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A veteran interview with

Margaret Jackson

Margaret Jackson was PA to SOE’s Director of Operations, Major-General Sir Colin Gubbins.

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About Margaret Jackson

Margaret Jackson had an international outlook on life, having been brought up in Argentina and completed a modern languages degree. She initially worked for Chatham House then joined the War Office in MI(R) in Paris under Colonel Gubbins, liaising with the Czechs and Poles. After evacuation from St Malo, she moved briefly to Coleshilll House where Colonel Gubbins was raising secret companies to form a resistance in case of invasion, and in December 1940 to Baker Street when Gubbins became head of SOE.

As someone who was involved with SOE for virtually its whole existence, Margaret Jackson offers a fascinating insight into the unseen world of secretarial support which enabled SOE, and other organisations, to function. She talks extensively about the key officers involved, the culture of secrecy that was taken for granted, the inter-service politics of setting up SOE, relations with de Gaulle and the highest levels of access to information that secretaries enjoyed.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martyn Cox
Reviewed by:
Andy Voase

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Home | Veterans | Margaret Jackson

A veteran interview with

Margaret Jackson

Margaret-Jackson-2

Margaret Jackson was PA to SOE’s Director of Operations, Major-General Sir Colin Gubbins.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Jackson, Margaret. A Veteran Interview with Margaret Jackson. Interview by Martyn Cox. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margaret-jackson/. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
APA Style:
Jackson, M. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Margaret Jackson [Interview by Martyn Cox]. Legasee. Retrieved May 18, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margaret-jackson/
Chicago Style:
Jackson, Margaret. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Margaret Jackson. Interview by Martyn Cox. Legasee. Accessed May 18, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margaret-jackson/
Harvard Style:
Jackson, M. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Margaret Jackson. [Interviewed by Martyn Cox]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margaret-jackson/ (Accessed: 18 May 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Jackson, M. A Veteran Interview with Margaret Jackson [Internet]. Interview by M. Cox. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 May 18]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margaret-jackson/
An interview with

Ann Bonsor

Ann Bonsor was a Wireless operator at SOE's 'Massingham' base in Algeria.

Ann Bonsor shares her experience of joining the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) and undergoing complex training as a wireless telegraphist. Despite challenging shifts in confined spaces, Ann and her colleagues enjoyed their work. Sent to various locations including Algiers, Corsica, the south of France, and Sicily, they also worked at SOE bases in London and Cairo. Many women couldn't keep up, but Ann persevered, maintaining both her position and an active social life. Her time with FANY was exciting but also a reminder of the serious nature of their work. After 15 months in North Africa, Ann was transferred to SOE in Bari and then Sienna. As work slowed, she set up an educational course for younger FANY members. Ann fondly recalls her time in FANY as a tremendously rich experience.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martyn Cox
An interview with

Peter Steele

Peter shares his unique experiences of going from P&O bar manager to delivering troops to the Falklands with SS Canberra.

Peter was 18 when he started working for P&O on the SS Canberra. Having attended catering college, Peter first worked as a silver service waiter and was quickly promoted to running all the bars. The liner had just been on a world cruise and heading home from Hong Kong when they detoured to Gibraltar to pick up military personnel, rumours flew round about the Falklands and finally they heard the Canberra was being requisitioned. Peter volunteered to remain, in his words for “pride and love of the ship”, never thinking at that stage that anything serious would happen to them. Peter recalls the physical transformation to the ship including the incorporation of two helicopter pads. He also tells us that the first night running the bars and nightclub felt like a party and he worried they were going to run out of beer. They quickly brought in rationing after that. The rapport with the commandos was good and some are still friends to this day. They had to do lots of training for abandoning ship and it was very apparent that, if hit, there weren’t the resources to get everyone off. It became Peter’s responsibility to look after passenger mustering for evacuation. Peter recalls the incredible amount of ships at Ascension Island and the shocking news that, contrary to their contracts, they were being asked to go into the Falklands. Again, he chose to stay with the ship. It was a beautiful day when they arrived in the San Carlos waters and started offloading troops. For a time, Peter thinks they might just have succeeded without detection but all that quickly changes. He describes the chaos and confusion for those, like himself, with no military training when Argentinian aeroplanes start flying over. Peter also recalls his disbelief at seeing the QE2 as he couldn’t believe they would send a ship bearing the Queen’s name into conflict. Thankfully, they come through unscathed but a false report is issued that the Canberra was sunk which shocks family at home. Peter describes the amazing return they experienced with family and friends as well as the Royal Marine band on the quayside. Peter explains that it is difficult to talk about this time but he is proud of his involvement.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Philip Rentell

Philip offers a unique and detailed perspective on the Falklands War in his capacity as Liaison Officer onboard the Queen Elizabeth II.

Philip’s career at sea has covered a range of experiences including working his way up from cadet to third mate on a cargo shop and a summer season on a hovercraft, which he calls “the original vomit comet” making journeys across the Channel. He joined the Queen Elizabeth II in 1978 and spent 10 years working onboard. Philip was meant to be on leave when the ship was requisitioned to attend the Falklands but he honourably stepped up and offered to swap with a married man. As a Cunard employee, but having spent time in the Royal Navy Reserves, Philip was well placed to become the Liaison Officer between ship operations and the military. He describes in detail the changes made to the QE2 to make the ship ready for transporting over 3000 troops and the technical difficulties they had to surmount. He also recalls the press interest in the ship and how visiting dignitaries, such as the Foreign Secretary, would have to be accommodated. Philip says the mix of personnel worked well and most people rehearsed a number of roles due to the uncertainty ahead, in particular, the Gurkha troops were incredibly diligent in practicing evacuation drills. The closer they get, the more the reality hits of what is ahead as they receive news of casualties and sunken warships. Icebergs are a real threat too and having to travel without radar (in case of detection) was risky. One treacherously foggy day a Cunard officer switched the radar back on and just as well he did because it alerted them to icebergs all around. Even anchoring the ship at Grytviken was dangerous as the water was so deep. Philip is able to recall in detail the operations taking place followed by a complex refuelling process to get them home safely. The return was very emotional as they were the first major ship to get back and carrying hundreds of survivors. They were welcomed home by the Queen Mother. Philip reflects that this time was a huge adventure and not something he could ever have imagined being part of as a normal Merchant Navy sailor.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker