The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) is the foreign intelligence service of the United Kingdom. As the name suggests, its role is to protect the UK's national security through covert overseas missions. The SIS was formed in 1909, mainly due to concerns that German spies were targeting the British Empire. Under the supervision of former Royal Navy Officer, Mansfield Cumming, the SIS came up with a number of creative ways to monitor suspicious activity. One such method was to hire women as clerks, drivers and secretaries, many of whom earned a higher wage than their peers. Of course, some of these women were also involved in espionage — floating under the radar as dancers, florists and homemakers.
Edith Cavell
Due to its secretive nature, it's difficult to know precisely how many women participated in these early illicit missions. Edith Cavell is one of the most famous female British spies. She used her position as a charge nurse to aid in the escape of two-hundred Allied soldiers from German-occupied Belgium. Sadly, she was caught by Germans and was executed.
Maude Muller was another secret agent whose mission came in a surprising form. The colonel in the British secret service requested Maude's assistance while she was on holiday in Canada. Her task was to befriend the elevator operator at the hotel where she was staying, allowing her to track his involvement with German spies. Due to her work, seven spies were arrested.
Britain was not the only country employing women, however. Germany also had an extensive spy service made exclusively of women. German citizen Felice Schmidt was exiled from Germany in 1915 as part of an illicit operation where she settled in London in hopes of seducing Britain’s Secretary of State for War.
Did you learn something new? If you enjoy learning about women's roles in WWI and the secret service then you don't want to miss the 12th Ginger Gold Mystery, Murder on Fleet Street.
Murder’s a Deadly Secret
Mrs. Ginger Reed—the former Lady Gold—thought her past was dead and buried, but when the mysterious death of a British Secret Service agent threatens to expose her own Great War secrets, she’s faced with an unimaginable dilemma: break her legal vow to the Official Secrets Act or join the agency again, something she’s loathed to do.
Because once they own your soul, there’s no getting it back.
Murder on Fleet Street is not available for pre-order. It will be available for purchase on January 31st, 2020. Stay tuned!
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New Journal Entry
We are entering the war years! Keep reading the journal to find out how Ginger ends up becoming part of the secret service. If you're not following and you'd like to, the Journal is available to my newsletter subscribers. You can subscribe HERE.
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Valentine's Day Sneak Peak...
Check out this fun little project I'm doing with author Beth Byers! We'll be hosting a fun Valentine's contest, and maybe even a Facebook Party. Stay tuned!
The worlds of Ginger Gold and Violet Carlyle collide in this fun Valentine Mystery short story. Click on the button below to read the blurb.
Ps. It's available for pre-order!
the books look good and love to have the older one
congrats on the release on vlantine day and they look greeat books
This brief little bit has made me interested in reading this. You always wonder about some people and what they did in their lifes years ago.
It was fascinating and very interesting to read about the brave and courageous women who served in the British Secret Service. I’m actually reading a historical fiction novel about women who served in the British Secret Service and their lives after the war so this article was perfect.
What an interesting slice of history.
Love historical based works….this sounds amazing!
The book sounds so very interesting and informative. Thanks for this amazing chance.
Sounds like another great read. Can’t wait to read it:)
That’s really interesting!
Love reading your books…
I enjoyed reading about the WWI women spies! Murder on Fleet Street sounds like another great read!
Wow! Such interesting and brave women! I just love all the information you give us.
Cool
I have received two emails recently about their being new entries in Ginger’s journal for the war years and her involvement in the secret service. However, I have read all the journal entries that I am able to access, and it stops when Daniel receives a letter from the King asking him to return to England, in July 1914. How can I access the journal entries promised in the emails?
Hi Gaylene,
Thanks for taking the time to write me a note. I always appreciate hearing from my readers!
I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the journal and are eagerly anticipating learning more about Ginger’s secretive past. The last journal entry was titled “July 31, 1914” which I believe you have already read. Ginger’s involvement in the Secret Service will be slowly unveiled over the next several journal entries ~ I apologize if the titles felt misleading! A new entry is scheduled to be released on February 7th, with more to follow as soon as possible. Stay tuned!
This series sounds so good. Looking forward to reading it!
I am glad that the role of women in WWII is getting more attention than just the story of Rosie the Riveter.
My husband was with the US Secret Service when we met.
So exciting! I love the projects, especially the new book with Beth Byers. What a great combo with Violet and Ginger!!
It’s really interesting learning about these women spies.
Looking forward to continuing the series!
This had to be a very scary time. I truly admire these brave and courageous women! I would like to think that I would have stepped up to do the same if I was alive at the time.