Intentar ORO - Gratis
The female spy mistress who never gave up on her agents
Daily Express
|January 14, 2025
Dame Vera Atkins never got over the guilt of losing many of her women spies, dropped into France during the Second World War before being betrayed, captured and tortured. A new drama-documentary tells of their courage... and hers
A QUARTER of a century ago, boxes containing top-secret files that were supposed to have been destroyed at the end of the Second World War were found in a Cornish garden shed. Neatly indexed and sealed, they detailed the hidden lives and code names of our first female agents who were sent illegally to the front line. Spy mistress Vera Atkins had technically committed treason by keeping the papers, breaking the Official Secrets Act, but the for- mer intelligence officer had an important reason for doing so.
She was determined these brave heroines and their sacrifices would not be forgotten after dozens of them failed to return home after the war. So, in defiance of the authori- ties and the law, Vera kept the documents safe and hidden.
The agents' full story and that of the lady who led them will begin tonight in the TV docu-drama series The Lost Women Spies, starring Kat Kumar as agent Noor Inayat Khan and Sian Altman as Vera. It is thought to be the first time television has focused on the women of the Secret Operations Executive, nicknamed Churchill's Secret Army, after production firm World Media Rights gained access to Vera's files.Alan Griffiths, the TV company's boss, says: "There are very few series about what happened after the war ended and, in many ways, the aftermath was as horrifying as the war itself - particularly for Vera Atkins."
By 1942, Winston Churchill desperately needed foreign agents in occupied France and although women were not allowed to fight on the front line and had no protection under international law, the then Prime Minister ignored the red tape and nodded through an illegal plan to send women spies behind enemy lines.
Esta historia es de la edición January 14, 2025 de Daily Express.
Suscríbete a Magzter GOLD para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9000 revistas y periódicos.
¿Ya eres suscriptor? Iniciar sesión
MÁS HISTORIAS DE Daily Express
Daily Express
'Arson attack as I soaked in hot tub gave me flashbacks'
Neighbour walks free from court after torching gazebo
1 mins
November 17, 2025
Daily Express
HOW I GOT THE PYTHONS BACK TOGETHER...!
Comedy historian Robert Ross on achieving the impossible in his warm and colourful new biography of the late actor, director and author Terry Jones
6 mins
November 17, 2025
Daily Express
Vicky: I let nerves get in the way
Geordie Shore star is 7th celeb to exit Strictly
1 mins
November 17, 2025
Daily Express
How Denmark gets it right on migrants
THE BRITISH Government is right to look to Denmark for inspiration on immigration.
2 mins
November 17, 2025
Daily Express
Angela Rayner 'plot to replace Sir Keir in No 10'
ANGELA Rayner has been accused of openly plotting for a leadership bid against Keir Starmer, months after being forced out of government.
1 min
November 17, 2025
Daily Express
AUSTRALIA IN A RIGHT OLD MESS
MITCHELL JOHNSON says alarm bells are \"ringing loud and clear\" for Australia after a double injury blow exposed cracks in their ageing squad.
1 min
November 17, 2025
Daily Express
TANTRUMS AND TIRANAS
Jude warned he has to 'accept' Tuchel decisions
1 mins
November 17, 2025
Daily Express
Kane in great company as perfect group gains momentum
HARRY PASSES PELE WITH ANOTHER DEADLY DOUBLE
3 mins
November 17, 2025
Daily Express
ALL WE NEED TO KNOW ON BURNING CANDLES
Filling our homes with scented candles could be detrimental to our health over time.
1 min
November 17, 2025
Daily Express
THOSE WHO BENEFIT FROM THESE CHANGES CAUSED THE SUFFERING
OUR cousin Jan was murdered, writes Ayse Hussein. Nothing can ever prepare you for that. The day she died, our family's world shattered.
1 min
November 17, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size
