withdrawn April 1944. Sister of SOE agents Eileen & Francis Nearne
Sonia Olschanezky Germany 1923 1944 Recruited in France Code name: Tania; Courier, Juggler network. Captured January 1944, executed at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp on 6 July 1944
Patricia O'Sullivan Ireland 1918 1994 CdeG, MBE 22 March 1944, parachute WAAF Code name: Simonet; Wireless operator, Fireman network. Returned to England on 5 October 1944.
Eliane Plewman France 1917 1944 KCBC, CdeG 13 August 1943, parachute Code name; Gaby; Courier, Monk network. Executed at Dachau concentration camp on 13 September 1944
Lilian Rolfe France 1914 1945 MBE, CdeG, MiD 5 April 1944 by Lysander aeroplane Code name: Nadine; Courier, Historian network. Executed 5 February 1945 at Ravensbrück concentration camp
Diana Rowden England 1915 1944 MBE, CdeG, MiD 16 June 1943, Lysander aeroplane WAAF Code name: Paulette; Courier, Acrobat network. Executed 6 July 1944 at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp
Yvonne Rudelatt France 1897 1945 MBE 30 July 1942, boat WAAF Code name: Jacqueline; Courier, Physician network.

Died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, c. 24 Apr 1945.

Odette Sansom France 1912 1995 GC, MBE, LdH 31 October 1942, boat FANY Code name: Lise; Courier, Spindle network. First woman to be awarded the George Cross. Also known by the surnames "Hallowes" and "Churchill." Survived Ravensbruck Concentration Camp.
Krystyna Skarbek Poland 1908 1952 GM, OBE, CdeG 6 July 1944, parachute Code name: Pauline; Courier, Jockey network. Known also by her nom de guerre Christine Granville. British agent since 1939 in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Murdered in 1952.
Violette Szabo France 1921 1945 GC, CdeG 5 April 1944, parachute; 7 June 1944, parachute Code name: Louise; Courier: Salesman network. Executed c. 5 Feb 1945 at Ravensbrück
Nancy Wake New Zealand 1912 2011 GM, LdH, CdeG 29 April 1944, parachute Code name: Helene; Courier, Stationer network. 1940-43: Pat O'Leary escape line. The "White Mouse."
Anne-Marie Walters Switzerland 1923 1998 MBE, CdeG 4 January 1944, parachute Code name: Colette; Courier, Wheelright network. Married name Ann-Marie Comert
Odette Wilen England 1919 2015 11 April 1944, parachute Code name: Sophie; Courier, Labourer network. Married Santiago Strugo Garay, head of the Spanish escape network.
Pearl Witherington France 1914 2008 MBE, CBE, CdeG 22 September 1943, parachute Code names: Marie, Pauline; Courier, Stationer network. Organiser, Wrestler network. "Highly successful."[5]

Female SOE agents in other countries

Name Nationality Born Died Awards Date of entry Notes
Lorraine Adie British 1916 2013 Married American OSS agent Miles Copeland, Jr. SOE 1940-1942; Served in Middle East.
Maddalena Cerasuolo[6] Italian 1920 1999 MBE 3 missions, October 1943 to February 1944 Code name: Maria Esposito, C22; sabotage missions, resistant[7][8]
Alix D'Unienville Mauritian 1919 2015 MBE, LdeH, CdeG 31 March 1944, parachute Code name: Myrtil; Courier, Oronte network. Arrested June 6, 1944, escaped en route to a prison camp in Germany.
Hannah Szenes Hungarian / British Palestine 1921 1944 Parachuted into Yugoslavia, March 14, 1944 Captured and executed in Budapest
Haviva Reik Slovakian / British Palestine 1922 1944 14 September 1944, parachuted into Slovakia Executed in Kremnička, Slovakia amongst local Jews
Sara Braverman Romanian / British Palestinian 1918 2013 Parachuted into Yugoslavia, July 1944 Was mostly with partisan camps in the mountains before evacuation to Italy
Elaine Madden Belgian / British / Australian 1923 2012 Croix de Guerre (Belgium); Mentioned in Despatches (UK) August 1944 aliases: Elaine Meeus, Imogen, Alice; fluent in English, French, and Flemish
Berthe Mayer British 1913 1981 MBE Already on Madagascar Served on Madagascar with her husband, Percy Mayer. Code name DZ/60[9]
Elżbieta Zawacka Polish 1909 2009 Order of the White Eagle among many other awards (Polish) ; Parachuted to Poland, Sept 1943 Had already served in Polish resistance. Aliases: Zelma, Zo; fluent in Polish, German, some French, and English
Krystyna Skarbek Polish/British 1908 1952 OBE, George Medal (British), Croix de Guerre (French); Served in Poland 1939-41, Egypt & Middle East 1941-44, France 1944 Aliases: Christine Granville, Pauline Armand; fluent in Polish, French and English

Key

Note Description Explanation
ATS Auxiliary Territorial Service SOE Agents who were ATS officers are highlighted in italics
GC George Cross The highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom. It is highest gallantry award for civilians as well as for military personnel in actions which are not in the face of the enemy or for which purely military honours would not normally be granted.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ British independent all-female unit active in nursing, motor mechanics and recruited into intelligence work during the World Wars.

References

  1. ^ Foot, Michael R. D. (Jan 1981), "Was SOE Any Good," Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 16, No. 1, p. 174. Downloaded from JSTOR.
  2. ^ Foot, M.R.D. (1966), SOE in France, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, pp. 465-469. Estimates of the number of SOE's female agents differ, depending upon who is considered an agent and who was considered a local helper. 39 are listed by Foot, the official historian of the SOE.
  3. ^ Foot, pp. 20-22, 30-31, 469
  4. ^ Foot, M. R. D. (1966), SOE in France, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, pp. 465–469.
  5. ^ Foot, M. R. D. (1966), SOE in France, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, pp. 122, 436, 440
  6. ^ HS 9/284 - Special Operations Executive personnel files, The National Archives, UK discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk accessed 14 October 2023
  7. ^ Days of Naples www.historypage.it[dead link‍]
  8. ^ Maddalena Cerasuolo, l'eroina delle 4 Giornate lavorò per i servizi inglesi tr. "Maddalena Cerasuolo, the heroine of the 4 Giornate (lit. "4 Days"), worked for the English services" 12 May 2018 napoli.repubblica.it (IT) accessed 14 October 2023
  9. ^ Phillips, Russell (5 May 2021). A Strange Campaign: The Battle for Madagascar. Shilka Publishing. ISBN 9781912680276. Retrieved 14 October 2023 – via www.russellphillips.uk.