History Extra podcast The real Miss Moneypennys: the secret history of Britain's female spies
9 snips
Sep 23, 2025 In this engaging discussion, historian Claire Hubbard-Hall reveals the often-overlooked contributions of women in British intelligence, detailing their vital roles from secretaries to spies. She shares fascinating stories of early operatives like Agnes Blake and the challenges they faced in a male-dominated environment. Claire highlights Kathleen Pettigrew's central influence at MI6 and debunks the myth of the femme fatale in spy lore. Ultimately, she emphasizes the progress being made and the legacy these pioneering women have left in the world of espionage.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Research Like A Counterintelligence Officer
- Research intelligence history like a counterintelligence officer by following small traces and building threads.
- Start with names, initials, or photos and persist down rabbit holes to uncover hidden women.
Women As The Hidden Backbone
- Women often worked invisibly in intelligence, doing clerical and records work that made operations possible.
- Claire Hubbard-Hall argues these roles are the cornerstone of intelligence history and deserve recognition.
Agent A: Agnes Blake's Unexpected Recruitment
- MI6 recruited Agnes Blake (Agent A) a few months after the Secret Service Bureau was formed in 1909.
- She was a middle-aged widow and literary translator who used travel and family connections as cover.
