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SOE: the Scientific Secrets - Book Review

Contemporary Review, Oct, 2003

Fredric Boyce and Douglas Everett. Sutton Publishing, 19.99 [pounds sterling]. 310 pages. ISBN 0-75093165-5. As Prof. M.R.D. Foot says in his foreword, both authors write 'with inside knowledge' as Douglas Everett was part of SOE during the war and Fredric Boyce 'shared in the task of clearing up after it'.

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The aim of this book is to give readers a 'detailed account of the development of equipment and techniques upon which the success of subversive activities relied'. Most of SOE's scientists were recent graduates with little experience but they made up for this with their ingenuity. Much of what they created sounds like items from a James Bond film because they dealt with every form of secret warfare undertaken or sponsored by SOE: chemical (but never biological) warfare, explosives, incendiarism, underwater fighting, radio communications and special guns. Making use of newly released material the authors (sadly Mr Everett has died) give us an insight into a unique and fascinating world where fantasy became deadly reality. The authors are to be congratulated for producing a book which sheds yet more light on Britain's war effort: as Churchill said, 'give us the tools and we'll do the job' and these scientific boffins did just that. (J.M.)

SOE: the Scientific Secrets - Book Review

Contemporary Review, Oct, 2003

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