SOE Training - Beaulieu SOE Exhibition
Officially opened by H.R.H. The Princess Royal on Tuesday, 15th March 2005 the exhibition at Palace House, Beaulieu uses video, static display and artifacts to show the history and the part played by the Beaulieu estate during the Second World War.
The day was sunny and mild for the The Princess Royal's arrival by helicopter and in true Beaulieu style Lord Montagu had arranged for a magnificent blue vintage Rolls Royce to convey the Princess to Palace House.
The FANYs had a contingent on hand and with guests from the world of SOE, authors and other dignatries it all made for a fascinating mix.
We were treated to a magnificent buffet lunch amidst the splendour of Palace House and the relaxed atmosphere of The Princess Royal's visit made it a day to remember.
Please click on an image to view a larger version
The Invitation to Beaulieu
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Some photographs of the day
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Palace House
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A few of the FANYs
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The Exhibition entrance
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Dispatch rider's motorcyle
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Period Austin
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SOE Organisation chart
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Well laid out displays
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Stately Omes of England
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Some of the girls
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Info on Beaulieu's war
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H.R.H. The Princess Royal with Lord Montagu
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Lady Montagu on the left
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FANYs are drawn to transport!
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No one will miss it for ten minutes!
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'Evacuee' children portrayed by the pupils of St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull
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The FANY CO, Mrs Lynda Rose, with Joachim Ronneberg who in 1943 led Operation Gunnerside the successful raid to destroy the Norwegian Hydro Electric plant at Vemork near Rjukan
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Now where's the keys?
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FANY Garrod checks out the exploding rat
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To quote Lord Montagu:
"It has long been my wish to mount a permanent exhibition to highlight the valuable part Beaulieu played in the training of this secret army of agents and to honour the men and women who played such an important part in turning the tide of the Second World War. As a teenage boy at Eton, the secrets of these training establishments were kept from everyone, including me, so I am delighted that, with the assistance of the Special Forces Club, the story of these covert activities on my Estate can now be revealed."
The Secret Army Exhibition is well worth a visit. More info on Beaulieu
Considering the number of books that have been written about SOE , very little has been revealed about the most frequently mentioned of its training establishments, the Finishing School on Lord Montagu’s estate at Beaulieu in Hampshire. Throughout the Second World War small groups of trainee agents lived in several houses on the estate in conditions of such secrecy that each group, and the local population, including the Montagu family whose home was in the middle of the school complex, were unaware of the scale of similar training taking place in nearby houses. Virtually nothing has been written about who designed the courses and did the teaching, how the students were taught or where the instructors had obtained their knowledge of spycrafts .
Wishing to find out what had really been going on at Beaulieu, Lord Montagu commissioned a local historian, Cyril Cunningham, to undertake the necessary research, unaware that Cunningham was a former Intelligence officer.
This book is the outcome of a difficult investigation, and a very remarkable story it is too. It was at Beaulieu that a large number of agents from Britain and the Nazi-occupied countries of Europe were trained in the delicate arts of secret inks, coding, clandestine communications and black propaganda, along with such nefarious skills as silent killing, housebreaking, safe-blowing, forgery, unattributable sabotage and survival techniques. And they were taught by some extraordinary characters including former spies, a professional burglar and the infamous Kim Philby , who played a significant role in the design of the curriculum.
Beaulieu: The Finishing School for Seceret Agents
Cyril Cunningham
Imprint: Leo Cooper / Pen & Sword Books
ISBN: 0850525985
Hardback 224 pages
Published: 01 March 1998
Paperback version is due to be published April 2005
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