SPECIAL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE
Copy No. ..................
S E C R E T.
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List of Agent’s Equipment
and
Operational Stores.
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Dec. 1944
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C O N T E N T S.
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Introduction.
Notes on the Selection of Equipment.
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SECTION I Personal Equipment:
A Clothing.
B. Toilet Requisites.
C. Luggage.
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SECTION II Food, Provisions, Emergency Rations.
SECTION Ill Smokers' Requisites.
SECTION IV Camp Equipment.
SECTION V Operational Equipment:
A. Binoculars, telescopes, etc.
B. Packing Materials, Containers, etc.
C. Torches, Lamps & Signalling Devices.
D. Stationery ‒ paper, pens, wallets.
E. General.
F. Weapons.
G. Concealing Devices.
H. Medical
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Introduction.
The object of this catalogue is to assist officers in selecting equipment for agents by making available in
convenient form for reference, a representative list of types of supplies available.
Although the list comprises only articles which have been used, and arrangements for manufacture of
which have already been made, it is emphasised that given sufficient time, almost anything can be
produced.
Any foreign-made article can be copied, though in some cases the preliminary expenses in connection with
tool costs, special printing, etc ., may be so high as to rule out manufacture of any but large quantities.
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NOTES ON THE SELECTION OF EQUIPMENT.
1. The provision of a suitable outfit is essential to the success of a mission and requires just as careful
planning as any other detail of the operation.
2. The clothes, luggage, and personal belongings of an agent, as well as any special equipment
carried openly, should be selected as far as possible so as to fit his cover.
Where something unusual has to be carried, he should be prepared with a suitable explanation in
case he is questioned.
3. Customs Officers with life-long experience in detecting persons who have something to conceal,
rely largely on observing anything unusual about an individual or his possessions.
A workman wearing clothes of unexpectedly good quality, or a person in possession of a book on
a subject not usually of interest to one of his or her type, would be picked out from a number and
questioned, with a view to more detailed search and examination.
4. An agent sent to an enemy or enemy-occupied country in war-time, unless he can enter via a
neutral country, has to take nearly all his requirements with him; even if he goes about openly he will find
it difficult, if not impossible, to buy what he needs.
5. Under present conditions (1944) it is therefore necessary to equip most agents completely before
they leave the U.K., not only with any special operational supplies required, but with clothing, luggage, and
all personal necessities such as toilet requisites, matches, pen, etc., etc.
6. It is obviously impracticable to stock a sufficiently wide range of articles to outfit a man completely
with articles which appear to have been obtained from local resources in any particular district.
Nor would it be worth while having a set of everything made specially for him, as the initial
expenses of copying even a simple thing like German shaving soap and container is very high.
7. A compromise has been made by keeping a stock of some of the more commonly used articles of
pseudo-foreign make, and relying for the rest, on articles not readily identifiable as being of British origin.
It must be remembered that, during the German occupation, Black Market dealings have been so
widespread as to furnish an explanation for being in possession of almost anything.
Much of the immunity from detection which our agents have enjoyed may well have been due to
this particular circumstance, and much more care may be necessary when these conditions do not obtain.
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Section I.
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SECTION I.
Personal Equipment.
A. CLOTHING.
Articles made to order of French, German or other Foreign styles.
BELTS Leather and fabric.
BRACES
BOOT POLISH Black and Brown, and Dubbin.
BOOT REPAIRS OUTFIT Consisting of leather cut to shape for soling and heeling
and the necessary nails, etc.
GLOVES Wool, leather, lined and unlined.
HANDKERCHIEFS White or self-coloured, white with coloured borders.
HATS Felt. Caps cloth or tweed - initials for hatbands.
JACKETS Waterproof or leather.
OVERCOATS
PULLOVERS with sleeves, roll collar, high neck or V-neck.
“” Sleeveless, with V-neck.
PYJAMAS
RAINCOATS
SCARVES
SHIRTS
SOCKS & STOCKINGS
SUITS
TAGS OR LABELS of various countries, for overcoats, suits, shirts and underwear.
Samples available.
TIES
UNDERWEAR
NOTE: Patterns of materials available for suits, overcoats, shirts, raincoats, etc. may be inspected at
any time.
A supply of ready-made suits, shirts, overcoats, raincoats, underwear, and of most Items listed above
is available for Inspection at an address to which agents can be taken.
Materials can be supplied for making up into suits, shirts, overcoats, etc. – this procedure is
recommended when it is possible to arrange for making up to be done locally.
