90 • CD
CD.Symbol of the head ofSpecial Operations Executive, adopted by
Sir Frank Nelsonin 1940 and his successors,Sir Charles Hambro
and GeneralSir Colin Gubbins.
CECIL, ROBERT.For the last two years of World War II, Robert
Cecil, a regular member of the Diplomatic Corps, was seconded to
theSecret Intelligence Serviceto act as ‘‘PA/CSS,’’ personal assis-
tant toSir Stewart Menzies. In the summer of 1943 he succeeded
Patrick Reillyin this position, his previous experience having been
assistant to Peter Loxley, the private secretary to the permanent un-
dersecretary, Sir Alexander Cadogan. After the war Cecil worked in
the American Department at the Foreign Office, with a desk in the
same room asDonald Maclean, a trusted colleague whom he had
known in Paris in 1939. After Maclean’sdefection, Cecil was ap-
pointed his successor as head of the American Department. Cecil was
also acquainted withAnthony BluntandGuy Burgess.
After his retirement from the diplomatic service, Cecil took an ap-
pointment at Reading University and subsequently publishedThe
Myth of the Master RaceandHitler’s Decision to Invade Russia.He
has also written on the subject of intelligence, his first contribution
being ‘‘The Cambridge Comintern,’’ a chapter inThe Missing Di-
mension, edited by Christopher Andrew and David Dilks. In Febru-
ary 1978 he wrote a damning critique ofKim Philby’sMy Silent
WarforThe Times, ably identifying several instances where the trai-
tor could be seen to have deliberately distorted history. In his biogra-
phy of Maclean, ever sensitive to Alan Maclean, Donald’s brother
and his friend and former colleague, Cecil gives his version of the
traitor’s escape in May 1951 and the innocent part played byGo-
ronwy Rees.
CELERY. MI5code name for Walter Dicketts, a formerAir Intelli-
genceofficer during World War I who acted as an MI5 nominee
when he was recruited bysnowto meet hisAbwehrcontrollers in
Lisbon in January 1941.celeryspent several weeks in German
hands, undergoing a detailed interrogation in Hamburg, but survived
to be given a sabotage mission to England and £10,000. MI5 decided
to detainsnowupon their return, socelery’s case was abandoned
in August 1941.