S.O.E. One-Time Pad on Silk - Opinions Wanted

[WWIIBuff]

Hello Gentlemen,

I know this is not a badge or insignia, but I assume someone here might know about these. If it is not OK to post this, then moderators feel free to remove it.

I have been offered this one-time S.O.E. code pad and documents to go with my S.O.E. B2 radio. I know there are various reproductions of these out there, but have never seen an original for reference.

Do any of you know if this might be an original or not? I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks

John

[Mike B]

Best I can do is provide an image of an item in an attributed grouping I have. Not same pattern unfortunately, but I am pretty sure I have seen similar to yours. Of course you are right though - fakes are almost certain to exist.
- Force 133 veteran - alas not accessible at present. Hoping it helps
Mike

[WWIIBuff]

Thanks Mike.

Hi John, not an expert or claiming it is genuine, but if you look in Leo Mark's - 'Between Silk and Cyanide' he shows the same item, it looks as though it would have been 'cut' from a vocabulary sheet, where yours has been sewn around the edges, maybe to preserve it? Regards Mark

[Royal]

That's a very good point.

The clue is in the name - one time pads - were intended to be used once then destroyed so there is no way that the powers that be would have bothered sewing to make them MORE durable. The only genuine ones that I've ever seen (albeit post WW2) were paper and pretty flimsy paper at that.

[popskipa]

John,

I am of the opinion your silk code sheet is original.

It is the same as an example I once owned that came together with the one-time pad both sourced from an ex-soe radio operator.

Keith