For London-based secretary, Peggy Jacobsen, joining a cause in the Second World War was “the obvious thing to do”. Her mission to help was set in motion shortly after a friend of her father’s came to dinner one evening. Peggy’s journey as a member of the FANY began in the summer of 1939, “roughing it” at Mytchett Camp, where she trained for the corps. After that, her unit became “really and truly mobilised”. The FANYs were originally founded as motor companies. Some members possessed technical skills, which made them good mechanics. Others, including Peggy, showcased their excellence at typewriters. Following a split that took place within the corps, Peggy was absorbed into the group known as ‘Free FANYs’, where she worked on administrative tasks in the office. Despite the name, Peggy quipped that she “Didn’t exactly feel very free”. Peggy also became involved with the Polish unit in Scotland and participated in the formation of FANY Headquarters Scotland. Here, the Polish unit provided necessities, including ambulances and drivers, as well as welfare services to the Poles. Throughout the interview, Peggy fondly remembers many friends and fellow FANY members, people she “will never forget”.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Mary Soames OBE delivers a vibrant account of her journey from an ambulance driver for the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANYs) to a colonel in the British Army. She recounts with fondness the memories and occasional challenges that emerged throughout her twenty-six-year career which witnessed the entirety of the Second World War. Initially driving converted bread vans as ambulances at Royal Albert Docks following the outbreak of war, Mary moved to a more senior and administrative role at Streatham Common. As she progressed through her career, Mary undertook more senior roles and responsibilities in a variety of locations and shares the stories she collected along the way, including brief affiliations with the intelligence corps, tales of the Blitz, and interactions with Royal Family members. Mary joined the army in 1942, where she was commissioned as a colonel and remained in this position until her marriage in 1964. Mary’s story reflects some of the struggles that women faced in positions of military authority. Nonetheless, her pride at being a member of FANY and admiration for the remarkable organisation are illuminated throughout her account. Her career was one of remarkable growth and was made all the more commendable with her roles as life vice-president of WRAC Association and chairman of the Benevolent Fund.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

In 1938, Mary joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry in her late teens. When the war started, she was posted to the anti-aircraft area HQ. Her duties included driving officers to gun sites, often several hundred miles. On one trip, a bomb landed nearby, and her car was blown across the road, but no one was injured. Driving through Sheffield and Coventry, after they had been severely bombed, was frightening, especially as her parents lived in Sheffield. In 1942, she wanted an overseas posting, which was refused, so she applied for a commission and became an officer. In 1944, Germany launched the V-1 bombing campaign, and Mary found this unnerving. A bomb landed near a house she was in and blew out all the windows, and being an officer, she had to take charge of the situation. She grew up rapidly during the war and enjoyed the experience, despite the terrible events.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Diana was born in London in 1916, into a class whose activities were the subject of gossip in the newspapers and magazines of the day.  Like so many of her peers, however, she was more than a society lady: she intended to contribute to the war effort and held ambitions to join the ATS.  First, she joined the FANYs and throughout the winter of the Blitz drove a mobile canteen, calling at bomb shelters to support the hungry occupants and feeding the firemen while they fought fires in the bombed buildings. When she did join the ATS, her strong language skills gained during a year living in Germany meant she was assigned a role at Trent Park.  This North London mansion had been requisitioned and adapted by the intelligence service MI19 as a centre for the surveillance of German prisoners of war.  There, she and her colleagues recorded, transcribed and translated conversations between the prisoners which were then used in support of intelligence operations.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Hester reflects on her six and a half years of service during World War II, beginning with her motivations to join after witnessing the growing threat in 1936 Germany. Initially involved in the Red Cross and later the FANYs (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), she trained in driving and basic mechanics, working under tough conditions. She served as an ambulance driver and later as a staff car driver for a brigadier during the Blitz, then rose to officer rank, overseeing women operating radar and artillery equipment. Despite hardships, poor accommodation, difficult vehicles, and ill-fitting uniforms, she recalls camaraderie, humour, and purpose. Her later postings included Ireland and Egypt, with a rewarding trip through the Middle East. Hester also appeared in wartime propaganda photos, helping shift public perceptions of women in service. She recalls both the challenges and deep friendships, describing the experiences as hard work, friendship and challenge.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Irene Buckland was born in 1912. In 1938 she joined the FANYs along with her younger sister Chrystal King (nee Eileen Maud Chrystal Buckland). Their father, Sir Henry Buckland, was the General Manager of The Crystal Palace. They both felt they had been more or less “shanghaied” into joining the FANYs as the Chairman’s wife was part of FANY recruitment. Irene recalls that people wondered who they were when they first appeared in uniform. The FANYs were very proud of their uniform which they felt was much better than the ATS uniform. Both Irene and Chrystal were based initially at Woolwich. Irene was met with some initial distain by the male officers being a female driver but once they knew she could drive they were fine. She joined the Anglo-American FANYs before leaving to look after her parents. She continued in the ARP, however, missed the camaraderie of the FANYs.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Chrystal King OBE was born in 1916. In 1938 she joined the FANYs along with her older sister Irene Buckland. Their father, Sir Henry Buckland, was the General Manager of The Crystal Palace. Chrystal stated that they were more or less “shanghaied” into joining as the Chairman’s wife was part of FANY recruitment. She said that Dad’s Army didn’t have a patch on those early days of the FANYs. Having four family cars their driving skills were soon put into action. Chrystal was immensely proud of her FANY uniform and particularly her hat strap. When the FANYs were eventually absorbed into the ATS, they wanted to keep their tradition and identity by retaining the FANY hat strap; which they did. After the war Chrystal went to Kings College London to complete her Almoners course and obtain her certificate. She then had a proud career with the John Lewis Partnership.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Ann had a practical streak and a good sense of adventure. In the late 1930s, after reading about the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) in a Territorial Army magazine, she and her close friend Lois Ragg decided to join. The organisation appealed to her — hands-on, disciplined, and useful. She trained in map reading, engine maintenance, and gas attack procedures, and took part in pre-war camps, one memorably inspected by Princess Alice. When war broke out, Ann was called up to Northern Command in York, later serving with the 2nd Air Cavalry Division near Nottingham. When the FANY became part of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), she stayed on, completing officer training in Edinburgh and earning her commission. Her wartime service took her across Britain, from northern headquarters to the southern coast, including a key posting in Dorset where she managed transport and logistics for anti-aircraft units, a demanding job she handled with steady efficiency. Later, she transferred to the Education Corps before her discharge in 1945. After the war, Ann’s resourcefulness found a new outlet. She co-founded Decor Studios Limited in London, producing lampshades at a time when the city was rebuilding and reinventing itself. She later married and settled into family life, carrying with her the same calm capability and sense of purpose that had defined her service years. The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

At only 16 years old, Jean Argles felt a calling to serve in the army. By 18, she found herself in London, interviewing for the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY). A critical question was asked in the interview: “Do you do crosswords?” A test of Jean’s aptitude for critical code and cipher work during wartime. With her answer, Jean entered a world of secrecy, decoding messages in operations that took her over the globe. After carrying out her training on Baker Street, she learned of opportunities overseas. Jean’s work took her from London to Egypt, working on the banks of the Nile. She carried out work to code messages for undercover agents in Greece and the Balkans, and also recalls fond memories of exploration in Egypt: nightclubs, horse-riding and visiting the Pyramids. Following this, she volunteered for a new assignment in Italy. Stationed in a small fishing village, Jean supported resistance members, encoding vital messages. When the German army finally surrendered, Jean remained in Italy until September before returning to the UK. Reflecting on her time with the FANYs, she describes it as the most transformative experience of her life. It offered her freedom, confidence, and a sense of purpose. Jean’s story is a testament to the unique opportunities the war presented to women at a time when their roles were otherwise limited. For Jean, the FANYs weren’t only about service, they were a gateway to adventure and independence.

Mildred Schultz recalls how she grew up on a farm and went to school in Walton-on-Thames. She attended a business college in Kingston and from there worked at a shipping company in Cobham. Even though her job was protected, she volunteered and joined the Inter-Services Research Bureau. She explains how she went to work at S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive) headquarters in Baker Street London, realising she was working for the resistance movement, reading and destroying reports. Asked if she would travel abroad, Mildred said ‘yes’ and undertook FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) training at Chicheley Hall in Bedfordshire. From here she was sent to Italy for further training on a boat and describes how they were pursued by U-boats, bombed and machine gunned. In Italy she became the PA to the man in charge of maps and equipment, and then worked as an assistant to the Admin Captain Amos. She recalls spending a snowy Christmas in Monopoli and then onto Siena to the Headquarters of Number 1 Special Force, taking a perilous jeep journey up a mountain road with boulders near the front-line with guns aimed at them. On a lighter note, Mildred remembers a makeshift Christmas service under a derelict chapel with many nationalities, some of whom had escaped from Prisoner of War camps, and also Germans who had escaped and given up, all singing carols together.

Joan Taylor, a member of the Women's Transport Service First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), served in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II. Born in London, Joan's family relocated to Buckinghamshire and later to Surrey due to the war. At 19, Joan joined FANY, attracted by its unique reputation and diverse roles. She underwent training at Overthorpe Hall in Banbury, learning Morse code, coding, and other essential skills. Later, at Fawley Court and Thame, she honed her skills in wireless operation and coding, working with agents who were being trained for deployment in occupied countries. Joan's service took her to various locations, including Grendon Hall, where she worked as part of an operational team transmitting messages to and from agents in the field. She was later deployed to Massingham in North Africa, where she continued her signals work, primarily supporting missions in France and Italy. After Massingham, Joan was stationed in Bari and Siena, Italy, where she continued her signals work until the war's end. She reflects on her wartime service with pride, recognising the importance of her role in supporting the Allied effort.

Yvonne Baseden’s remarkable wartime experience began with her service in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). While working at the Directorate of Allied Air Cooperation and Foreign Liaison, she met Pearl Witherington, who—unknown to Yvonne—was an agent for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). It was this connection that Yvonne believes led to her being recruited by the SOE.  Due to the SOE’s covert nature, Yvonne was officially attached to the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), a common practice for female agents during World War II. Bilingual in English and French, she was considered a natural fit for operations in occupied France. Her first mission involved parachuting into France as a wireless operator to assist the French Resistance. However, after successfully completing Operation Cadillac—a major arms drop supporting liberation efforts—her location was compromised. Captured and transferred to Dijon prison, she was interrogated and faced threats of being sent to Gestapo headquarters in Paris. Despite this, Yvonne never revealed her true identity as an English agent, maintaining her cover as a French Resistance fighter.  Instead of being sent to Paris, Yvonne was transferred to Ravensbrück, the largest female-only concentration camp. She recalls the pressure of concealing her SOE status, aware that other female English agents in the camp had been executed. Fortunately, Yvonne was rescued by the Swedish Red Cross in the final days of the war and taken to Malmö, Sweden for recovery before safely returning home.