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 the SOE's operations were carried out 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, some served for more than 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.

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]

NameBirthplaceBornDiedAwardsDate of entryNotes
Francine AgazarianFrance19131999MiD17 March 1943, Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Marguerite; Courier, Prosper network. Wife of SOE agent Jack Agazarian.
Juliane AisnerFrance1899194717 May 1943, Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Clair; Farrier network.
Lise de BaissacMauritius19052004MBE, CdeG, LdH24 September 1942, parachute; April 9, 1944, LysanderCode name: Odile, Marguerite; Courier, Scientist network. Sister of SOE Agent Claude de Baissac
Madeleine BarclayFrance19111943Née: Madeleine Victorine Bayard. Died when HMS Fidelity was sunk on January 1, 1943
Yvonne BasedenFrance19222017MBE, LdH, CdeG16 March 1944, parachuteCode name: Odette: Courier, Scholar network. Captured 26 June 1944, survived Ravensbrück concentration camp
Yolande BeekmanFrance19111944MiD18 September 1943, Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Yvonne: Wireless Operator, Musician network. One of four women executed at Dachau, Sept 13, 1944.
Denise BlochFrance19161945KCBC, LdH, CdeG2 March 1944, Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Ambroise; Wireless Operator, Clergyman network. Executed at Ravensbrück concentration camp February 5, 1945.
Andrée BorrelFrance19191944CdeG24 September 1942, parachuteCode name: Denise; Courier, Physician and Prosper networks. Executed at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp, July 6, 1944.
Sonya ButtEngland19242014MBE, MiD28 May 1944, parachuteCode name: Blanche; Courier, Headmaster network. Married fellow SOE agent Guy D'Artois. Youngest SOE woman agent.
Muriel ByckEngland19181944MiD8 April 1944, parachuteCode name: Violette; Wireless operator, Ventriloquist network. Died of meningitis at Romorantin Hospital, May 23, 1944.
Blanche CharletEngland18981985MBE1 September 1942, boatCode name: Christiane; Courier, Ventriloquist network. Arrested, escaped from French prison in Sept 1943.
Marie-Thérèse Le ChêneFrance1890MBE, CdG31 October 1942, boatCode name: Adele; Courier, Plane network. Oldest SOE woman agent.
Yvonne CormeauChina19091997MBE, LdH, CdeG22 August 1943, parachuteCode name: Annette; Wireless operator, Wheelright network.
Madeleine DamermentFrance19171944LdH, CdeG29 February 1944, parachuteCode name: Solange; Courier, Bricklayer network. Arrested on landing; one of four women executed at Dachau, Sept 13, 1944.
Elizabeth Devereux-RochesterUnited States1917c. 1983LdH, CdeG18 October 1943, Hudson aeroplaneCode name: Elizabeth; Courier, Marksman network. Aka: Elizabeth Reynolds. Arrested March 20, 1944, sent to prisoner of war camp, survived.
Yvonne FontaineFrance1913199625 March 1944, boatCode name: Mimi; Courier, Minister network. Prior to becoming SOE agent worked with Tinker network as Nenette.
Giliana GersonChilec. 1910May 1941First SOE agent sent to France; stayed one month, collected intelligence and documents, such as ration cards which could later be copied by SOE.
Virginia HallUnited States19061982MBE, DSC (USA)(1) August 1941; (2) 21 March 21, 1944, boatCode names: Marie, Diane; Courier, Heckler, Saint networks. Called "Limping lady" due to amputated lower leg. Post-war worked for the CIA
Mary Katherine HerbertIreland19031983CdeG31 October 1942, boatCode 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 JullianFrance191719627 June 1944, parachuteCode name: Adele; Courier, Permit network.
Noor Inyat KhanRussia19141944GC, MBE, CdeG, MiD16 June 16 Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Madeleine; Wireless operator, Cinema, Phono networks. Indian Muslim origin. One of four women executed at Dachau concentration camp, September 13, 1944.
Marguerite KnightFrance19202004MBE, CdeG6 May 1944, parachuteCode name: Nicole; Courier, Donkeyman network. Known as Peggy
Phyllis LatourSouth Africa1921Still living 2020MBE, CdeG1 May 1944, parachuteCode name: Genevieve; Wireless operator, Scientist network.
Madeleine LavigneFrance1912194523 May 1944, parachuteCode name: Isabelle; Wireless operator, courier, Silversmith network. Died in Paris of an embolism on February 24, 1945.
Cecily LefortEngland19001945CdeG, MiD16 June 1943, Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Alice; Courier, Jockey network. Executed at Ravensbrück concentration camp c. February 5, 1945.
Vera LeighEngland19031944KCBC23 May 1943, Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Simone; Courier, Inventor Network. Executed at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp on July 6, 1944.
Eileen NearneEngland19212010CdeG, MBE2 March 1944, Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Rose; Wireless operator, Wizard network. Known as "Didi." Sister of SOE agents Jacqueline & Francis Nearne. Arrested July 1944; escaped Ravensbrück concentration camp, April 13, 1945.
Jacqueline NearneEngland19161982MBE25 January 1943, parachuteCode name: Jacqueline; Courier, Stationer network. Withdrawn April 1944. Sister of SOE agents Eileen & Francis Nearne
Sonia OlschanezkyGermany19231944Recruited in FranceCode name: Tania; Courier, Juggler network. Captured January 1944, executed at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp on July 6, 1944
Patricia O'SullivanIreland19181994CdeG, MBE22 March 1944, parachuteCode name: Simonet; Wireless operator, Fireman network. WAAF. Returned to England on October 5, 1944.
Eliane PlewmanFrance19171944KCBC, CdeG13 August 1943, parachuteCode name; Gaby; Courier, Monk network. Executed at Dachau concentration camp on September 13, 1944
Lilian RolfeFrance19141945MBE, CdeG, MiD5 April 1944 by Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Nadine; Courier, Historian network. Executed 5 February 1945 at Ravensbrück concentration camp
Diana RowdenEngland19151944MBE, CdeG, MiD16 June 1943, Lysander aeroplaneCode name: Paulette; Courier, Acrobat network. Executed 6 July 1944 at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp
Yvonne RudelattFrance18971945MBE30 July 1942, boatCode name: Jacqueline; Courier, Physician network. Died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, c. 24 Apr 1945.
Odette SansomFrance19121995GC, MBE, LdH31 October 1942, boatCode 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 SkarbekPoland19081952GM, OBE, CdeG6 July 1944, parachuteCode name: Pauline; Courier, Jockey network. Better known by her nom de guerre Christine Granville
Violette SzaboFrance19211945GC, CdeG5 April 1944, parachute; June 7, 1944, parachuteCode name: Louise; Courier: Salesman network. Executed c. 5 Feb 1945 at Ravensbrück
Nancy WakeNew Zealand19122011GM, LdH, CdeG29 April 1944, parachuteCode name: Helene; Courier, Stationer network. 1940-43: Pat O'Leary escape line. The "White Mouse."
Anne-Marie WaltersSwitzerland19231998MBE, CdeG4 January 1944, parachuteCode name: Colette; Courier, Wheelright network. Married name Ann-Marie Comert
Odette WilenEngland1919201511 April 1944, parachuteCode name: Sophie; Courier, Labourer network. Married Santiago Strugo Garay, head of the Spanish escape network.
Pearl WitheringtonFrance19142008MBE, CBE, CdeG22 September 1943, parachuteCode names: Marie, Pauline; Courier, Stationer network. Organiser, Wrestler network. "Highly successful."[4]

Source: Foot, M. R. D. (1966), SOE in France, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, pp. 465–469.

Female SOE agents in other countries

NameNationalityBornDiedAwardsDate of entryNotes
Lorraine AdieBritish1916-2013Married American OSS agent Miles Copeland, Jr. Served in Middle East.
Maddalena Cerasuolo[5]Italy19201999MBE27 April 2018Code name: Maria Esposito, C22; sabotage missions, resistant[6][7]
Alix D'UnienvilleMauritius19192015MBE, LdeH, CdeG31 March 1944, parachuteCode name: Myrtil; Courier, Oronte network. Arrested June 6, 1944, escaped en route to a prison camp in Germany.
Hannah SzenesHungarian1921–1944KIA in Budapest

Key

NoteDescriptionExplanation
ATS Auxiliary Territorial Service SOE Agents who were ATS officers are highlighted in italics
CBECommander of The Most Excellent Order of the British EmpireCommander of the British order of chivalry.
CdeGCroix de guerre 1939–1945French military decoration created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis force at any time during World War II
DSCDistinguished Service Cross (USA)US gallantry medal awarded for active operations against the enemy
FANYFirst Aid Nursing YeomanryBritish independent all-female unit active in both nursing and intelligence work during the World Wars. SOE Agents who were FANY officers are highlighted in khaki.
GCGeorge CrossThe 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.
GMGeorge MedalThe second highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom It awards civilian gallantry in the face of enemy action and brave deeds more generally.
KCBCKing's Commendation for Brave ConductBritish commendation to acknowledged brave acts by civilians and members of the military in non-warlike circumstances during a time of war or in peacetime where the action would not otherwise be recognised by an existing award
KCXLM King Christian X Liberty Medal Issued by King Christian X for special services to Denmark during WW2
KIAKilled in ActionA casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces.
LdHOrdre national de la Légion d'honneurFrench order that is the highest decoration in France.
MBEMember of the Most Excellent Order of the British EmpireMember of the British order of chivalry.
MiDMentioned in DespatchesAn official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the person's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.
WAAFWomen's Auxiliary Air ForceSOE Agents who were WAAF officers are highlighted in light blue.
WRNSWomen's Royal Naval ServiceSOE Agents who were WRNS officers are highlighted in silver.

See also

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. 122, 436, 440
  5. HS 9/284 - Special Operations Executive personnel files, The National Archives, UK
  6. Days of Naples
  7. (IT) Maddalena Cerasuolo, l’eroina delle 4 Giornate lavorò per i servizi inglesi, on repubblica.it
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