Radio Security Service question

Discussion in 'Top Secret' started by DOCKER, Oct 28, 2011.

  1. DOCKER

    DOCKER Junior Member

    Hi All

    I am currently researching a British Empire Medal which I have in my collection and I have a suspicion that the recipient may have been awarded it whilst serving in the Radio Security Service (R.S.S.) which formed part of M.I.5 before being transferred to M.I.6 in 1941. the aim of the RSS was to intercept radio signals produced by German spies and the German intelligence service. My question is does anyone know if a list of members of the R.S.S. exists or can anyone point me in the direction on how to try and confirm the recipient of the medal was a member.

    Thanks for looking
    ANDY
     
  2. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    Try a couple of Hugh Skillen's books

    Knowledge Strengthens the Arm

    Spies of the Airwaves

    should be available on inter-library loan
     
  3. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

  4. CornwallPhil

    CornwallPhil Senior Member

  5. Hi

    I never realised other people might be researching this subject. During the war apparently an 'Irish/British' spy was feeding the Germans information from his dental surgery in Accra, Gold Coast (now Ghana.) The Americans asked us to help pinpoint the radio signals which were sending ships, carrying vital war supplies, to the bottom of the sea. Once we had done this they sent an agent to the dentist who gave him false information. After the false information had been relayed by radio the spy was arrested and the submarine was sent to the bottom of the sea when it turned up expecting to find another victim.

    The African archives knew nothing of the incident and the American Library sent me an article by Thomas M Johnson in which he mentions the event in passing but he does not include the dentist's name, the date of the event, the spies victims or what happened to the spy. (I suspect he just happened to expire - probably helped by a bullet.)

    If anyone can help me further with my dentist I will be very pleased.

    Thank you

    Jacky Kingsley
     
  6. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Hi Jacky,

    From page 75 of In the Shadow of the Sphinx: A History of Army Counterintelligence by Messrs Gilbert and Finnegan

    Continuing around the globe, in Accra, Ghana, British counterintelligence homed in on a transmitter being used by an anti-British dentist to transmit messages to U-boats sitting off the Gold Coast of West Africa. Their prey was shipping vessels carrying cargoes of manganese to US steel factories, critical in the manufacturing of aircraft and armaments. An undercover agent disguised as a patient with a toothache was sent to the dentist-spy to feed him false shipping news - news so good that he would rush out to transmit it. Counterintelligence then moved in for the arrest and to police up the codes that were turned over to the Allied navy for use in entrapping U-boats.

    Like the Johnson article you mention this has just enough information to tease but not enough to pin down the tooth puller. But given that the Gold Coast did not gain independence from the UK until 1957 I would suggest that the answers to your most interesting riddle lie in London, not Accra.
     
  7. Hi
    I have tried the NA but with no luck. I did ask for their help but they drew a blank as well.
    Jacky
     
  8. BC610E

    BC610E Junior Member

    Hi All

    I am currently researching a British Empire Medal which I have in my collection and I have a suspicion that the recipient may have been awarded it whilst serving in the Radio Security Service (R.S.S.) which formed part of M.I.5 before being transferred to M.I.6 in 1941. the aim of the RSS was to intercept radio signals produced by German spies and the German intelligence service. My question is does anyone know if a list of members of the R.S.S. exists or can anyone point me in the direction on how to try and confirm the recipient of the medal was a member.

    Thanks for looking
    ANDY

    Hi Andy,

    Did you get any further with this query? If not, do you know the name of the recipient?

    Regards,

    '610
     
  9. StanAmes

    StanAmes Junior Member

    Docker,
    If you’re still interested. By a copy of Radio War by David ABRUTAT, it describes RSS in detail and has a long list of members. You could also try the Bletchley Park Roll of Honour. We still don’t have a full list, that has never been released by MI6.
    Stan AMES
     
    CL1 likes this.
  10. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    I posted this on another thread, I just picked up this Officers Record of Service book to J P G Worlledge who was in charge of the RSS - I'll have a look for that book

    IMG_20201115_0001.jpg
     
    hucks216 and CL1 like this.

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