#soe agents

SOE (SPECIAL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE) AND CRETAN PARTISANS ON CRETE, 1 JUNE 1944 - 28 FEBRUARY 1945

© IWM HU 66045

Sarah Helm, journalist, author and Vera Atkins’ biographer: “She was obviously always an incredibly focused character and driven character, and I think that’s very important. She tended to trust her own judgement. So she was always going to achieve a lot.”

Voiceover towards the end of the above video: “Vera Atkins never acknowledged that anything had gone wrong at F section, and she remained a highly secretive person.” Sarah Helm: “She knew perfectly well that this was something she would live with for the rest of her life. And the only way she would be able to live with it, was by extraordinary self control and mental control.” Former agent Yvonne Baseden: “She had the responsibility. My goodness. What a responsibility.”

Further reading on the SOE: