Like so many, my husband would never talk about his war years but I did know he was in MI9 and as to the rest, he left me some clues: 
an extraordinary badge,
a testimonial and
an authority to interview

Also, two scrappy bits of paper:
one with army units written over it,
the other, a shopping list with clothes and cocoa to be sent at once.
And even more scrappy bits of paper with some very interesting addresses on.

This site documents what I have discovered so far about my husband, James (Jimmie) Smith's secret war.

Three Witches badge - attributed to IS9 WEA. Does anyone know of another one of this shape in existence, we have only heard of rectangular ones embroidered in cotton/rayon? Since publishing, I have found out that these witches are embroidered in bullion wire.

Where it all started, a testimonial from J. M. Langley, Jimmie's Commanding Officer and author of Fight Another Day and MI9 Escape and Evasion

Authority to Interview Escapers and Evaders dated just after the liberation of Bergen-Belsen - many members of the golf club said he put these skills to good use in future committee meetings!

All this has led me to the fascinating world of Intelligence School 9 (IS9) a small unit that was responsible for setting up escape lines and developing and delivering hidden aids to help evaders and escapers to get back home. 

I have gathered everything onto this website in the hope that others will find it and be able to add more pieces to the jigsaw.  None of this would have been possible without the amazingly kind help and generously given time from a variety of complete strangers reached out to through the wonders of the internet.

The testimonial led to a search for J M Langley on the internet.  The book MI9 Escape and Evasion was mentioned and I realised that book had  sat in a small bookcase by Jimmie's chair for many years.  Folded inside this book was the Times obituary for Pat O'Leary, founder of the PAT Escape Line and a note saying please give this book to our friend in MI9.  And so I started reading...  and came across a whole world of names, places and events that I had heard my husband refer to in passing over the years; Room 900, Metropole Buildings, Wilton Park, Bletchley Park and then in the book was a mention of three witches, of compasses hidden in buttons and collar studs, all of which I had in his things.

SHAEF Badge

21st Army Group Badge

The white paint on the collar stud could be scratched off to reveal a compass.

The collar stud found in Jimmie's things.

A button with a compass inside.