Historical Dictionary of British Intelligence

CLARK, MARY ANN• 97

become such a threat that Russia’s true intentions should be exposed

by the publication of decrypted secret Soviet telegrams; however, he

was overruled by the Cabinet. In the period leading up to World War

II Churchill, out of office, became dependent upon MajorDesmond

Mortonof theIndustrial Intelligence Centreto keep him informed

about German rearmament, and these leaks continued until he was

swept into Downing Street in 1940 and became an avid daily con-

sumer of what was then termed a ‘‘most secret source,’’ then code-

namedbonifaceand later designatedultra. Churchill positively

reveled in his access to high-grade, raw signals intelligence, and the

Secret Intelligence Servicechief,Stewart Menzies, made a daily

visit to show him a selection of diplomatic and military ‘‘flim-

sies’’—the unprocessed traffic, translated but not sanitized as a sum-

mary. As prime minister, Churchill excelled as a shrewd exploiter of

the intelligence and twice visitedBletchley Parkto thank the staff

for their vital, but as yet publicly unacknowledged, contribution to

victory over the Axis powers. In his masterly history of World War

II, Churchill omitted any reference toultraor its influence over the

Allies’ prosecution of the war, but did make veiled mention of ‘‘most

secret sources.’’

CLARENCE, JOHN.In December 1954 John Clarence, a 27-year-old
member of theCommunist Party of Great Britainand a former
Royal Corps of Signalssoldier, was imprisoned for five years on
offenses under theOfficial Secrets Act, having volunteered to spy
for the Soviet embassy in London. A convicted petty criminal, Clar-
ence had removed documents from an antiaircraft site in Northum-
berland, where he was briefly employed as a civilian clerk.

CLARK, MARY ANN.The mistress of theDuke of Wellingtonsince
they had met at Bath in 1882, Mary Ann Clark was to have a pro-
found effect on the development of British Intelligence as Wellington
supplemented her income by recommending her nominees for army
commissions. She charged huge amounts to the grateful officers, but
eventually a scandal erupted when she attempted to send one of her
footmen to the West Indies as an officer. The duke was obliged to
resign and in consequence hisDepot of Military Knowledgelost its
principal sponsor.