SOE Establishment - STS 21: Arisaig House

Arisaig House, built in 1864 by architect Philip Webb for the Astley family, was rebuilt after a fire in 1939. During the Second World War it was requisitioned by the Special Operations Executive as STS 21, a training school where agents learned sabotage, survival, and commando skills before missions in occupied Europe. Its remote Highland setting made it ideal for secrecy. After 1945 it returned to private use, remembered both as Webb’s only Scottish country house and as a key site in Britain’s clandestine war.

During his visit to Scotland from April 14 to 18, 1941, SOE head Colin Gubbins also visited Arisaig, looking for a suitable candidate for Operation Postmaster. Anders Lassen, who was in training, was recommended there, and Gubbins decided to add him to the team.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: Jim Bain
• LETT, B.G., Ian Fleming and SOE's Operation POSTMASTER, Pen & Sword Military, 2012.