Australia's Secret Army

In 1972, the IRA allowed an unusual documentary crew to film its members carrying out attacks, with most of its underground leadership appeared on camera. The film looked like a propaganda coup - then it disappeared, largely unseen for almost 50 years, and the IRA never allowed anything like it to happen again. The unearthing of the film sets Darragh MacIntyre off in search of the men who made it, the bombers who willingly showed their faces on camera, and the reason for the film's disappearance.

Just when you thought you knew everything about WWII, Secret War uncovers more incredible stories that exist under the radar. As bombs were dropped from planes, missiles were launched and tanks were deployed all over the world, another kind of war was being waged by the Allies: a secret war – a war of espionage.

‘My mother thought I was working for the Ministry of Ag. and Fish.’ So begins Noreen Riols’ compelling memoir of her time as a member of Churchill’s ‘secret army’, the Special Forces Executive. It was 1941 and, just before her eighteenth birthday, Noreen received her call up papers, and was faced with either working in a munitions factory or joining the WRENS. Liking the look of the Wrens uniform, Noreen opted for that. But when one of her interviewers realized she spoke fluent French, she was directed to a government building on Baker Street. It was SOE headquarters, where she was immediately recruited into F-Section, led by Colonel Maurice Buckmaster.

It was 1941 and, just before her eighteenth birthday, Noreen received her call up papers, and was faced with either working in a munitions factory or joining the WRENS. Liking the look of the Wrens uniform, Noreen opted for that. But when one of her interviewers realized she spoke fluent French, she was directed to a government building on Baker Street.