---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: northern_eur <northern_eur@mail.idf.il>
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 14:00
Subject: FW: SOE in Mandatory Palestine
To: Nconivarad@gmail.com <Nconivarad@gmail.com>

 

 

From: Defence-Admin - Embassy of Israel - London <defence-admin@London.mfa.gov.il>
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2018 12:44 PM
To: northern_eur <northern_eur@mail.idf.il>
Subject: FW: SOE in Mandatory Palestine

 

בוקר טוב,

 

אתמול נפגשנו עם    Mr Paul McCueמארגון SECRET WW2 Learning Network ויש לו ידע היסטוריוני רב עם ה SOE.

 

בשיחה הוא הדגיש 2  בסיסים צבאים שהיו בעבר משומשים ע"י הSOE מש"א חה"י בחיפה בצמוד לסטלה מאריס ורמת דוד. במייל להלן ציין עוד כמה שיכולים להיות רלוונטיים.

 

לגבי המש"א אמר שכבר יש לו חומרים בנושא שיכול לעביר.

 

הוא גם ציין עוד כמה אנשים שהוא מכיר שעוסקים בתחום בין היתר –

 

תא"ל יפתח ספקטור

 

 

 

אשמח לקבל חידוד איזה חומרים ואיזה כיוונים אתם רוצים שנחפש לטובות הפרויקט שנוכל להיות יעילים ביותר.

 

בברכה,

 

ענת

 

From: Defence-Admin - Embassy of Israel - London
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2018 9:30 AM
To: Defence - Attache - Embassy of Israel - London
Subject: FW: SOE in Mandatory Palestine

 

 

 

From: Paul McCue [mailto:paulmmccue@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2018 9:12 AM
To: Defence-Admin - Embassy of Israel - London
Subject: SOE in Mandatory Palestine

 

Anat, Shalom

 

I'm the Trustee of the Secret WW2 Learning Network (an educational registered charity) who has previously been involved with the embassy (Ambassador Regev and Colonel Cahana) regarding the SOE in Mandatory Palestine, now Israel. For the last two years I have also organised the annual commemoration of SOE/Palmach OPERATION BOATSWAIN, the first mission conducted by the Palmach.

 

I did some research in the UK National Archives about a year ago and would be happy to help more if you wish. The main centres for SOE training were:

 

1) (paramilitary) a Special Training School (STS 102) at the Stella Maris monastery on Mt Carmel above Haifa. The facility there also included a camp behind the monastery. While the monastery reverted to its religious use, the camp continued as a military base, firstly for the British Army until 1948 and then for the Israeli military. I believe it came under the Israeli Navy originally, and when I drove past two years ago, it was still a military base. In our UK National Archives I found the SOE 'opening up' order and original staffing establishment of STS 102 and sent it to Ran Cahana. It was at STS 102 that SOE trained members of the Haganah.

 

2) (parachute training) RAF Ramat David - also using the satellite airfield at RAF Megiddo. The former is, of course, still an active Israeli Air Force base, the latter is a civilian airfield. There is at least one building at Ramat David preserved from the British era, but despite my efforts via the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, I was unable to gain access when last in Israel. Since then, I have met and got to know one of the previous base commanders at Ramat David, who tells me he could have easily organised a visit.....

 

Other SOE training from the Haifa STS 102 extended into Lebanon and Syria - ski training, endurance marches etc.

 

There was also SOE/Palmach boat training at Caesaria and special forces training at Atlitt, the latter was predominantly for the Special Air Service (SAS), but I would not be surprised if SOE also used it. If the SAS link is of interest, I have good contacts with the SAS Regimental Association and its historian.

 

I am at your disposal to help further, if required and am often in London if a meeting is required - I have been to a couple of Embassy receptions following my involvement as detailed above.

 

Regards

 

Paul McCue

Trustee

 

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Best Regards,
Niv Arad
International Cooperation Branch
J3 IDF