SOE F Section networks

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These are the networks, also known as circuits, (or réseaux to their French participants) established in France by F Section of the British Special Operations Executive during the Second World War. See also SOE F Section timeline.

Contents 1 Acrobat 2 Archdeacon 3 Asymptote 4 Author 5 Autogiro 6 Bricklayer 7 Carter 8 Chestnut 9 Clergyman 10 Detective 11 Digger 12 Diplomat 13 Ditcher 14 Donkeyman 15 Farmer 16 Farrier 17 Fireman 18 Freelance 19 Headmaster 20 Heckler 21 Historian 22 Inventor 23 Japonica 24 Jockey 25 Juggler 26 Labourer 27 Marksman 28 Minister 29 Monk 30 Musician 31 Permit 32 Phono 33 Physician 34 Plane 35 Prosper 36 Robin 37 Saint 38 Salesman 39 Scholar 40 Scientist 41 Silversmith 42 Spindle 43 Spiritualist 44 Stationer 45 Stockbroker 46 Ventriloquist 47 Wheelwright 48 Wizard 49 Wrestler 50 Map of networks as of June, 1943

[edit] Acrobat

• Harry Rée - worked with Acrobat before taking charge of Stockbroker
• Diana Hope Rowden - courier
• Jean Simon - organiser following Starr's arrest
• John Ashford Renshaw Starr - organiser
• John Cuthbert Young - wireless operator

[edit] Archdeacon

A network which was meant to be established by Frank Pickersgill and John Kenneth Macalister, who were both captured in June 1943 immediately upon arrival in France. The network became an operation run by the Germans.

Joseph Placke, an assistant in the wireless section at 84 Avenue Foch, impersonated Pickersgill, and Macalister's captured radio and codes were used to transmit false messages to London, arranging parachute drops of supplies, which of course fell into German hands. The fake operation continued until May 1944 and resulted in the capture of a sabotage instructor and six other agents sent to join the network.

[edit] Asymptote

• F. F. E. Yeo-Thomas

[edit] Author

• Harry Peulevé

[edit] Autogiro

A network which was organised in the Paris area by Pierre de Vomécourt, but which had been destroyed by the spring of 1942 after being betrayed by Mathilde Carre.

• Georges Bégué - wireless operator
• Christopher Burney - assigned to assist Burdeyron
• Noel Fernand Rauol Burdeyron (real name, Norman F. Burley) - agent, singlehandedly derailed German supply train by pulling up a rail, Autogiro's only successful attack
• Pierre de Vomécourt - organiser

[edit] Bricklayer

• Madeleine Zoe Damerment - courier

[edit] Carter

• Charles Henri Lucien - organiser

[edit] Chestnut

• Roland Dowlen - wireless operator
• William Grover-Williams - organiser

[edit] Clergyman

• Robert Benoist - organiser
• Denise Madeleine Bloch - wireless operator
• Louis Blondet - instructor

[edit] Detective

• Denise Madeleine Bloch - courier
• Henri Sevenet
• Brian Julian Stonehouse - wireless operator

[edit] Digger

• Peter Lake

[edit] Diplomat

• Maurice Dupont

[edit] Ditcher

• Guy D'Artois - organiser

Lt. Jean Renaud-Dandicolle, M.C. Captured and killed on Saturday 10 June 1944, aged 47

[edit] Donkeyman

A network organised following the collapse of Autogiro and built on the remnants of Carte. It had small groups over the whole of France.

• Francis Cammaerts
• Henri Frager - organiser
• Marguerite Diana Knight - courier
• Vera Eugenie Leigh - liaison officer

[edit] Farmer

A network which was organised in the Lille area by Michael Trotobas.

• Arthur Staggs - wireless operator
• Michael Trotobas - organiser

[edit] Farrier

An operation to organise aircraft landings and the reception of agents sent by such means.

• Julienne Marie Louise Aisner - courier
• Henri Déricourt - organiser

[edit] Fireman

• Patricia (Paddy) Maureen O'Sullivan - wireless operator

[edit] Freelance

• Nancy Grace Augusta Wake - courier

[edit] Headmaster

• Sonya Esmee Florence Butt - courier
• Sydney Hudson - organiser

[edit] Heckler

• Virginia Hall

[edit] Historian

• Lilian Vera Rolfe - wireless operator
• George Alfred "Teddy" Wilkinson - organiser

[edit] Inventor

A sub-circuit of the Prosper network.

• Marcel Clech - wireless operator
• Sidney Jones - organiser and arms instructor
• Vera Eugenie Leigh - courier

[edit] Japonica

• Blanche Charlet
• Brian Stonehouse

[edit] Jockey

A network in the south-east

• Francis Cammaerts - organiser
• Christine Granville - courier
• Cicely Margot Lefort - courier
• Pierre Reynaud - sabotage instructor

[edit] Juggler

A sub-circuit of Prosper, operating from Châlons-sur-Marne, east of Paris. It also had headquarters in the rue Cambon, near the Place de la Concorde

• Gustave Cohen - wireless operator
• Sonia Olschanezky - courier, administrator
• Jacques Weil - second in command
• Jean Worms - organiser

Also known as Robin.

[edit] Labourer

• Odette Victoria Wilen

[edit] Marksman

• Elizabeth Devereux-Rochester
• Richard Heslop - organiser

[edit] Minister

• Yvonne Fontaine

[edit] Monk

• Eliane Sophie Plewman
• Charles Skepper - organiser

[edit] Musician

A network in eastern Picardy.

• Yolande Elsa Maria Beekman - wireless operator
• Gustave Biéler - organiser

[edit] Permit

• Ginette Marie Helene Jullian

[edit] Phono

• Emile Henri Garry - organiser
• Noor Inyat Khan - wireless operator

[edit] Physician

Also known as Prosper.

[edit] Plane

• Henri Paul Le Chêne - organiser
• Marie-Thérèse Le Chêne - courier
• Pierre Louis Le Chêne - radio operator

[edit] Prosper

• Francine Agazarian - courier
• Jack Agazarian - wireless operator
• France Antelme
• Andrée Raymonde Borrel - courier
• Jacques Bureau - radio technician
• Gilbert Norman - wireless operator
• Francis Suttill - organiser
• Yvonne Claire Rudellat - courier

[edit] Robin

An unofficial name for Juggler.

[edit] Saint

• Virginia Hall

[edit] Salesman

• Violette Reine Elizabeth Szabo - courier aka Louise aka la p'tite Anglaise
• Philippe Liewer aka Maj Charles Staunton aka Hamlet

Jean-Claude Guiet, French-American, wireless operator aka Virgile Bob Maloubier

[edit] Scholar

• Yvonne Jeanne Therese de Vibraye Baseden - wireless operator

[edit] Scientist

A network in the area of Bordeaux.

• Claude de Baissac - organiser
• Lise Marie Jeanette de Baissac - courier
• Mary Katherine Herbert
• Phyllis Ada Latour - wireless operator
• Harry Peulevé

[edit] Silversmith

• Madeleine Lavigne

[edit] Spindle

A network based in Montpellier.

• Peter Churchill - organiser
• André Girard
• Odette Marie Celine Sansom - courier

[edit] Spiritualist

• Henri Diacono - wireless operator
• René Dumont-Guillemet - organiser

[edit] Stationer

A network with activities in the south and center of France, from Chateauroux to the foothills of the Pyrenees.

• Jacqueline Mary Francoise Josephine Nearne - courier
• Maurice Southgate - organiser
• Pearl Witherington - courier, organiser following Southgate's arrest

[edit] Stockbroker

• Harry Rée - organiser
• Diana Hope Rowden - courier

[edit] Ventriloquist

• Muriel Tamara Byck - wireless operator
• Blanche Charlet - courier
• Brian Julian Stonehouse - wireless operator
• Pierre de Vomécourt - organiser

[edit] Wheelwright

A network in the area of Toulouse.

• Yvonne Cormeau - wireless operator
• George Reginald Starr - organiser
• Anne-Marie Walters - courier

[edit] Wizard

• Eileen Mary Nearne (Didi)

[edit] Wrestler

A network with activities in the Valençay-Issoudun-Chateauroux triangle.

• Pearl Witherington - organiser

[edit] Map of networks as of June, 1943

The map below shows the major SOE F Section networks which existed in France in June 1943, based on the map published in Rita Kramer's book "Flames in the Field" (Michael Joseph Ltd, 1995).

Note: The map does not show the correct location of the original Autogiro network, which operated in the Paris area and did not exist after the spring of 1942. However the network was later revived by Francis Suttill, organiser of Prosper.