SOE Radio Transcripts and Training Schools
Setting: Occupied France, around about 1943, and UK, same time
I'm writing a historical AU with the basic premise that all the characters are working for the SOE during World War II. I've got a good deal of background-type stuff and a book that gives specifics about dates, weapons, techniques etc (Subversion and Sabotage by Ian Dear). My only issue is that there's a scene that requires secret radio communication and I have no idea how these things were worded.
If anyone could point me in the direction of some transcripts (which may be unlikely given, y'know, Secret Service, but still), or quote me a sample communication, I just need to get a feel for the sort of language and style used.
I've googled, in various combinations, 'soe', 'ww2', 'radio transcripts', but all I get are transcripts of proper radio programmes, or modern-day shows talking about the SOE.
~
ETA: I have since found a copy of Beaulieu: The Finishing School For Secret Agents by Cyril Cunningham, which I wholeheartedly reccommend if anyone embarking on a similar line of research stumbles across this question. It answers pretty much all my questions below and is very readable to boot.
I'm also having... fun trying to find out about the SOE training schools, like Beaulieu and Arisaig. I know what happened there and what they look like from the outside, as well as some shots of the interiors, but what I really need is some idea of pracitcal living arrangements.
For example:
Was the original furniture removed/covered up? If so, what did they replace it with?
I've heard that only the officers slept in the manor house but I'm not entirely clear where the would-be agents ended up. Stables? Temporary sheds? Servants quarters? Tents out on the grounds?
Would the servants have been kept on?
Have tried searching: 'living arrangements beaulieu soe', 'sleeping arrangements beaulieu soe', 'accomodation beaulieu soe', 'interiors beaulieu', 'bedrooms at beaulieu hampshire', 'dining room at beaulieu hampshire', 'accomodation soe finishing school' and read Beaulieu's website. All I can seem to find is very general information in the way of 'yes, there were SOE agents here. The End.'
Or if somebody could point me in the direction of a diary/biography (preferably heavy on the day-to-day details)/fictionalised-but-accurate account of someone undergoing SOE training, I would be very grateful. Book titles are also good (*fingers crossed my library has them*).
(Also, if anyone notices anything history!fail-y in this post, pleasepleaseplease point it out. I have this nagging feeling the SOE didn't actually call themselves that at the time, but I can't find out any more than that, so yes, any little things like that would be awesome.)
Thank you!
I'm writing a historical AU with the basic premise that all the characters are working for the SOE during World War II. I've got a good deal of background-type stuff and a book that gives specifics about dates, weapons, techniques etc (Subversion and Sabotage by Ian Dear). My only issue is that there's a scene that requires secret radio communication and I have no idea how these things were worded.
If anyone could point me in the direction of some transcripts (which may be unlikely given, y'know, Secret Service, but still), or quote me a sample communication, I just need to get a feel for the sort of language and style used.
I've googled, in various combinations, 'soe', 'ww2', 'radio transcripts', but all I get are transcripts of proper radio programmes, or modern-day shows talking about the SOE.
~
ETA: I have since found a copy of Beaulieu: The Finishing School For Secret Agents by Cyril Cunningham, which I wholeheartedly reccommend if anyone embarking on a similar line of research stumbles across this question. It answers pretty much all my questions below and is very readable to boot.
I'm also having... fun trying to find out about the SOE training schools, like Beaulieu and Arisaig. I know what happened there and what they look like from the outside, as well as some shots of the interiors, but what I really need is some idea of pracitcal living arrangements.
For example:
Was the original furniture removed/covered up? If so, what did they replace it with?
I've heard that only the officers slept in the manor house but I'm not entirely clear where the would-be agents ended up. Stables? Temporary sheds? Servants quarters? Tents out on the grounds?
Would the servants have been kept on?
Have tried searching: 'living arrangements beaulieu soe', 'sleeping arrangements beaulieu soe', 'accomodation beaulieu soe', 'interiors beaulieu', 'bedrooms at beaulieu hampshire', 'dining room at beaulieu hampshire', 'accomodation soe finishing school' and read Beaulieu's website. All I can seem to find is very general information in the way of 'yes, there were SOE agents here. The End.'
Or if somebody could point me in the direction of a diary/biography (preferably heavy on the day-to-day details)/fictionalised-but-accurate account of someone undergoing SOE training, I would be very grateful. Book titles are also good (*fingers crossed my library has them*).
(Also, if anyone notices anything history!fail-y in this post, pleasepleaseplease point it out. I have this nagging feeling the SOE didn't actually call themselves that at the time, but I can't find out any more than that, so yes, any little things like that would be awesome.)
Thank you!