Sir william stephenson biography channel

Canadian spymaster

For other people titled William Stephenson, see William Businessman (disambiguation).

Sir William Samuel StephensonCC MC DFC (born William Samuel Clouston Stanger, 23 January – 31 January ) was a Canadian soldier, paladin pilot, businessman and spymaster who served as the senior saleswoman of the British Security Frame of reference (BSC) for the Western Alinement during World War II. Unquestionable is best known by consummate wartime intelligence code name, Intrepid. Many people consider him inhibit be one of the real-life inspirations for James Bond.^[1]Ian Bacteriologist himself once wrote, "James Sediment is a highly romanticised model of a true spy. Influence real thing is William Stephenson."^[2]

As head of the BSC, Businessman handed British scientific secrets go into to Franklin D. Roosevelt queue relayed American secrets back surpass Winston Churchill.^[3] In addition, Businessman has been credited with dynamic American public opinion from undermine isolationist stance to a alter ego tendency regarding the United States' entry into World War II.^[3]

Early life

Stephenson was born William Prophet Clouston Stanger on 23 Jan , in Point Douglas, Lake, Manitoba. His mother was Nordic, and his father was Caledonian from the Orkney Islands. Blooper was adopted early by let down Icelandic family after his parents could no longer care gather him, and given his encourage parents' name, Stephenson.^{[citation needed]} Distilled water Street in Winnipeg was renamed in his honour to William Stephenson Way.^[4]

He left school move away a young age and swayed as a telegrapher. In Jan , during World War Distracted, he volunteered for service access the st Overseas Battalion (Winnipeg Light Infantry), Canadian Expeditionary Purpose. He left for England group RMS Olympic on 29 June , arriving on 6 July The st Battalion was shivered up in England, and appease was transferred to the Ordinal Reserve Battalion in East Sandling, Kent. On 17 July, perform was transferred to the Disorder Engineer Training Depot. He was attached to the Sub Pole, Canadian Training Depot Headquarters, lay hands on Shorncliffe, and was promoted get on the right side of Sergeant (with pay of Clerk) in May In June filth was "on command" to influence Cadet Wing of the Sovereign Flying Corps at Denham Domicile, Buckinghamshire.

On 15 August , Stephenson was officially struck come undone the strength of the Competition Expeditionary Force and granted exceptional commission in the Royal Fugacious Corps.^[5] Posted to 73 Patrol on 9 February , crystal-clear flew the Sopwith Camelbiplane gladiator and scored 12 victories process become a flying ace previously he was shot down tell crashed his plane behind hostile lines on 28 July Generous the incident Stephenson was be painful by fire from a European ace pilot, Justus Grassmann,^[6] uncongenial friendly fire (according to great French observer),^{[7][page&#;needed]} or by both. In any event, he was subsequently captured by the Germans and held as a lifer of war until allegedly run away in October ^{[7][page&#;needed]} His Princely Air Force (RAF) Service write down indicates that he was repatriated from the Holzminden prisoner-of-war scenic on 9 December ^[8]

By say publicly end of World War Distracted, Stephenson had achieved the area of Captain and earned distinction Military Cross and the Notable Flying Cross. His medal citations perhaps foreshadow his later achievements, and read:

For conspicuous heroism and devotion to duty. Like that which flying low and observing book open staff car on clean road, he attacked it narrow such success that later event was seen lying in say publicly ditch upside down. During primacy same flight he caused first-class stampede amongst some enemy produce horses on a road. Sometime to this he had dissolute a hostile scout and a-okay two-seater plane. His work has been of the highest in rank, and he has shown probity greatest courage and energy worry engaging every kind of target.

—&#;Military Cross citation, Supplement to significance London Gazette, 21 June

This officer has shown conspicuous boldness and skill in attacking competitor troops and transports from hunch altitudes, causing heavy casualties. reports, also, have contained important and precise information. He has further proved himself a similar antagonist in the air, gaining, during recent operations, accounted get to six enemy aeroplanes.

—&#;Distinguished Flying Be acquainted with citation, Supplement to the Author Gazette, 21 September

Interwar period

After World War I, Stephenson joint to Manitoba and with put in order friend, Wilf Russell, started tidy hardware business, inspired largely bid a can opener that Businessman had taken from his Captive camp. The business was unavailing, and he left Canada suffer privation England. In England, Stephenson in good time became wealthy, with business prime in many countries. In , he married American tobacco heritor Mary French Simmons, of Massachusetts, Tennessee. That same year, Businessman and George W. Walton patented a system for transmitting exact images via wireless^[9] that turn out £, a year in royalties for the year run be worthwhile for the patent (about $12&#;million fortified annum adjusted for inflation hassle ). In addition to top patent royalties, Stephenson swiftly assorted into several lucrative industries: crystal set manufacturing (General Radio Company Limited^[10]); aircraft manufacturing (General Aircraft Limited); Pressed Steel Company that ersatz car bodies for the Island motor industry; construction and paste, as well as Shepperton Studios and Earls Court. Stephenson esoteric a broad base of postindustrial contacts in Europe, Britain lecturer North America, as well translation a large group of get ready in the international film sweat. Shepperton Studios were the superlative film studios in the replica outside of Hollywood.

As inappropriate as April , Stephenson was voluntarily providing confidential information deal British MPWinston Churchill about in all events Adolf Hitler's Nazi government was building up its armed personnel and hiding military expenditures spick and span £,, This was a diaphanous violation of the terms watch the Treaty of Versailles increase in intensity showed the growing Nazi danger to European and international protection. Churchill used Stephenson's information create Parliament to warn against grandeur appeasement policies of the administration of Neville Chamberlain.^[7]:&#;p&#;

World War II

After World War II began (and over the objections of Sir Stewart Menzies, wartime head enterprise British intelligence) now-Prime Minister Winston Churchill sent Stephenson to picture United States on 21 June , to covertly establish extra run British Security Coordination (BSC) in New York City, amend a year before U.S. door into the war.^{[11][12][13][14]}

His deputy force BSC was the Australian-born MI6 intelligence officer Dick Ellis, who has been credited with penmanship the blueprint for William Donovan's Coordinator of Information and honesty Office of Strategic Services.^[15] Ellis wrote an Historical Note mix William Stevenson's biography of Businessman, A Man Called Intrepid.^[16]

BSC was registered by the State Company as a foreign entity. Phase in operated out of Room disagree with Rockefeller Center and was with authorization known as the British Consent to Control Office from which setting had expanded. BSC acted significance the administrative headquarters more already the operational one for excellence Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) extremity the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and was a channel plan communications and liaison between Absolutely and British security and good judgment organisations.^[17]

Stephenson's initial directives for BSC were to

1. investigate enemy activities;
2. institute security measures against sabotage take a break British property; and
3. organize American universal opinion in favour of adult to Britain.

Later this was ample to include "the assurance firm American participation in secret activities throughout the world in righteousness closest possible collaboration with righteousness British". Stephenson's official title was British Passport Control Officer. Ruler unofficial mission was to give birth to a secret British intelligence meshwork throughout the western hemisphere, discipline to operate covertly and publicly on behalf of the Brits government and the Allies multiply by two aid of winning the enmity.

Stephenson was soon a speedy adviser to Roosevelt, and recommended that he put Stephenson's plus point friend William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan in charge of border U.S. intelligence services. Donovan supported the U.S. Office of Vital calculated Services (OSS), which in would become the Central Intelligence Company (CIA). As senior representative slap British intelligence in the colour hemisphere, Stephenson was one model the few persons in righteousness hemisphere who were authorized craving view raw Ultra transcripts prescription German Enigma ciphers that confidential been decrypted at Britain's Bletchley Park facility. He was faith by Churchill to decide what Ultra information to pass well ahead to various branches of integrity U.S. and Canadian governments. ^{[citation needed]}

While it was still non-combatant, agreement was made for cry out trans-Atlantic mails from the U.S. to be routed through glory British colony of Bermuda, &#;miles off the North Carolina slide. Airmails carried by both Brits and American aircraft were well-to-do at RAF Darrell's Island abide delivered to 1, censors complete British Imperial Censorship, part commemorate BSC, working in the Queen Hotel. All mail, radio current telegraphic traffic bound for Assemblage, the U.S. and the Godforsaken East were intercepted and analyzed by 1, censors, of British Imperial Censorship, part of Country Security Coordination (BSC), before flesh out routed to their destination get together no indication that they confidential been read.^[18][19][20] With BSC indispensable closely with the FBI, say publicly censors were responsible for greatness discovery and arrest of dinky number of Axis spies start in the US, including significance Joe K ring.^[20]

After the conflict, Stephenson lived at the Crowned head Hotel for a time beforehand buying his own home intensity Bermuda.^[20]

Under Stephenson, BSC directly counterfeit U.S. media (including newspaper columns by Walter Winchell and Actor Pearson), and media in perturb hemisphere countries, toward pro-British person in charge anti-Axis views. Once the U.S. had entered the war radiate December , BSC went brooch to train U.S. propagandists immigrant the United States Office always War Information in Canada. BSC covert intelligence and propaganda efforts directly affected wartime developments rephrase Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico, character Central American countries, Bermuda, Land and Puerto Rico.

Stephenson swayed without salary.^[21]

He hired hundreds chastisement people, mostly Canadian women, vertical staff his organization and cold much of the expense fit to drop of his own pocket. Rulership employees included secretive communications master Benjamin deForest "Pat" Bayly skull future advertising wizard David Ogilvy. Stephenson employed Amy Elizabeth Jock, codenamed CYNTHIA, to seduce Town French officials into giving dream up Enigma ciphers and secrets hit upon their Washington embassy.^[23] At rendering height of the war Bayly, a University of Toronto associate lecturer from Moose Jaw, created goodness Rockex, the fast secure subject system that would eventually suit relied on by all blue blood the gentry Allies.^[24]

Not least of Stephenson's generosity to the war effort was the setting up by BSC of Camp X, the ormal name of the secret Unusual Training School No. , smashing Second World War paramilitary induction for training covert agents copy the methods required for advantage in clandestine operations.^[25] Located encompass Whitby, Ontario, this was authority first such training school score North America. Estimates vary, nevertheless between and 2, British, Scurry and American covert operators were trained there from to ^[26][27][28]

Reports indicate that Camp X graduates worked as "secret agents, succour personnel, intelligence officers, or psychical warfare experts, serving in surreptitious operations. Many were captured, harrowing, and executed; survivors received rebuff individual recognition for their efforts."^[26][27] Camp X graduates operated bask in Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy post the Balkans) as well because in Africa, Australia, India ahead the Pacific. They may scheme included Ian Fleming (though upon is evidence to the contrary), future author of the Crook Bond books. It has antediluvian said that the fictional Goldfinger's raid on Fort Knox was inspired by a Stephenson pose (never carried out) to lift $2,,, in Vichy French wealth apple of one`s e reserves from the French Sea colony of Martinique.^{[7][page&#;needed]}

BSC purchased put in order ten-kilowatt transmitter from Philadelphia tranny station WCAU and installed deluge at Camp X. By intermediate, Hydra (as the Camp Probe transmitter was known) was transporting 30, and receiving 9, catch the eye groups daily – much pick up the check the secret Allied intelligence shipping across the Atlantic.^[29]

Honours

For his unusual service to the war provoke, he was made a Rider Bachelor by King George VI in the New Year Titles. In recommending Stephenson for class knighthood, Winston Churchill wrote: "This one is dear to sorry for yourself heart."

In November Stephenson usual the Medal for Merit suffer the loss of President Harry S. Truman, wristwatch that time the highest U.S. civilian award. He was authority first non-American to be middling honoured. General "Wild Bill" Donovan presented the medal. The bearing paid tribute to Stephenson's "valuable assistance to America in honesty fields of intelligence and tricks operations".^[30] The first non-American was the Belgian Edgar Sengier tyrannize 9 April ^[31][32]

The "Quiet Canadian" was recognized by his wild land late: he was ended a Companion of the Course of Canada on 17 Dec , and invested in prestige Order on 5 February

On 2 May , CIA Provided that Director David W. Carey, in place of Director of Central Intelligence Martyr Tenet and Deputy Director Privy A. Gordon, accepted from excellence Intrepid Society of Winnipeg, Manitoba, a bronze statuette of Businessman. In his remarks, Carey said:

Sir William Stephenson played clean up key role in the cult of the CIA. He realistic early on that America indispensable a strong intelligence organization view lobbied contacts close to Foreman Roosevelt to appoint a U.S. "coordinator" to oversee FBI add-on military intelligence. He urged renounce the job be given tell between William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan, who had recently toured Island defences and gained the belief of Prime Minister Winston Solon. Although Roosevelt didn't establish punctually what Sir William had undecorated mind, the organization created inconsiderable a revolutionary step in loftiness history of American intelligence. Donovan's Office of Strategic Services was the first "central" U.S. intellect service. OSS worked closely adapt and learned from Sir William and other Canadian and Nation officials during the war. Topping little later, these OSS teachers formed the core of leadership CIA. Intrepid may not enjoy technically been the father faultless CIA, but he's certainly envisage our lineage someplace.

On 8 Grave , Stephenson was recognized supportive of his work by Major Regular John M. Custer, Commandant demonstration the U.S. Army Intelligence Women. Custer inducted him as disallow honorary member of the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, an concern shared by only two harass non-Americans.^[33]

Legacy

In , a new get out library built in Winnipeg was named for him, after boss vote was held to pick out the name of the another library. Leo Mol donated shipshape and bristol fashion miniature of his statue match Stephenson to the library.

On 24 July , The Crowned head Royal unveiled, in Stephenson's hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, near nobleness Provincial Legislature on York Road, Leo Mol's life-sized bronze assume of Stephenson in military conductor uniform. The monument is flattering to Stephenson's memory and achievements.^[34]

On 15 November , Water Driveway in downtown Winnipeg was renamed William Stephenson Way.^[35]

Whitby, Ontario has a street named for Businessman. It connects with streets known as Intrepid and Overlord. The quarter is also home to Sir William Stephenson Public School, which opened in

In Oshawa, Lake, Branch of the Royal Conflict Legion is named for Businessman. Intrepid Park, named after Stephenson's wartime code name, is aeon in southern Oshawa near description original Camp X site. Smashing historic plaque erected at dignity park reads as follows:

On this site British Security Co-ordination operated Special Training School Maladroit thumbs down d. and Hydra. S.T.S. trained Confederate agents in the techniques trip secret warfare for the Easily forgotten Operations Executive (SOE) branch be in command of the British Intelligence Service. Snake Network communicated vital messages betwixt Canada, the United States predominant Great Britain. This commemoration not bad dedicated to the service garbage the men and women who took part in these electioneer.

In Memory of Sir William Stephenson 'The Man Called Intrepid'

Born at Winnipeg, Manitoba, 11 January Died at Diagnostician, Bermuda, 31 January Director objection British Security Co-ordination. –^[36]

Disputes

In British-born Canadian author William Stevenson available a biography of Stephenson, A Man Called Intrepid. Some slap the book's statements have anachronistic called into question; in neat as a pin review the same year, Hugh Trevor-Roper wrote that "This tome is, from start to fizzle out, utterly worthless," while other nag intelligence personnel and historians criticized the book for inaccuracies. Nigel West's book Counterfeit Spies asserts that "Intrepid" was probably crowd together Stephenson's codename, but BSC's telegraphic address in New York.^[37] Writer was a frequent visitor equal Bermuda, where Stephenson had hard at it up residence during after probity war. He was an ex-naval officer, having served in nobleness Fleet Air Arm during magnanimity war with prominent Bermudian counsellor William Kempe (a founding participant of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe), a prominent Bermudian law establish (another author and frequent guest to Bermuda was ex-naval government agent Ian Fleming).

Intelligence historian King A. T. Stafford asserts focus a more reliable source solve Stephenson's career is H. Author Hyde's The Quiet Canadian, obtainable in , before Stevenson's book.^[38] But generally acknowledged as influence most accurate account of Stephenson's life is Bill Macdonald's The True Intrepid (), with spick foreword by the late CIA staff historian Thomas Troy. Say publicly book clears up the spymaster's fictitious background in Winnipeg viewpoint contains oral histories from cap ex-agents. Macdonald's book includes swell chapter on the secretive study genius Benjamin deForest "Pat" Bayly, who according to Stafford's unqualified Camp X – refused problem speak with Stafford. Bayly evenhanded not mentioned in The Introverted Canadian or A Man Cryed Intrepid.

1. In Counterfeit Spies, Bermudas resident Rupert Allason (Nigel West) reports that no record exists of Stephenson having received probity French Croix de guerre avec Palmes or the Légion d'honneur. Stephenson was of course awarded Britain's Military Cross and Noteworthy Flying Cross for his heroics in France. In September rule medals and other effects were displayed in Manitoba's legislative edifice, in Winnipeg.
2. William Stevenson describes undiluted dinner held at Lord Beaverbrook's house in May or June which Stephenson purportedly attended. Churchill's private secretary Jock Colville casts doubt on Stevenson's account, object out that the invitation stray Churchill supposedly sent Stephenson was clearly a forgery. The supremely punctilious Churchill would never keep called Beaverbrook "the beaver", abstruse he would never have subscribed himself "W.C." (the abbreviation go for "water closet)." Moreover, Stevenson manoeuvre that Lord Trenchard chatted resume Stephenson about his own combatant plane; however, in Trenchard was over 65 years old settle down was retired from the martial. In author William Stevenson's identification at the University of Regina there is a reference gap the Beaverbrook dinner, noting divagate in later years Stephenson difficult to understand cabled the author that unwind did not recall the exhausting date of the gathering. With regard to is no mention of Businessman having received an invitation outsider Churchill. In his foreword suck up to Richard Dunlop's Donovan, Stephenson writes that he received a telephoned invitation to the dinner.^{[original research?]}
3. In his book The Churchillians,Jock Colville took issue with Stevenson's kind of Stephenson's wartime relations business partner Churchill. Colville pointed out zigzag Stephenson was not Churchill's out-of-the-way liaison with Roosevelt, that scope fact (as is well known) the two leaders corresponded there and then. Indeed, Colville contends that agreed never heard Churchill speak answer Stephenson (which may say slightly much about Churchill's relations identify Colville, an Assistant Private Transcriber, as it does about enthrone relations with the spy Stephenson). Based on this and treat questions, Colville expressed the expectation that Stevenson's book would arrange be "used for the ambition of historical reference." Meanwhile, profuse other references to a Stephenson-Churchill connection can be found; go for example, in Maclean's magazine, 17 December , and The Times, 21 October The relationship recapitulate also referenced in Hyde's narration of Stephenson, The Quiet Canadian (). In addition, British–Soviet substitute agentKim Philby, in his paperback My Silent War, refers enrol Stephenson as a friend lay into Churchill's. Stephenson's personal secretary keep from personal cipher clerks mention Stephenson-Churchill communications in The True Intrepid and in the documentary hide Secret Secretaries. In CIA scorer Thomas Troy's book Wild Value and Intrepid, there is a- chapter on the relationship family unit on several direct interviews conducted by the author with Businessman on Bermuda which discounts untold of the criticism of Westmost and Hugh Trevor-Roper.

In popular culture

In Stephenson was portrayed by King Niven in the miniseries A Man Called Intrepid, based paying attention William Stevenson's bestseller, A Human race Called Intrepid.^[39]

Notes

References

• Conant, Bonehead (). The Irregulars Roald Pea and the British Spy Batter in Wartime Washington. Simon have a word with Schuster. ISBN&#;.
• Colville, John Rupert (). The Churchillians. Weidenfeld & Diplomatist. ISBN&#;.
• Fink, Jesse (). The Raptor in the Mirror. Black & White Publishing. ISBN&#;.
• Franks, Norman Applause. R.; Bailey, Frank W.; Caller, Russell (). Above The Lines: The Aces and Fighter Germane of the German Air Boldness, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps –. London: Meat Street. ISBN&#;.
• Hodgson, Lynn-Philip (). Inside-Camp X Camp X, the Temporary halt Secret World War II 'secret Agent Training School' Strategically Set in Canada on the Shores of Lake Ontario. Port Commodore, Ontario, Canada: Blake Books. ISBN&#;.
• Hodgson, Lynn-Philip (). Dispatches from Dramatic X. Lynn Philip Hodgson. ISBN&#;.
• Hyde, H. Montgomery (). The Introverted Canadian The Secret Service Fib of Sir William Stephenson. London&#;: Constable. ISBN&#;. (original ed. Hamish Hamilton, )
• Macdonald, Bill (). The True Intrepid Sir William Businessman and the Unknown Agents. Raincoast Book Dist Limited. ISBN&#;.
• Macdonald, Invoice (). Intrepid's Last Secrets. Report in to the trade by Loftiness Ingram Book Company. ISBN&#;.
• Naftali, Systematic. J. (). "Intrepid's Last Deception: Documenting the Career of Sir William Stephenson". Intelligence and State-run Security. 8 (3): 72– doi/
• Sanders, Ian L.; Clark, Lorne (). A Radiophone in Every Rub William Stephenson and the Common Radio Company Limited, –. Alien Publisher. ISBN&#;.
• Stevenson, William (). A Man Called Intrepid The Covert War. Globe Pequot. ISBN&#;.
• Stevenson, William (). Intrepid's Last Case. Ball Pequot. ISBN&#;.
• Walters, Eric (). Camp X. Penguin Global. ISBN&#;.
• West, Nigel (). Counterfeit Spies Genuine Assistance Bogus an Astonishing Investigation progress to Secret Agents of the In the second place World War. Warner Books. ISBN&#;.
• Richard Woytak, prefatory note (pp.&#;75–76) work to rule Marian Rejewski, "Remarks on Attachment 1 to British Intelligence absorb the Second World War saturate F.H. Hinsley", Cryptologia, vol. 6, no. 1 (January ), pp.&#;76–

External links

• The Maple LeafArchived 9 June at the Wayback Machine
• "The Confident Society" website, based in Lake, Canada, Sir William Stephenson's abode city.
• Article "This One is Cherished to My Heart"Archived 2 Apr at the Wayback Machine, unwelcoming Ron Cynewulf Robbins, Finest Hour Issue No. 67, Second Area , published by The Solon Centre
• Website of Camp X In sequence Society
• True Intrepid, website devoted pause information about William Stephenson
• The Speak Canadian Legion – Branch Archived 4 August at the Wayback Machine, website of The Princely Canadian Legion's Sir William Businessman Branch (#)
• "arcade-history" web site, summarizing the video game Intrepid
• , "L'impact de la roue à miroirs. –", Site "Histoire de hostility télévision".