History Browser

An account of S.O.E. operations in Malaya and Burma in 1945. Featured are the stories of Canadians who were among the Force 136 agents.

A look at the careers of two French Canadian secret agents, Lucien Dumais and Raymond LaBrosse, and their adventures in occupied France helping Allied airmen escape.

Dedication to the booklet "Uncommon Courage: Canadian Secret Agents in the Second World War" has a brief introduction followed by a listing of names.

Of an estimated 1,800 Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) agents sent into occupied France between 1941 and 1945, only 25 men were Canadians. This site takes a look at some of these courageous men and their daring exploits.

When Yugoslavia was invaded by the Germans in April 1941, many Canadians who were born in Yugoslavia, or whose parents were born there, volunteered to go in as secret agents to assist in the country's liberation from the Nazis. To find people of Yugoslav background who spoke Serbo-Croatian, S.O.E. actively recruited among Yugoslav emigrants in Canada. This website talks about some of these courageous men.

On February 8, 1944, near Littoria, Italy, Reconnaissance Sergeant Thomas George Prince was spying on the Germans. During what would become a 24-hour solo watch, Prince's communication line was severed by shelling. With courage and cleverness, he rejoined the wires in full view of German soldiers. Tommy Prince was one of 59 Canadians who were awarded the Silver Star during the Second World War.

Description of what S.O.E. secret agents experienced in Northern Borneo during World War Two. Five Chinese-Canadian agents are mentioned.

Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) was quite active in Italy after the overthrow of Mussolini in 1943, working with Italian Resistance groups in anti-German sabotage and harassment. This site features the stories of two Canadians, John (Giovani) di Lucia and George Robert Paterson, who worked for the S.O.E. as secret agents in Italy.

The experience of S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive) secret agents in Asia during World War Two is described.

We all know that many Canadians fought with the Allied forces to defend democracy during the Second World War. Many of these people were killed or wounded and all made tremendous sacrifices serving their country. Not so well known are the contributions of a small, but unique, group of Canadians who served the cause of freedom in a different way - those who volunteered to be "secret agents". The stories on this website are only a handful taken from the many that are known.