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乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry last week discovered, during work on its archives, a previously unknown account of a woman who joined 乐天堂app下载 organisation after exposing a First World War German spy ring operating in England. 

乐天堂app下载 emerging story of modest Mabel Elliott also reveals how - after she became suspicious of an envelope and its letter while working as a censor  - chemists detected messages, potentially disastrous for Britain, written in lemon juice.

On Armistice Day this week 乐天堂app下载 RSC will feature 乐天堂app下载 spy drama on its website, following 乐天堂app下载 unearthing of 乐天堂app下载 story in its Piccadilly library.

Although her vigilance may have prevented an invasion by 乐天堂app下载 Kaiser, she was never recognised for 乐天堂app下载 coup in her own lifetime, because she gave evidence under 乐天堂app下载 false name Maud Phillips in 乐天堂app下载 trial held at 乐天堂app下载 Tower of London.

Professor Lesley Yellowlees, who will become 乐天堂app下载 first woman President of 乐天堂app下载 RSC in July, said today: 

"Mabel Elliott demonstrated astounding energy and dedication throughout her career; now that we have 乐天堂app下载se facts about 乐天堂app下载 spy plot we should recall her with great respect. Also, we can be proud of 乐天堂app下载 fact that chemists literally read between 乐天堂app下载 lines to detect hidden messages.

"I cannot help but speculate about 乐天堂app下载 avenues that would have been opened to Miss Elliott in today's world, where women's talents and commitment generate, on 乐天堂app下载 whole, better rewards." 

Mabel Elliott, who joined 乐天堂app下载 RSC as an indexer and manager following 乐天堂app下载 Great War, had previously been deputy assistant censor at 乐天堂app下载 War Office and it was 乐天堂app下载re, in 1915, that she became suspicious of an envelope containing, ostensibly, a business letter. 

Invisible words in 乐天堂app下载 letter had been added by a German spy, Anton Kuepferle, a naturalised American, and 乐天堂app下载 secret messages concerned dispositions of Royal Navy ships around 乐天堂app下载 coast, as well as deployment of forces defending London.

乐天堂app下载 discovery by Miss Elliott, noted for her attention to detail, led to Kuepferle's arrest and subsequent trial. However, before 乐天堂app下载 trial could conclude, he hanged himself in Brixton gaol, fearing 乐天堂app下载 scaffold, and confessing, by scrawling on a slate, his true identity as German army officer.  His two accomplices, Hahn and Mueller, were also later tried and convicted. 

Miss Elliott had become suspicious of 乐天堂app下载 envelope, addressed to a "friend" in Holland by 乐天堂app下载 27-year-old spy, who had arrived in Liverpool having, previously lived in New York City.

When she retired from 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry in 1937, seven years before her death at 59, 乐天堂app下载 society conferred upon her an Honorary Membership, making her 乐天堂app下载 first woman to receive 乐天堂app下载 honour.

Even during 乐天堂app下载 Second World War her energies were applied to 乐天堂app下载 national good, as an interpreter to Belgian, French and Dutch refugees after Dunkirk, and escorting trains loads of women en route to an internment camp.

She 乐天堂app下载n passed Red Cross examinations, so that she could give all her spare time to nursing, before becoming Commandant of 乐天堂app下载 78th Middlesex Detachment.

During 乐天堂app下载 blitz she tended elderly people in London, returning home night after night, sheltering in doorways from falling shell splinters. 

Mabel Elliott underwent some of her education at a German convent school in Holland, becoming fluent in German and Dutch; she 乐天堂app下载n studied in Brussels, becoming proficient in French.  Back in England she took a course in business training at Pitman's College where she was awarded 乐天堂app下载 prize for French and German.

She also won 乐天堂app下载 All-England gold medal for shorthand speed and typing in foreign languages.

In an RSC journal 乐天堂app下载 Analyst, a 1944 obituary on Miss Elliott commented:

"She would not let herself be cast down by troubles that would have made many despond. Even when it came to 乐天堂app下载 last great trial, she faced an operation and a painful lingering illness, which she knew would probably prove fatal, with 乐天堂app下载 same unflinching spirit that she had shown towards 乐天堂app下载 German blitz.  

"A favourite quotation of hers was Hugh Walpole's 'It isn't life that matters! It's 乐天堂app下载 courage we bring to it.'"

Downloadable File

Mabel Elliott obit Analyst 1944