Secret WW2

“Rupert Everett stars as the former British agent, Denis Rake. “It's 1968. An ageing drag performer is waiting to go on as the warm-up act in a Soho's Flamingo club, a cabaret at the bottom of the food chain. In his dressing room he meets the venue's young Australian stage manager, John, who first brings him his post and a bottle of champagne from a nearby bar. “Through their awkward conversations we learn that the older man is a war hero, Major Denis Rake MC. “In a state of reverie, he recalls the glamour but also the danger of his time in occupied Paris as an undercover agent of the Special Operations Executive. “A new play, premiered on Radio 4, inspired by real events. Also starring Reece Budin as John. “The Remarkable Dennis Rake: Denis Rake achieved the rank of Major as well as receiving the Military Cross, Croix de Guerre and Legion D'Honneur. To our knowledge he is the most highly decorated openly gay man in the history of the British Army. He refused point blank to train with weapons and explosives and conducted a love affair with a German officer in occupied Paris.”

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“It is quite extraordinary to be back in the place where Irish secret agent Maureen ‘Paddy’ O’Sullivan once parachuted into occupied France during World War II, landing with such force that she lost consciousness ….”

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17thth August 2025 – our bi-annual Runnymede Air Forces Memorial commemoration of SOE, MI9 agents and special duties aircrew with no known grave. A superb ceremony in excellent weather (and a following lunch for 23 participants) was organised by our Information Officer, Carol Browne. Wreaths placed included those on behalf of the families of F Section SOE agents Yolande Beekman and (by relative John Rolfe) Lilian Rolfe and on behalf of AJEX in memory of MI9 agent Aba Bardicev. Several Friends participated in the ceremony: Chair, Louisa Russell was MC for the occasion; Sheryl Green delivered a bible reading; Paul McCue outlined the agents’ service and read the poem ‘Lilian’ (written by Joan Munden, née Rolfe, a relative of Lilian Rolfe); Ian Titman spoke of Flight Lieutenant James Lamberton, a Lysander pilot who was the representative loss from the Special Duties squadrons; Nick Fox gave the Exhortation and Tracy Watson (Supporter and representing the WAAF, WRAF, RAF(W) Association) the Kohima Epitaph. We were very grateful for the services of locally based bugler Hannah Griffin who played as good a Last Post and Reveillé as any of us had ever heard. Along with Carol, another ‘star’, for the second time, was Runnymede’s local vicar, the Reverend Will Bissett - who served in the British Army and the RAF, including special operations and intelligence elements. Will, now a Supporter of Secret WW2, not only led the thoughtful service, but also acted as piper, both at the beginning and during wreath laying. The Royal British Legion (Surrey) standard bearer party provided their usual smart and professional presence and were joined by the standard bearer of the WAAF, WRAF, RAF(W) Association. Mike Hillman took the excellent photos. Many thanks to all involved.