Roger Hollis

‎Early professional career ← Previous revision Revision as of 04:08, 23 June 2016 Line 32: Line 32:   In 1927, he went to Hong Kong and got a job as a freelance journalist, then moved to Shanghai. From 1 April 1928, he worked for [[British American Tobacco]].<ref>West, Nigel, MI5 1945-72, A Matter of Trust, Coronet Books Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1983, p79 ISBN0-340-33781-8 </ref> In 1930, he transferred to Beijing.<ref name="pincher">{{cite book|last=Pincher|first=Chapman|authorlink=Chapman Pincher|year=2009|title=Treachery: Betrayals, Blunders, and Cover-ups: Six Decades of Espionage Against America and Great Britain|publisher=Random House|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4000-6807-4}}</ref>   In 1927, he went to Hong Kong and got a job as a freelance journalist, then moved to Shanghai. From 1 April 1928, he worked for [[British American Tobacco]].<ref>West, Nigel, MI5 1945-72, A Matter of Trust, Coronet Books Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1983, p79 ISBN0-340-33781-8 </ref> In 1930, he transferred to Beijing.<ref name="pincher">{{cite book|last=Pincher|first=Chapman|authorlink=Chapman Pincher|year=2009|title=Treachery: Betrayals, Blunders, and Cover-ups: Six Decades of Espionage Against America and Great Britain|publisher=Random House|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4000-6807-4}}</ref>     − While in China, he developed [[tuberculosis]] and returned to England in 1936 for a brief spell with the Ardath Tobacco Company, an associate of BAT. In June 1938, he contacted MI5 to offer his services to see if there was a vacancy for "someone with a practical knowledge of the Far East". The director general, Vernon Kell decided to recruit him despite lacking the military background that most recruits had. Hollis impressed his forst MI interviewer as being "a rather nice, quiet young man" with a knowledge of Chinese language along with Chinese and Japanese industry. <ref>Andrew, Christopher, Defend the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Alfred A knopff, New York, 2009, p135-136, ISBN 978-0-307-26363-6 + While in China, he developed [[tuberculosis]] and returned to England in 1936 for a brief spell with the Ardath Tobacco Company, an associate of BAT. In June 1938, he contacted MI5 to offer his services and see if he could find a vacancy for "someone with a practical knowledge of the Far East". The Director General, Vernon Kell decided to recruit him, despite Hollis lacking the military background that most recruits had. Hollis impressed his first MI5 interviewer as being "a rather nice, quiet young man" with a knowledge of Chinese language along with Chinese and Japanese industry. <ref>Andrew, Christopher, Defend the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Alfred A knopff, New York, 2009, p135-136, ISBN 978-0-307-26363-6   Jump up ^</ref> Initially he spent a brief period in D Division (Counterespionage) before transferring to F Division (Countersubversion).<ref>Ball, Desmond and Horner, David, Breaking the Codes - Australia's KGB Network, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, 1998, p277, ISBN1-86448*578-7</ref> During this time he established an "impressive reputation" for monitoring the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).For two years his main role within MI5 was to study the CPGB. He was also appointed to the wartime Security Executive under Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton <ref>Andrew, Christopher, Secret Service, The Making of the British Intelligence Community, Heinneman, London, 1985, p 388, SBN 434-02110-5</ref><ref>https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/sep/04/secondworldwar.world</ref>, where he advised a sub-committee due to his expertise concerning Soviet activity in London.<ref>West, Nigel, MI5 1945-72, A Matter of Trust, Coronet Books Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1983, p79 ISBN0-340-33781-8</ref>   Jump up ^</ref> Initially he spent a brief period in D Division (Counterespionage) before transferring to F Division (Countersubversion).<ref>Ball, Desmond and Horner, David, Breaking the Codes - Australia's KGB Network, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, 1998, p277, ISBN1-86448*578-7</ref> During this time he established an "impressive reputation" for monitoring the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).For two years his main role within MI5 was to study the CPGB. He was also appointed to the wartime Security Executive under Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton <ref>Andrew, Christopher, Secret Service, The Making of the British Intelligence Community, Heinneman, London, 1985, p 388, SBN 434-02110-5</ref><ref>https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/sep/04/secondworldwar.world</ref>, where he advised a sub-committee due to his expertise concerning Soviet activity in London.<ref>West, Nigel, MI5 1945-72, A Matter of Trust, Coronet Books Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1983, p79 ISBN0-340-33781-8</ref>     − Post war, Hollis was made Deputy Director General under Dick White mainly due to his foresight throughout World War Two, concerning the rise of Soviet Intelligence and communist subversion.<ref>Andrew, Christopher, Defend the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Alfred A knopff, New York, 2009, p327, ISBN 978-0-307-26363-6 + Post war, Hollis was made Deputy Director General under Dick White mainly due to his foresight throughout World War Two, concerning the rise of Soviet Intelligence and communist subversion activities.<ref>Andrew, Christopher, Defend the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Alfred A knopff, New York, 2009, p327, ISBN 978-0-307-26363-6 − Jump up ^</ref> Subsequently he traveled to Australia to set up a domestic security service on the British model.<ref>West, Nigel, Venona, The Greatest Secret of the Cold War, Harper Collins, Hammersmith, 1999 p 98, ISBN 0-00-653071-0</ref> During this period, Hollis gained the trust of Britain's important Commonwealth allies. He was a personal friend of the Australian and Canadian permanent under secretaries for external affairs. White greatly respected his ability and judgement.<ref>Andrew, Christopher, Defend the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Alfred A knopff, New York, 2009, p327, ISBN 978-0-307-26363-6 + Jump up ^</ref> Subsequently he traveled to Australia to set up a domestic security service on the British model.<ref>West, Nigel, Venona, The Greatest Secret of the Cold War, Harper Collins, Hammersmith, 1999 p 98, ISBN 0-00-653071-0</ref> During this period, Hollis gained the trust of Britain's important Commonwealth allies. He was a personal friend of the Australian and Canadian permanent under secretaries for external affairs. Dick White greatly respected his ability and judgement.<ref>Andrew, Christopher, Defend the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Alfred A knopff, New York, 2009, p327, ISBN 978-0-307-26363-6   Jump up ^</ref>   Jump up ^</ref>