The Secret WW2 Learning Network is an educational charity registered in the UK - a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) No. 1156796
The story so far ... In the media
May 31, 2018
November 16, 2016
Blue plaques unveiled to Second World War heroes
DAME Vera Lynn sent a special message of congratulations as four blue plaques to honour Brighton's Second World War secret agents were revealed. More than 300 people attended the event at Brighton's Corn Exchange, including relatives of the four Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents who were recognised.
Military representatives from Italy and France, where the four worked undercover, were also present as well as veterans and current servicemen and woman. The four secret agents recognised were Michael Trotobas, Jacqueline Nearne, Ronald Taylor and Edward Zeff.
The event, which is part of week of special talks, was put together by the educational charity The Secret World War Two Learning Network, The Brighton and Hove Commemorative Plaque Panel and the Brighton and Hove Heritage Commission. The blue plaques were unveiled on stage and will be placed around the city in the new year.
November 14, 2016
Second news feature screened on BBC South East Today
The second BRIGHTON'S SECRET AGENTS news feature to be screened by BBC South East Today was presented by Robin Gibson and included excerpts from specially filmed interviews with the SOE and intellgence historian Mark Seaman, biographer Clare Mulley, novelist Elizabeth Buchan and the charity's Martyn Cox. (Click on the Play arrow above to hear the audio from this TV feature.)
BBC South East Today
November 11, 2016
The second coverage of BRIGHTON'S SECRET AGENTS on Radio Sussex - when the charity's Martyn Cox was once again a live guest on Neil Pringle's Breakfast show. (Click on the Play arrow above to listen to this interview.)
BBC Sussex
November 04, 2016
Edward Zeff: The WW2 spy who refused to reveal his secrets
In April 1942, a British submarine surfaced near the coast of Vichy France. Its mission: to infiltrate agents from the Special Operations Executive (SOE) into the region as spies. One of the operatives who landed on French soil that night was Eugene Zoltan.
Trained at SOE centres in Britain, his mission was to serve as a wireless operator near the city of Lyon. In that role he would transmit and receive coded messages, as well as helping other agents enter enemy territory and aiding those attempting to escape the Germans or their Vichy subordinates. But Eugene Zoltan was a cover name, issued to him by the SOE. His real name was Edward Zeff, and he was a 28-year old Brighton-born Jew.
October 31, 2016
Honour for Jewish war hero and camp survivor
A Jewish hero of the wartime Special Operations Executive (SOE) is to be honoured in Brighton next month.
Captain Edward Zeff, MBE, Croix de Guerre – to give him his full title – is one of four men born in the town who are to be honoured on 12 November with plaques at the Corn Exchange, recording their Second World War bravery.
Born in 1904, Zeff was the son of Simon and Hannah Zeff. Simon, a second generation immigrant tailor, became chairman of the Brighton and Hove Jewish Board of Guardians, the precursor of the local branch of Jewish Care.
September 05, 2016
West Hill born Secret Agent remembered
Sussex educational charity the Secret WW2 Learning Network will be honouring four Brighton-born secret agents during Remembrance Week in November.
The four agents are Lieutenant Jacqueline Nearne, Captain Edward Zeff and Captain Michael Trotobas who all operated clandestinely in German-occupied France; and Captain Ronald Taylor who served as a sabotage specialist with Partisan forces in northern Italy. While Nearne, Zeff and Taylor survived the war, Trotobas was killed in 1943 during a shoot-out with German forces in Lille.
June 05, 2016
Honour for the unsung wartime secret agents
A charity hopes to raise the profile of a “little-known wartime hero” and three of her brave colleagues with a very special birthday present.
Sussex educational charity the Secret WW2 Learning Network has unveiled plans to honour four Brighton-born secret agents on the 100th birthday of “one of the bravest daughters of Brighton and Hove” Jacqueline Nearne.
June 01, 2016
News feature screened on BBC South East Today
The BRIGHTON'S SECRET AGENTS news feature shown by BBC South East Today included interviews recorded with the charity's Martyn Cox and also with Roger Amerena, who was interviewed outside Embassy Court (the future site of the Edward Zeff blue plaque) on the day after he'd been elected Chairman of the Brighton & Hove Commemoraive Plaque Panel. (Seen on the right with the BBC correspondent Sara Smith and cameraman Peter Geary)
BBC South East Today
May 30, 2016
Brighton-born secret agents to be honoured
Plans to honour four Brighton-born secret agents were announced on what would have been the 100th birthday of one of them, Jacqueline Nearne. The initiative, which includes unveiling blue plaques, was announced by the Sussex educational charity the Secret WW2 Learning Network.
May 26, 2016
The first media coverage of BRIGHTON'S SECRET AGENTS - when the charity's Martyn Cox was a live guest on Neil Pringle's Radio Sussex Breakfast radio show. (Click on the Play arrow above to listen to this interview.)
May 08, 2016
Live on BBC Radio 4's TODAY programme
MI6 veteran Geoffrey Pidgeon and the Charity's Martyn Cox were interviewed by The Today programme’s Sarah Montague about the commemorative events they've instigated in the Buckinghamshire village of Whaddon, to commemorate its hardly known wartime role.
This tiny village was virtually taken over during WW2 by MI6's Section VIII, to become its top secret communications hub for the dessemmination to the appropriate Allied military units of the vital intelligence obtained by the code-breakers at nearby Bletchley Park. Also at Whaddon was a workshop producing technical equipment for the Britain's secret services including 'suitcase wireless sets' carried by SIS and SOE agents operating behind enemy lines in occupied countries.
More information about this special weekend of events can be found HERE
January 14, 2016
Story of war hero Michael Trotobas finally revealed 70 years after he was killed by the Germans
... even to this day, the name Trotobas is respected and celebrated in Lille. Perhaps now it is time for us to do the same here in Brighton and Hove.
Download a copy of the original feature by clicking HERE
