SOE: The Scientific Secrets

by Fredric Boyce, Douglas Everett, M.R.D. Foot (Foreword)

The history of the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War has been the subject of many books over the past fifty years. Previously secret material has steadily been released but until now there has been no detailed account of the development of equipment and techniques upon which the success of its subversive activities relied. SOE's behind -the -scenes research and development programme ranged from high explosive technology to chemical and biochemical devices; from the techniques of air supply to incendiarism: from camouflage to underwater warfare: and from radio communications to weaponry. This book is a unique and well-documented account of how scientific and technical skills were exploited in support of the heroic efforts of SOE agents world-wide during the Second World War.

Genres: Military History

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides an overview of the scientific and technological research and development that went on to support SOE operations, and those of other forces, notably the airborne. Covering the challenges faced to ensure equipment developed in the lab was fit for purpose in the field. What comes out is some of the great results achieved - the welrod for example - and some of the areas where results were less than satisfactory, particularly in the field of submersibles.

What this book lacks (by its own admission) is linkages to the use of the equipment in the field, with only one short chapter referencing some case studies. As a result the reader is left without any context of the importance of the role played by R&D. Equally coverage of everything, necessitates a relative light touch approach, rather than greater depth into smaller number of issues.

An interesting book, that leaves the reader wanting to know more.

[Sachahaworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in the Cabinet War Rooms in London. Since reading Charles Stross' Laundry series and Sebastien Faulk's Charlotte Grey, I was a bit interested in what the SOE did. This book is about the development of the equipment that they sent to agents in the field, how it was dispatched and how it was disguised.

There's some really interesting technical information in this book, but it's disappointing that we don't get to see much of the equipment developed actually in use. A lot of projects were cancelled or just didn't work. It would have been interesting to read some first hand experiences of how the various agents used the devices they were sent and accounts of what the results were.

It's definitely worth reading if you are interested in engineering inguinity, because the result of their developments were impressive, given their lack of experience in that various fields they were being asked to develop things for.