Menzies, Maj-General Sir Stewart

Menzies, Maj-General Sir Stewart (1890–1968),British Army officer who served as chief (‘C’) of the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, from November 1939 to 1952. Although he had his detractors, most authorities praise his wartime success in expanding and maintaining a diverse empire that included MI6, the government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, MI6's Radio Security Service, and the communications network of Special Liaison Units (SLU) which were responsible for delivering ULTRA intelligence to commanders in the field. Though he had not been Churchill's candidate to succeed Admiral Hugh Sinclair as ‘C’—he achieved the post through the backing of Lord Halifax— Menzies's success was only possible because of his close relationship with the prime minister, which was resented by other directors of intelligence.

Menzies's career in intelligence began in 1915, when he joined the staff of Field Marshal Douglas Haig (1861–1928), and he worked in MI6 between the wars. On becoming ‘C’ his immediate priorities were to expand Bletchley Park, reinforce the counter-espionage side of his organization, and rebuild the European networks exposed after the Venlo incident. Colonel Valentine Vivian headed the counter-espionage expansion and Claude Dansey the intelligence-gathering; though each regarded himself as Menzies's deputy, neither was formally appointed. This lacuna made it difficult for Menzies to absent himself from his post and the burden of work in any case kept him chained to his desk. His liaison with Bletchley Park was initially maintained through Group-Captain F. W. Winterbotham who formed the SLU networks. To these networks and to Menzies's zealous care for ULTRA security must be largely ascribed the preservation of this vital source. By 1945 Menzies, who was decorated by six Allied governments, had brought intelligence to a new peak of effectiveness. His retirement, two years after the normal retiring age, had no connection with the scandal of the treachery of ‘Kim’ Philby which broke later. He was knighted in 1943.

Robert Cecil