Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

In the early days of the Second World War, the threat of a Nazi invasion hung in the air. Bombs rained down on cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff as everyday people ran to shelters, gas masks in hand to evade the deadly attacks. 

Though the invasion never came, many still talk about the brave Spitfire pilots who defended the skies and the Home Guard who were ready to protect the country’s coast and factories.

But others were also ready to defend their country to death if German forces invaded Britain. 

These were Britain’s Secret Defences – civilian teams of spies, assassins and saboteurs who created a network of protection across the country.  

One of those people lived on Wood Street in Bargoed. Her name was Elsie Rees. 

Elsie (née Jones) was born in Troedyrhiw in 1915 before moving to Heolddu Avenue in Bargoed.

She married Major Glyndwr Rosser “Glyn” Rees in 1942, who served overseas with the Indian Army.

During the war, Elsie carried on living in Bargoed with her family and worked as a solicitor’s clerk.

No one in her family knew about her secret past until she died in 2003. 

Elsie’s great nephew, Phil Smith, told Caerphilly Observer more about uncovering the shocking truth – she was part of the Special Duties Branch.

He said: “We never found out until we were cleaning the house after she and my uncle had both died. And she had never mentioned it to anybody, as far as we know, for the whole of her life.”

Phil and his family discovered three letters among Elsie’s things: two routine Stand Down messages sent to all Special Duties personnel, and a third requesting Elsie to give back all work-related papers and maps.

What was the Special Duties Branch?

Second World War historian Andy Chatterton, who has written a book on the secret civilian forces called Britain’s Secret Defences, explained what Elsie’s role would have entailed.

He said: “Special Duties Branch was made up of mothers and elderly couples and vicars, and doctors and publicans. 

“People who could stand on their local streets and literally watch the German army march through.

“They were those types of people that the Germans wouldn’t have noticed even like a mother pushing a pram along a High Street, [or an] elderly woman hobbling along.”

Taking note of how quickly some European nations were conquered, these forces were part of Britain’s plan to resist.

Andy added: “This is all about allowing those in command to make informed, tiny decisions about British counterattack.”

And while no invasion ultimately came, people like Elsie would have needed to practice. 

She would have learnt about German uniforms and insignia, being regularly tested while going about her everyday life. 

Andy continued: “These people were highly trained in recognising insignia and weapons and they’d mark all this information down.”

They would have been required to not only observe but relay information like how many troops there were, regiments, equipment, vehicles and what direction they were travelling in. 

But passing on this information wasn’t as simple as just making a phone call or handing over a note.

Andy added: “They’d write it down on a piece of rice paper and put it under their tongue and then go to a dead letter drop. So this could be anything from an Oxo cube gravy tin on a window sill or a loose brick in a churchyard.

“It was quite a risky role because if you’re caught with some kind of weird message…the natural assumption is from everyone else that you’re a German spy, not a British one.”

Despite no one in her family knowing about Elsie’s secret, looking back there were a few unexplained absences, according to Phil.

Phil continued: “My aunt would disappear off for a couple of days at a time and my grandmother used to give her a row basically and say, you know, you’re a married woman. What the hell do you think you’re playing at?”

Elsie had a complementary character for the role, as Phil said: “She was a very efficient woman, my Aunt. And very much driven by etiquette. Everything had to be done the right way.”

He continued: “Even when me and my brother were young she would insist that we walked on the outside because that’s what a gentleman does.”

It is believed that Elsie may have been recruited by her boss, the solicitor Mr David John Treasure, who was the Key Man of Rudry Suboutstation – where Elsie was posted.

What were the other secret civilian forces?

Along with the Special Duties Branch, there were other civilian secret forces including the Auxiliary Units and Section VII.

Auxiliary Units were made up of “fit young men” who were specially trained and would “disappear” to underground bunkers after a German invasion. Their roles were highly dangerous and they were only expected to attack – and survive -in the short term.

Section VII would have become active once Britain had been defeated and would have acted as a “British resistance”.  

While there may not have been any guns or grenades involved in intelligence work like Elsie’s, she was still at great risk, according to Andy. 

He said: “This was designed to give those in command a kind of timely picture of what the Germans were up to. 

“So a really important role and a suicidal one.”

The threat of danger would have continued until the groups were disbanded in 1944. 

Andy added: “We’ve got the paperwork to show that in the run-up to D-day in June 1944, the Special Duties branch were using their skills to essentially spy on our own population.” 

This was to make sure the operation went ahead as planned. 

Why is it important to learn about these groups?

All of the secret civilian forces were bound by the Official Secrets Act and so there is still lots more to learn about these groups, according to Andy. 

He said: “We’re learning new things all the time. We need to know so much more about the Special Duties Branch and we know hardly anything about Section VII at all.”

For all of these people, being bound to secrecy has meant a lifetime without recognition. 

Andy added: “They didn’t get any public recognition. And it’s too late for 99.9% of them who have already passed away.

“But those that are remaining and those families who are remaining, giving them the recognition that they so deserve, giving them the acknowledgement of what they were prepared to sacrifice – the ultimate sacrifice – for the country in its kind of darkest hour, I think is really important.”

The same goes for Phil, who has shared the story in several Facebook groups and wants to make sure that Elsie’s story lives on. 

He said: “I just thought the story should be shared.”

He posted it online on the Gelligaer Historical Society group and other local groups and said: “I have to say I’ve had an amazing response from all three of those posts. 

“People have been messaging me either leaving messages on Facebook or private messaging me saying, ‘What an amazing woman.’”