The Training Section of S.O.E. - Special Training Schools Including Their War Establishments

The daily posts are now complete. Corrections, contributions and additions are of course appreciated, as are questions.

I would like to thank all members for following this thread and for the many likes from some loyal followers.
(when I opened WW2talk this morning, we had exactly 2,000 views.)


After Churchill, Gubbins and Forty, WW2talk is the final factor to make this thread possible.

Thank you for providing and administering this service.

WW2talk is a great place!

 

And now a request on my own behalf:
As already announced, this presentation is intended to be a first attempt to provide a clear overview of the terms
Special Training School,
Station,
Military Establishment,
Military Mission and
Liaison Mission.

As we have already seen here, even in official usage, a clear distinction was either not intended or not maintained. This has already blurred contemporary usage, resulting in a casual use of the terms even in official sources. This makes it difficult to assign them clearly today.

As far as the term “Station” is concerned, the problem is quite clear and solvable.

The situation is different with the term “Military establishment”. There are several threads here at WW2talk as well as the usual sources on the internet (Wikipedia, Traces of War, etc.) that deal with this topic. But in addition to a few errors, which, once they are out there, tend to be perpetuated, they also have gaps. In addition, the general use of the terms further dilutes the search results. A search for the exact term in the National Archives for the period in question returns only 10 hits.

In most cases, I can fill in formal data such as the exact name and effective period using surviving War Establishments. What is often missing is the location, purpose, spatial, temporal and factual context, persons involved, etc.

This forum has many knowledgeable members, and perhaps we will gain a few more members this way. I would be delighted to receive contributions here in this thread or in more relevant ones. Of course, assumptions can also be made, but these should be clearly stated, and their basis provided or explained.

I am confident that together we will come closer to a clearer result in this way.


Many thanks in advance!

 

A mighty and comprehensive thread Aixman; no mean effort!

Kind regards, superb and informative work on your part, always,

Jim.

 

Another epic work from Aixman. Thoroughly researched (many days spent at the National Archives at Kew), rigorously analysed and clearly written. A model for all such works.

It is good to see the searchlight of his intellect being shone into the dark corners of WWII history.

Mike.

 

Thank you for your kind words, Jim and Mike!

 

Scratching the surface; some of the story, and faces, behind the names.

Courtesy of Aixman's mighty opus that is this thread, his thread, and his post #51.



See here (and hear!) a lasting lament to Johnny Ramensky.

The Last Song You Listened to Thread

Thank you Aixman.

Kind regards, I'm still scratching the surface, always,

Jim.

 

Thank you, Jim. Lovely accent, by the way.

Johnny's Military Medal is a quote from the Beaulieu 'Secret Army Exhibition', which, admittedly, has shown one or two weaknesses in the meantime.

There is a quite affordable book (which I don't own): Gentle Johnny Ramensky: The Extraordinary True Story of the Safe Blower Who Became a War Hero.

 

Again, a name from Aixman's post #51, and I am, again, but scratching the surface.



Courtesy of the work of Aixman, Patrick Yarnold, and the man himself.

Words on Denis Rake; wireless operator, agent, conducting officer, and so much more.









And courtesy of and all thanks to "Rake's Progress".

A snippet on training:



And later, as a conducting officer:











Denouement:







Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

 

Great post, Jim!

That's exactly what I was hoping to provoke.
Keep them coming.

This call goes out to all other members as well, of course.

 

An update on an individual in the 8.2 Personnel Section, the name of Maurice Newnham. This name sticks out to me quite prominently as my grandfather was also a Newnham, N.C.G., but no relation. Their names appeared one after the other in the RAF List, this one from December 1940. There is a website with more info on this individual at.
Maurice Newnham - Wikipedia
and
https://theaerodrome.com/aces/england/newnham.php

 

Thank you, Peter.
I've now added his middle name.

The (minor) problem:
His undoubtedly well-documented biography makes no mention of S.O.E.; rather, he is clearly associated with the Parachute Training School (commonly known as ‘Ringway’). Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of his book 'Prelude to Glory' either.

Since the agents were housed in the S.T.S. 51 buildings and were also trained in preparation for the jumps carried out at Ringway, I must now assume that the name originates from a description by a student (agent) who was housed in S.T.S. 51a and who met and described Newnham during his training at Ringway. However, it is also conceivable that Newnham helped out at S.T.S. 51a (Dunham House, Charcoal Lane, Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire), which was only a few miles away.

Whilst this does not make the information in Chapter 8.2 incorrect, it does mean that Newnham did not become an S.O.E. instructor.

 

Wow Aixman that is one fantastic thread you have done here, some great research and a lot of work well done pal well chuffed for you.

Regards Mike.

 

Mike,
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you liked it. It was much fun and I learnt a great deal from it.

 

The details regarding Group C’s headquarters have been corrected in post #47.

The Training Section of S.O.E. - Special Training Schools Including Their War Establishments