During the Second World War the British government established the Special Operations Executive (SOE) for the purpose of coordinating âall action by way of subversion and sabotage against the enemy overseasâ. Although the overseas operations of this branch of the British Secret Services are relatively well known few studies have explored the âbackroom sectionsâ of this organisation. This book draws together the infrastructure developed to support an agentâs âjourneyâ from recruitment to despatch to the field. At the start of the Second World War there were few existing facilities established within the UK to support clandestine operations. As the conflict progressed in parallel to learning the operational procedures of their trade SOE also had to rapidly expand their support infrastructure around the world. The organisation could effectively support their agents only by establishing facilities dedicated to training research and development supply transportation communication and command and control. By predominately focusing on the organisationâs âagent facingâ infrastructure this book provides a backdrop to the brave men and women who conducted operations abroad. In addition it gives an overview of the facilities in which SOEâs backroom staff lived and worked. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of archaeology history and war studies. . Language: English