Oswald Allen Harker

Oswald Harker
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service MI5
Rank Director-General of MI5
Born 1886
Died 1968
Nationality British
Occupation Intelligence officer

Oswald Allen Harker CBE (1886–1968), also called Brigadier 'Jasper' Harker, was Acting Director General of MI5 from 1940 to 1941.

Background

Oswald Allen Harker was born in Cirencester in 1886, the son of James Allen Harker, professor at the Royal Agricultural College, and his wife Lizzie Allen Harker. His younger brother was Brigadier Arthur William Allen Harker CBE.[1]

Career

Harker joined the Indian Police in 1905, and served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Bombay during World War I. He joined MI5 in 1920, after being invalided home from India the previous year.[2][3]

Harker served as the Deputy Director General prior to his promotion.[1] He was promoted to acting Director General of MI5 in June 1940 when Major-General Sir Vernon Kell was dismissed.[1] When Sir David Petrie was appointed as the new Director General in April 1941 Harker stepped down to be the Deputy Director General again.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Oswald Allen Harker (1886-1968)". State Secrets... Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  2. ↑ C.A.G. Simkins, F.H. Hinsley, British Intelligence in the Second World War: Security and Counter-intelligence v. 4 (Stationery Office, 1990)
  3. ↑ https://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/brigadier-oswald-allen-harker.html

1891 Census

Government offices
Preceded by
Major-General Sir Vernon Kell		 Director General of MI5 (acting)
1940 - 1941 		Succeeded by
Sir David Petrie