Charles Thoroton

Charles Julian Thoroton, RMLI (9 August 1875 – 17 January 1939), was Chief of British Naval Intelligence for the Mediterranean from Gibraltar (and Spain), to North Africa and Greece, between 1913 and 1919. He reported to Admiral Sir Reginald (Blinker) Hall, RN, Head of Room 40. Thoroton was described as one of Winston Churchill's "brilliant confederacy – whose names even now are better wrapt in mystery" (The World Crisis 1911–1914, Chapter XX.).

The first full length biography of Thoroton, Finding Thoroton – The Royal Marine Who Ran British Naval Intelligence in the Western Mediterranean in World War 1, published by the Royal Marines Historical Society in 2013 and was written by Philip Vickers. A member of the RMHS, Vickers is also the author of Das Reich: Drive to Normandy (Pen & Sword Books) and has spoken on irregular warfare at the CIA Conference in Washington, DC. Finding Thoroton breaks new ground due to its extensive research and access to private papers. David Stafford writes of it: "An extraordinary piece of detection...an impressive and brilliant work of research...and a ripping good yarn".

References

• The Globe & Laurel, Jan/Feb 1998
• Beesley, Patrick, Room 40, Hamilton, 1982
• Ramsay, David, Blinker Hall – Spymaster, Spellmount, 2008.
• Stafford, David, Roosvelt & Churchill – Men of Secrets, Overlook Press, 2000