17 Jun 2021

Today I received the scanned pages of Emil Gustav Hvaal’s SOE personnel file from the National Archives1. It consists of 11 scanned images or various documents and filing cards as follows:

Image 1 - Cardboard cover of a loose leaf file with HS 9/772/4 written across it

Image 2 - Punched sheet headed ARCHIVES and stamped SECRET.

HVAAL Emil is typed above the heading. RA ARCHIVES B9 stamped below.

Hand written in pencil: D.O.B. 27 9. 08 DEC 19 10. 1943

Images 3 and 4 - Index cards from a rolodex. Typed information overwritten in pencil and multiple different pens

P.T.C. 11.8.41

NORWEGIAN. NO PERSONAL FILE.

HVAAL, Emil ANCHOR [hand written in red ink]

Pte. N.A. Party 26G

Born: 27.9.1908 at Svarstad

Home Town: Tønsberg

Civil Occptn: W/T operator

English: Good.

Hand written to the right in pencil: Dead

TRAINING

Enlisted: 24.7.41 (Blindheim’s Squad)

Courses: Stodham Park (26.7.41), Meoble (17.8.41) [handwritten in blue ink], Grendon Hall 13.9.41 – 22.1.42 [last date handwritten in black ink]

Remarks 2.8.41: Married. Was employed by a whaling company since 1925. Arrived at Fleetwood from Freetown, Dakar, on 2.5.1940. Joined British Navy as W/T operator on 7.6.40 and remained as such until joining Army. 11 years’ experience of W/T operating.

16.8.41 S.T.S.3 – Very reliable man. takes a lot of trouble and has displayed interest and keenness. Rather out [continues on following card] standing. Has had 11 years’ experience as a W/T operator

17.4.42 sailed from Shetland for work in the field

[handwritten in blue ink] 19.10.43 Executed by the Germans in Oslo. Sgt. HVAAL was captured on 21st April 1942 at TELLEVAAG. It was rumoured that he was in hospital for some while and later he was sentenced to death by the German Police Court in Norway for aiding the Allies. It was reported that he was executed on 19th October 1943 near Oslo.

STS.3 was Stodham Park, initially the depot school for Scandinavian Section, involving preliminary training for Norwegians and Danes.¹

STS23 was Meoble Lodge at Lock Morar on West coast of Scotland

Station 53a was Grendon Hall initially used as a base for MI6, and was then a training centre/signals centre for the Special Operations Executive