Her Secret Service

Her Secret Service by Claire Hubbard-Hall meticulously uncovers the veiled roles women have played within British secret intelligence since the establishment of the Secret Service Bureau in 1909. This riveting history presents the previously untold stories of women whose remarkable contributions have been overshadowed by their male counterparts. Through extensive research and access to private and once-classified documents, Hubbard-Hall brings forth the pivotal narratives of these unsung heroines.

In this compelling narrative, readers will explore the multifaceted roles women held—from encoding orders and decrypting enemy messages to crafting propaganda and infiltrating hostile organisations. This book shines a light on the indispensable work carried out by these women during both World Wars, painting a comprehensive picture of their instrumental involvement in securing British military operations.

The pages of Her Secret Service introduce us to an array of formidable women who safeguarded Britain's military secrets. Among them is Kathleen Pettigrew, who served as the personal assistant to the Chief of MI6, Stewart Menzies, and proclaimed, 'I was Miss Moneypenny, but with more power'. Jane Archer, the first female MI5 officer, is also spotlighted for her prescient suspicion of Soviet spy Kim Philby, long before his exposure. The narrative further recounts the daring exploits of Winifred Spink, the pioneering female officer despatched to Russia in 1916.

Claire Hubbard-Hall’s meticulously researched account does more than just rescue these silenced voices from the annals of history; it celebrates their significant, yet often overlooked, contributions to the intelligence services. Her Secret Service is an authoritative text that provides a definitive appreciation of the vital roles women played in the shadowy world of espionage, reinforcing their place in the historical landscape of British intelligence.