The White Lady

Author Helen Fry returns for the launch of her new book, which focuses on two key intelligence networks operating behind enemy lines during the World Wars.

Intelligence gathering was crucial for both sides in the First and Second World Wars. At the heart of Britain’s secret service efforts were two networks operating in Belgium.

Formed in 1916, the White Lady network (also known as La Dame Blanche) served as couriers, radio operators and spies, helping to undermine German control. When war broke out again two decades later, the leaders of this network regrouped to establish a successor, Service Clarence.

These agents risked their lives and devised clever methods to smuggle intelligence out of occupied Belgium. Field operators sent over 800 radio messages to London and delivered more than a thousand reports, including groundbreaking information on Hitler’s secret weapon, the V-1 flying bomb.

In this engaging talk, Helen Fry will trace the history of these vital intelligence networks. Utilising recently declassified information, she will examine who the agents were, how they were recruited, and the impact of their intelligence on the outcomes of both conflicts. 

About the speaker

Helen Fry is a historian, biographer and author. She has written over 20 books on intelligence, prisoners of war and the social history of the Second World War. Helen regularly appears in media interviews and on podcasts, and has contributed to numerous documentaries.