During the COVID 19 lockdown the French widow of a British SOE Officer was admitted to hospital in Paris for surgery which paralysed her leg and she was discharged to a care home which she could not afford. As a girl during WWII, she had delivered food to allied airmen trying to escape capture by hiding in coal mines. The SFCBF were able to step in and pay her care home costs to ensure she was cared for until she died.

A Greek officer who took part in Operation Harling, the SOE led destruction of the Gorgopotomas Bridge in November 1942 which remains one of the greatest acts of sabotage during WWII, suffered financial crisis during the 2008-2018 Greek financial crisis. Following his death, the Fund supported his struggling widow who had herself served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. 

Since 2000 the SFCBF has supported the “Karen” veterans who, in November 1942, fought alongside  SOE’s Force 136 in Burma. They are regarded as the “Forgotten allies of the Forgotten Army”. However, they are not forgotten by SFCBF, and even today, the Charity continues to support some of the now small group of survivors and, when they die, their widows.

A recent example was a highly decorated, former Special Forces operator who, during Covid, was diagnosed with advanced-stage prostate cancer.  Being self-employed, he could not work and relied on his wife’s income.  Shortly after Covid, she was laid off, and with their savings diminished, the couple had to give up their rented house and live separately with their adult children.  Their situation was brought to the notice of SFCBF, who stepped in to provide adequate support for them to secure a modest rental apartment.  The husband is now in recovery, and his wife has found further employment.