Claude Dansey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Claude Dansey |
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| Uncle Claude | |
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Codename(s) | Z |
| Haywood | |
| Colonel Z | |
| Uncle Claude | |
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| Born | 10 September 1876 South Kensington |
| Died | 11 June 1947 (aged 70) Bath, Somerset |
| Nationality | British |
Sir Claude Edward Marjoribanks Dansey was a very important spy for Britain. He was known by cool codenames like Colonel Z, Haywood, Uncle Claude, and simply Z. He worked for a secret group called MI6, which is Britain's foreign intelligence agency. He also helped with the London Controlling Section. Claude Dansey started working as a spy in 1900 and continued his secret work until he passed away in 1947.
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Early Life and Education
Claude Dansey was born on September 10, 1876, in Kensington, London. He was the second of nine children. His father, Edward Mashiter Dansey, was an officer in the army.
Claude went to school at Wellington College until 1891. After that, he studied at a private school in Bruges, which is a city in Belgium.
A Career in Secret Service
Claude Dansey began his career in 1895. He joined the police force in South Africa, called the British South African Police. Later, he joined the British army as a second lieutenant in 1898. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1899.
He worked in different parts of the world. For example, he was a political advisor in British Somaliland. This was a British protectorate in East Africa.
World War I and MI5
During World War I, Dansey was recruited by MI5. This is Britain's domestic intelligence agency. His job was to watch people coming and going from ports. He also kept an eye on civilian passengers. He was involved in allowing Leon Trotsky to return to Russia in 1917.
In 1917, he also helped to set up the first military intelligence service for the United States. This shows how important his experience was.
Working with MI6
In November 1939, Claude Dansey became the assistant chief of MI6. This happened after the death of the previous chief, Hugh Sinclair. He worked closely with Stewart Menzies, who was the head of MI6. Dansey continued his important work until he retired in 1945.
Personal Life
Claude Dansey got married twice. His first marriage was to Pauline Monroe Ulman in 1915, but they later divorced. In 1945, he married Frances Gurney Rylander. Claude Dansey did not have any children. He passed away on June 11, 1947, in Bath, Somerset.
