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List of SOE agents

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The following is an incomplete list of agents who served in the field for the Special Operations Executive during World War II.

A

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Lorraine Adie F BR 1916–2013 Married American OSS agent Miles Copeland, Jr.
Francine Agazarian French British 1913–1999 MiD Wife of Jack Agazarian
Jack Agazarian F British 1916–1945 KIA, 1945. Armenian father and French mother, brother of the RAF fighter ace Noel Agazarian
Juliane Aisner French French 1919-1947
Roland Alexandre F 1921–1944
Elisee Allard 1916–1944
Rehavam Amir 1916–2013
Phillip Amphlett 1921–1945
James Amps 1908–1945
France Antelme F Mauritian 1900–1945
Claude Arnault

B

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Dorothy Baden-Powell Scandinavian British 1920- WRNS
Claude de Baissac F Mauritian 1907-1974 Brother of Lisé de Baissac and husband of Mary Katherine Herbert[1]
Lisé de Baissac French Mauritian 1905–2004 Sister of SOE Agent Claude de Baissac
Madeleine Barclay French French 1911–1943 WRNS, KIA aboard HMS Fidelity
Denis John Barrett 1916–1944 KIA
Eric Barrett Force 136 GHi(k) British 1910-1975
Yvonne Baseden French British 1922-? MBE, LdH, CdeG
Alcide Beauregard 1917–1944 KIA
Francis Eugene Bec 1905–1944 KIA
Major Stanley Beckinsale Crete British 1920–2004 MC
Yolande Beekman French Swiss 1911–1944 MiD KIA at Dachau concentration camp[2]
Georges Bégué F French 1911–1993
Herbert John Bell Albania/Italy British 1919- 2001 MM
Robert Benoist F French 1895–1944 KIA
Kem Bennett 1919–1986
Louis Bertheau French French 1919–1945 MiD KIA[3]
Gustave "Guy" Biéler F Canadian 1904–1944 DSO MBE
Emanuel Bierer 1884-ukn
Helen Bierer 1885-ukn Full Name Helen Anna Agate Thormann-Bierer
Andre Bloch 1914–1942 KIA
Denise Bloch French 1916–1945 KCBC, LdH, CdeG KIA at Ravensbrück concentration camp[4]
Marcus Bloom 1907-1944
Bridget Blundell -1999 MBE
Nicholas Bodington F British 1904–1974 MBE
Andrée Borrel French French 1919–1944 CdeG KIA at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp
Jean Bouguennec F 1912–1944 KIA
Tony Brooks F British 1922–2007 DSO, MC, CdeG, LdH
Captain Basil Brown 1918–1970 MBE
Joséf Bublik
Maurice Buckmaster F British 1902–1992 MBE, CdeG F Section Chief
Christopher Burney F British 1917–1980 MBE
Pierre Brossolette F French 1903–1944 LdH, CdeG, CdlL, MdlR
Norman Burley Real Name: Noel Fernand Rauol Burdeyron
Sonya Butt French British 1924- MBE, MiD Married fellow SOE agent Guy d'Artois
Muriel Byck French British 1918–1944 MiD Died in service of meningitis at Romorantin Hospital
Robert Bennett Byerly 1916–1944

C

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Eric Cauchi F
Stockbroker
Greek 1917–1944 MiD, CdeG, M.R.F. [5]
Francis Cammaerts F
Donkeyman
Jockey
British 1916–2006 DSO, LdH, CdeG
William John Chalk 1899-ukn
Robert Arthur Chapman 1901-ukn
Blanche Charlet French British 1898-1985 MBE
Marie Thérèse Le Chêne F French
Oliver Churchill Italy British 1914–1997 DSO, MC, Italian Partisan Medal Brother of Group Captain Walter Churchill and Captain Peter Churchill
Odette Churchill F British See Odette Sansom
Peter Churchill F British 1909–1972 DSO, CdeG Brother of Group Captain Walter Churchill and Major Oliver Churchill
Arthur Christie British 1921–2003
Marcel Clech 1905–1944
George Clement 1917–1944
Jean Coleman F British 1908–1982
Adolphus Richard Cooper 1899-ukn
Ted Coppin 1915–1943
Yvonne Cormeau French British 1909–1997 MBE, LdH, CdeG
Henri Cornioley F British 1914–2008 Husband of Pearl Witherington
Noël Coward British 1899–1972
Benjamin Cowburn F British 1909–1994 MC and Bar, LdH, CdeG Four successful missions into France
Andrew Croft Norway British 1906–1998 DSO, MBE
Mike Cumberlege 1905-1945

D

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Madeleine Damerment French French 1917–1944 KIA at Dachau concentration camp
Guy D'Artois F Canadian 1917–1999 DSO, GM, CdeG
Jimmy Davies British 1913–1940 DFC, MiD KIA
Marcel Defence 1920–1944 [6]
Ange Defendini 1909–1944
George Demand unk-1944
Delmeire Alphonse F Belgian 1919–1944 KIA 7 June 1944 in Germany
Francois Adolphe Deniset 1917–1944
Henri Dericourt F French 1909–1962 Possibly a double agent
Julien Detal unk-1944
Elizabeth Devereux-Rochester French British 1917-1983? LdH, CdeG
Douglas Dodds-Parker British 1909–2006 LdH, CdeG, MiD
Derek Dodson
Hugh Dormer French British 1919–1944 DSO Left SOE in January 1944 (KIA serving with Irish Guards in August 1944).[7]
Roland Dowlen 1907–1945
André Dubois 1906–1944
Emile Duboudin 1907–1945
Gustave Duclos 1916–2002
Phillip Duclos 1923–1944
Alix D'Unienville F Mauritian 1919-
Gavan Bernard Duffy 1916-1990 MC
Pieter Dourlein Dutch Escaped back to England and survived war.

E

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Alf Espedal Norwegian Independent Company No. 1 Norwegian 1914–1969 Trained in STS 26 at Glen More and other Special Training Schools. In charge of "Operation Osprey" that parachuted in Rogaland county on Dec. 10 1943.
Reginald Harold Everson 1923–1990

F

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Albert George Falla 1918–1997
Eugene Felangue 1912–1945
Patrick Leigh Fermor Crete British 1915-2011 DSO, MBE
David Finlayson 1923–1944
Yvonne Fontaine F French 1913–1996 MdlRF
Marcel Fox 1910–1945
Henri Frager F French 1897–1944 MiD, MdlRF KIA
Louis Francou Belgian also known as Bullfrog

G

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Henri Gaillot F 1896–1944 KIA
Albrecht Gaiswinkler F Austrian 1905–1979
Harry Gamwell 1912–1998
Emile Garry 1909–1944 KIA
P A H Geelen 1916–1944 KIA
Haim Gerson
Paul Goffin Belgian 1915-1967 also known as Gofer
John G. Goldsmith F British 1909-1972 DSO, MC, CdeG, LdH
Harry Graham 1910–1945 KIA
Sverre Granlund Norway Norwegian 1918–1943 DCM, WCS
William Grover-Williams F British 1903–1945 KIA
Armel Guerne 1911–1980

H

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Virginia Hall French American 1906–1982 MBE, DSC Post war worked for the CIA
Odette Hallowes F British 1912-1995 GC, MBE, CdeG see Odette Sansom
John Hamilton 1907–1944
John Berisford "Jack" Hayes 1904-
Victor Hayes 1908–1944
Mary Hemmings 1914-
Mary Katherine Herbert French Irish 1903–1983 First WAAF Officer to join the SOE
Richard Harry Heslop F British 1907-1970 DSO, LdH, CdeG
Richard Hewitt British 1917–1994 MBE commanded the Allied No 1 Special Forces in the Italian Campaign
George Hiller F British 1916–1972 [8]
Marcel Homet 1897-unk
Desmond Hubble 1910–1944
Max Hymans F French 1900–1961

I

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Captain Basil Irwin Yugoslavia and Italy MC Liaison Officer

J

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Ingolf Johannesen 1915-1998 Norwegian Member of the Shetland gang. Crew onboard the KNM Hitra
Peter Johnsen
Sydney Jones 1902–1944
Ginette Julliane
Clement Jumeau 1914–1944

K

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Noor Inyat Khan French Russian 1914–1944 GC, CdeG, MiD KIA at Dachau concentration camp[9]
Andrzej Kowerski Polish 1912–1988 also known as Andrew Kennedy
Mary Knowles 1917–2003 also known as Christine
Marguerite Knight French British 1920–2004 MBE
Peter Kemp Cairo (Balkans), Force 136 British 1913–1993 Author of books Mine Were of Trouble (1957), No Colours or Crest (1958), Alms for Oblivion (1962), The Thorns of Memory (1990)

L

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Paul Emile Labelle French Canadian 1916-UKN MC Codename Nartex
Max Lafaye F French 1912–1986 French Resistance Medal Deported to KL Buchenwald (Jan 1944 - Jan 45)- Dora (Jan 45 - Avr 1945) - Bergen-Belsen (15. Apr. 1945)
A R Landsdell
Maurice Larcher
James Larose
Leif Larsen Shetland Bus Norwegian 1906-1990 DSO, DSC, CGM, DSM and Bar, Norwegian War Cross with two swords, St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch, War Medal with three stars, Defence Medal 1940–1945, Medal of Freedom etc.
Phyliss Latour F British (South African-born) 1921- MBE, CdeG
Huub Lauwers Dutch 1915-2004 Escaped back to England and survived war.
Madeleine Lavigne F French unk-1945
Marcel Leccia
Jacques Paul Henri Ledoux
Christopher Lee British 1922-
Lionel Lee
Cecily Lefort French British 1900–1945 CdeG, MiD KIA at Ravensbrück concentration camp
Vera Leigh French British 1903–1944 King's Commendation for Brave Conduct KIA at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp
M A Lepage
E Lesout
fr [Joël Le Tac] French French 1918-2005 Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, fr [Compagnon de la Libération], CdG, Médaille de la Résistance Detained in Dora and Bergen-Belsen

M

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Amédée Maingard F Mauritian 1918–1981 DSO, CdeG
Max Manus Norwegian Independent Company 1 Norwegian 1914-1996 DSO, MC & Bar]], War Cross with two swords, Defence Medal 1940–1945 (with rosette), Medal of Freedom with silver palm etc.
Claude Raymond Malraux
Andre Adrian Jules Maugenet
Comte Jacques-Arthus Marc de Montalembert
Ernest Miller
Gavin Maxwell Instructor British 1914–1969
James Andrew Mayer
James Francis George Mennesson
Francois Gerard Michel
George Millar F British DSO MC DSO MC
G B McBain
John Kenneth Macalister F Canadian 1914–1944 KIA
S Makowski
R M A Mathieu
W. Stanley Moss F133, F136 British 1921–1965 MC
Pierre Louis Mulsant
Buntie Aurelle Neredah Macklin-Sprake UK British 1919 - 2010 Married Arie Van Duyn. Dutch SOE Radio Operator

N

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Eileen Nearne French British 1921–2010 MBE, CdeG Sister of SOE agents Jacqueline & Francis Nearne
Francis Nearne F British Brother of SOE agents Eileen & Jacqueline Nearne
Jacqueline Nearne French British 1916–1982 MBE Sister of SOE agents Eileen & Francis Nearne
Isidore Newman
Alfred Newton [10]
Henry Newton [10]
Gilbert Norman F British 1914–1944 KIA

O

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Sonia Olschanezky French Russian/French 1923–1944 KIA at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp
Maureen O'Sullivan French British 1918–1994 CdeG, MBE WAAF

P

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Paul Baptiste Pardi
George Wyndham Parker Norwegian Independent Company 1 British 1913-1998 MC, MiD, Norwegian War Cross with two swords Mission planner
Maurice Pertschuk
Harry Peulevé F British 1916–1963 DSO, MC [11]
Frank Pickersgill F Canadian 1915–1944 KIA
Eliane Plewman French British 1917–1944 KCBC, CdeG KIA at Dachau concentration camp

Q

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Anthony Quayle Albania British 1913–1989

R

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Adolphie Rabinovitch
Alex Rabinovich
Brian Dominic Rafferty
Denis Rake French British 1901–1976 MC [12]
Charles Rechenmann
Harry Rée F British 1914-1991 DSO, MBE
Haviva Reik Slovakia Slovakian 1914–1944 KIA
Jean Renaud-Dandicolle
Anne Robertson 1920-
Lilian Rolfe French British 1914–1945 MBE, CdeG, MiD KIA at Ravensbrück concentration camp
Jasper Rootham Yugoslavia British 1910–1990
Diana Rowden French British 1915–1944 MBE, CdeG, MiD KIA at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp
Yvonne Rudelatt French French 1897–1945 Died in service of typhus at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp

S

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Roméo Sabourin F Canadian 1923–1944 KIA
Odette Sansom French British 1912–1995 GC, MBE, LdH Also known by the surnames "Hallowes"[13] and "Churchill"
Anthony P B St.John Burma British 1925-1990
Paul F M Sarrette
Alexandre Schwatschko
Enzo Sereni Italy Italian 1905–1944 KIA
Henri P. Sevenet
John B. Selby Yugoslavia British 1915-1991 DSO, DFC, Partisan Star
Jack Andrew Eugene Marcel Sinclair
Jean Alexandre Robert Simon
Octave Anne Guillaume Simon
Krystyna Skarbek French Polish 1915–1952 GM, MBE, CdeG Better known by her pseudonm Christine Granville[14]
Brian Skelly 1920–2001
Charles Milne Skepper
Einar Skinnarland Norway Norwegian 1918–2002 DCM
V. A. Soskice
Maurice Southgate French British 1913-1990 DSO [15]
James William Spencer 1915-|
M J G de St Genies
Arthur Staggs
George Reginald Starr F British 1904–1980 MD, DSO Brother of John Renshaw Starr
John Renshaw Starr F British unk-1996 Brother of George Reginald Starr
Arthur Steele
Brian Stonehouse F British 1918–1998 MBE
Francis Suttill F British 1910–1945 DSO KIA[16]
Violette Szabo French British 1921–1945 GC, MBE, CdeG KIA at Ravensbrück concentration camp[17]
Hannah Szenes Yugoslavia Hungarian 1921–1944 KIA in Budapest
Gunnar Sønsteby Norwegian Independent Company 1 Norwegian 1918–2012 DSO, 1939–45 Star, War Cross with three Swords, Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, Norwegian Police Cross of Honour, Norwegian Defence Cross of Honour, Defence Medal 1940–1945 with rosette, Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal, Medal of Freedom with silver palm etc. Most highly decorated Norwegian of WWII.

T

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Jacques Taschereau
Paul Raymond Tessier F British 1916-1944 MiD
Paul-Émile Thibeault
Michael Trotobas

U

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
P L Ullman

V

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
François Vallée
Philippe de Vomécourt
Arne Værum Norwegian 1919-1942 KIA in Telavåg, Norway
Arie Van Duyn Holland Dutch OBE Married Buntie Macklin-Sprake (Radio Operator Trainer)

W

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Nancy Wake French Australian 1912-2011 GC, LdH, CdeG Known by her code name "White Mouse"
Anne-Marie Walters French British 1923–1998 MBE, CdeG
Peter Wand-Tetley
David Whytehead Sibrée
Odette Wilen French
E M Wilkinson
George Alfred "Teddy" Wilkinson
Jean-Pierre Wimille F French 1908–1949
Pearl Witherington French British 1914–2008 MBE, CBE, CdeG, LdH [18]
Jean Worms
Dagmar Witherspoon British| |1922-2011|

Y

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
F. F. E. Yeo-Thomas F British 1902–1964 GC, MC*, CdeG, CLdH Best known by his code name "White Rabbit"[19]
John Young
John Cuthbert Young

Z

Name SOE Section Nationality Born-Died Awards Notes
Robert Charles Zaehner Iran British 1913–74 Worked for MI6 after the war
Guido Zembsh-Schreve 1916-

Key

Note Description Explanation
CBE Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Commander of the British order of chivalry.
CdeG Croix de guerre 1939–1945 French 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
DSC Distinguished Service Cross British gallantry medal awarded during active operations against the enemy
FANY First Aid Nursing Yeomanry British independent all-female unit active in both nursing and intelligence work during the World Wars.
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.
GM George Medal The second highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom It awards civilian gallantry in the face of enemy action and brave deeds more generally.
KCBC King's Commendation for Brave Conduct British 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
KIA Killed in Action A casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces.
LdH Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur French order that is the highest decoration in France.
MBE Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Member of the British order of chivalry.
MiD Mentioned in Despatches An 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.
MC Military Cross The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration and is awarded in recognition of "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land to all members, of any rank in Our Armed Forces…"
WAAF Women's Auxiliary Air Force

See also

References