Malcolm Havard

I write historical fiction for one simple reason: I love history! I always carry out research for my books to ensure their accuracy and have done so for other genres but, as I read a lot of history anyway, researching for historical fiction I find far easier than any other.

This has certainly been true for The Gambler’s Daughter.The birth of this novel actually came from a book I read for pleasure; TheHeroines of the SOE by Squadron-Leader Beryl Escott. Not only did I learnabout the training of SOE agents but also came across an intriguing mention of where agents were sent if they failed this training: Inverlair Lodge in the
Scottish Highlands. I was even more intrigued when I found out that Inverlair was the inspiration for a TV programme I loved, The Prisoner, but also was where the term The Cooler came from. Failed agents were put on ice
there.

So that’s what started it. Down the rabbit holes again,finding out about the real places in the story of the SOE and weaving a story around them.

Basically the process which makes me love being a historical novelist!

The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a secret British organisation established in 1940 to conduct espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance in occupied Europe and to support local resistance movements. To fulfil its mission, the SOE established a network of training and holding facilities across the UK. Among the most notable were Beaulieu in Hampshire, Wadden Hall, and Inverlair Lodge in Scotland. Each played a unique role in the preparation, support, or containment of SOE agents.

Beaulieu was perhaps the most famous of the SOE’s training centres, often referred to as the "Finishing School" for secret agents. Situated on the Beaulieu estate, the site was requisitioned for the war effort and became the final stage of training for SOE agents before they were sent into occupied Europe. Over 3,000 agents, both men and women, passed through Beaulieu, where they learned the "dark arts" of clandestine warfare: sabotage, silent killing, coding, clandestine communications, black propaganda, and survival techniques.

Agents at Beaulieu were taught by a mix of former spies, professional criminals, and even double agents. The curriculum included everything from secret inks and safe-blowing to housebreaking and forgery. The training was designed to be as realistic and stressful as possible, including mock interrogations and resistance to torture. The secrecy was so intense that even the Montagu family, whose estate was used, were unaware of the true nature of the activities.

Wadden Hall served as a secure training centre for both the SOE and the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, now MI6). While not as famous as Beaulieu, it was known for its comfort and security, providing a discreet environment for the final stages of agent preparation. Staff and guests were security cleared, and the facility was run with strict discipline and secrecy.

The curriculum at Wadden Hall included hand-to-hand combat, weapons training, and the development of cover identities. The environment was designed to simulate the pressures agents would face in the field, including mock interrogations and psychological stress tests. The staff included ex-military personnel and experienced intelligence officers.

While specific records are scarce due to the secretive nature of the SOE, it is known that agents such as Virginia Hall, one of the most celebrated SOE operatives, underwent similar training regimens at SOE facilities.

Inverlair Lodge played a unique and somewhat controversial role in the SOE network. Officially known as No. 6 Special Workshop School, it was used as a holding and internment facility for agents who, for various reasons, could not be deployed on operations. This included those who had failed training, were considered security risks, or simply "knew too much" to be released back into civilian life. The lodge was remote, secure, and comfortable, earning it the nickname "The Cooler".

Agents at Inverlair were not under armed guard but were closely supervised. They were kept occupied with tasks such as mending boots and collecting scrap metal, and were sometimes allowed supervised trips to nearby towns. The aim was to keep them isolated from the public and from leaking sensitive information. The facility also briefly held high-profile prisoners, including, reportedly, Rudolf Hess after his flight to Scotland in 1941.

Inverlair Lodge’s role as a "retirement home for spies" inspired later fictional works, including the TV series "The Prisoner." Its existence highlights the SOE’s concern with operational security and the lengths to which it would go to protect secrets.