The Secret Life of Mabel Stranks
READ ALL ABOUT THE SECRET BOY SCOUT WHO DELIVERED MESSAGES FOR MABEL HERE
Secret agent Mabel Stranks is one of World War II's unsung heroes
- and her fascinating efforts were remembered on the BBC's 'The One
Show'.
READ ALL ABOUT THE SECRET BOY SCOUT WHO DELIVERED MESSAGES FOR MABEL HERE
Secret agent Mabel Stranks is one of World War II's unsung heroes
- and her fascinating efforts were remembered on the BBC's 'The One
Show'.The postmistress became an essential part of Winston
Churchill's secret Auxiliary Unit from her position in Highworth's high
street, where she security checked all trainees.
Helping to organise the training of over 2,000 men at the secret
location at Coleshill House, Mabel played a significant part of the
highly-secret campaign from 1940 to 1944.
Coincidentally this was all happening just minutes away from
Sevenhampton, where Bond creator Ian Fleming wrote some of his greatest
stories.
Mrs Stranks was Highworth's Postmistress and the dependable face of village life who sorted the stamps and telegrams for over 25 years.
Her unlikely involvement started after the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 when Churchill ordered the setting up of a crack resistance movement in the UK that would counter any German invasion.
This involved the recruitment of Peter Fleming, brother of Ian
Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels, and Michael Calvert, the
man who went onto set-up the SAS, to organise this special unit and to
train them in the art of specialised resistance fighting.
The headquarters for this secret underground movement was chosen as Coleshill House, just 2 miles outside Highworth and the whole project renamed the unremarkable 'Auxiliary Unit' as a cover.
Fleming and Calvert knew that their entire operation would be compromised if anyone found out what was going on at Coleshill House. They needed complete secrecy and a different address.
And this is where the trustworthy and unassuming Mabel Stranks came in.
Although Swindon has connections with the world's most famous
fictional spy, James Bond, it is the real life story of Mabel Stranks
that is the more remarkable link with world of espionage.
A story that has only recently been recognised with the unveiling of a plaque above the old post office in Highworth.
Mrs Stranks was Highworth's Postmistress and the dependable face of village life who sorted the stamps and telegrams for over 25 years.
What no one knew, not even her close family, was that during the
war years, 1941-45, this grey haired woman played a key role in a
guerrilla army established by Winston Churchill and became a name on
the hit-list of Hitler himself.
Her unlikely involvement started after the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 when Churchill ordered the setting up of a crack resistance movement in the UK that would counter any German invasion.
The headquarters for this secret underground movement was chosen as Coleshill House, just 2 miles outside Highworth and the whole project renamed the unremarkable 'Auxiliary Unit' as a cover.
Coleshill House was aptly renamed the 'Auxiliary Gateway'.
Fleming and Calvert knew that their entire operation would be compromised if anyone found out what was going on at Coleshill House. They needed complete secrecy and a different address.
And this is where the trustworthy and unassuming Mabel Stranks came in.
The Post Office was a perfect 'go-between' with strangers visiting
all the time and the postmistress known for her unassuming nature and
discretion.
The official address of the Auxiliary Gateway therefore became GHQ Auxiliary Units, c/o General Post Office, Highworth, Wiltshire and became the first port of call for all personnel visiting the Coleshill HQ.
When they arrived, they would ask for Mrs Mabel Stranks, give a password and be told to wait.
Some 3,000 civilians were recruited by Auxiliary Units and despatched to Highworth Post Office - all of whom had to pass what came to be known as the 'Stranks test'.
After arriving at Coleshill they were then trained to do
everything from blowing up bridges to slitting throats. They were even
taught how to booby trap toilets in the grand country houses that the
German heirachy would no doubt have taken over had they invaded.
The story even goes that when a certain Field Marshall Montgomery arrived he too was asked to wait in his car while Mrs Stranks checked his credentials!
The bravery of Mrs Stranks cannot be underestimated when one considers that the life expectancy of any of those involved in the Coleshill operation was just 10 days, and that she herself was all too aware of the reprisals that had been meated out by the Germans to the French resistance fighters.
In fact, what is equally remarkable is she never accepted
recognition for her part in this secret operation and never spoke of
her experiences until her death in 1971 at the age of 88, three years
after her involvement was brought to light in the book 'The Last
Ditch'.
Coleshill House burned down in 1952 but some of the secret bunkers still remain, the estate itself owned and run by the National Trust.
Every year an 'Open Day' for the Coleshill village includes a guided tour of the 'Auxiliary Unit' story.
As one of her six grandsons, Brennan Stranks, said during the unveiling of the plaque on what is now Gillians Flowers , 'My grandmother never said a word to me about it. We only know from what different people have told us over the years'.
So, although it took over 60 years to recognise the contribution made by Mrs Mabel Stranks there is now a lasting memorial to an extraordinary lady and the 3000 brave men and women whose first contact with the 'Auxiliary Unit' was the 'Auxiliary Gateway' c/o Highworth Post Office.
Article above written by Swindon Web
READ ALL ABOUT THE SECRET BOY SCOUT WHO DELIVERED MESSAGES FOR MABEL HERE
The official address of the Auxiliary Gateway therefore became GHQ Auxiliary Units, c/o General Post Office, Highworth, Wiltshire and became the first port of call for all personnel visiting the Coleshill HQ.
When they arrived, they would ask for Mrs Mabel Stranks, give a password and be told to wait.
Mabel would then go into her office and make a series of phone calls (very often making visitors wait for hours).
A car would then arrive and those 'screened' as official by Ms
Stranks driven to the Auxiliary Gateway by the most indirect route.
Those suspected by Mabel of being 'unofficial' were taken elsewhere.
Some 3,000 civilians were recruited by Auxiliary Units and despatched to Highworth Post Office - all of whom had to pass what came to be known as the 'Stranks test'.
The story even goes that when a certain Field Marshall Montgomery arrived he too was asked to wait in his car while Mrs Stranks checked his credentials!
The bravery of Mrs Stranks cannot be underestimated when one considers that the life expectancy of any of those involved in the Coleshill operation was just 10 days, and that she herself was all too aware of the reprisals that had been meated out by the Germans to the French resistance fighters.
In fact, what is equally remarkable is she never accepted
recognition for her part in this secret operation and never spoke of
her experiences until her death in 1971 at the age of 88, three years
after her involvement was brought to light in the book 'The Last
Ditch'. Following the book's publication she was asked to take part in a documentary about Auxiliary Unit but declined.
Coleshill House burned down in 1952 but some of the secret bunkers still remain, the estate itself owned and run by the National Trust.
As one of her six grandsons, Brennan Stranks, said during the unveiling of the plaque on what is now Gillians Flowers , 'My grandmother never said a word to me about it. We only know from what different people have told us over the years'.
So, although it took over 60 years to recognise the contribution made by Mrs Mabel Stranks there is now a lasting memorial to an extraordinary lady and the 3000 brave men and women whose first contact with the 'Auxiliary Unit' was the 'Auxiliary Gateway' c/o Highworth Post Office.
Article above written by Swindon Web
READ ALL ABOUT THE SECRET BOY SCOUT WHO DELIVERED MESSAGES FOR MABEL HERE
Coleshill House, Coleshill, Mabel Stranks, Highworth, Highworth Post Office, Colonel Gubbins, Auxiliary Units, Churchill's secret army, Special Operations Executive (SOE), Home Guard, The Countryman's Diary-1939, Peter Fleming, Ian Fleming, Pleydell-Bouveries, Sir Thomas Freake, Sir Henry Pratt, guerrilla warfare
