Directorate of Military Intelligence (United Kingdom) facts for kids
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1873 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Dissolved | 1964 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | Horseguards Avenue Whitehall London |
| Agency executive | |
| Parent department | War Office |
The Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) was a special department. It was part of the War Office in the British government. Its main job was to gather and use information about other countries' armies.
Over the years, the DMI changed its structure many times. It added new sections and sometimes got rid of old ones.
Contents
How the DMI Started and Grew
Early Days of British Military Intelligence
The very first version of what became the DMI appeared in 1854. It was called the Department of Topography & Statistics. Major Thomas Best Jervis created it during the Crimean War. This department focused on maps and facts about different places.
The Intelligence Branch Forms
In 1873, a new group called the Intelligence Branch was created. It was part of the Quartermaster General's Department. It started with just seven officers. At first, their only job was to collect information.
Later, under Henry Brackenbury, the branch began to focus more on planning. Brackenbury was a trusted helper of Lord Wolseley. Even with these changes, the Intelligence Branch mostly gave advice. This limited how much influence it had. In 1888, it moved to the Adjutant General's Department. Brackenbury's title changed to Director of Military Intelligence.
DMI's Role in the Boer War
When Lord Wolseley became the Commander-in-Chief in 1895, he made the DMI report directly to him. By the start of the Second Boer War in 1899, the Intelligence Branch had 13 officers.
Before the war, they wrote a very accurate report. It described the military strength of the Boer republics. This report was so good that the DMI was the only part of the War Office that didn't get criticized. This happened after a special investigation into the war.
Right after the Boer War, the Intelligence Branch grew bigger. Its leader was then called the Director General of Mobilisation and Military Intelligence.
Big Changes After 1904
In 1904, the War Office was completely reorganized. This happened after a report called the Esher Report. The top job of Commander-in-Chief was removed. Instead, a Chief of the General Staff took over.
From then on, planning and intelligence became the job of the Directorate of Military Operations.
DMI Joins the Ministry of Defence
In 1964, the War Office became part of the new Ministry of Defence (MoD). The DMI was then combined with the Defence Intelligence Staff. This new group took over its responsibilities.
What Were the MI Sections?
During World War I, British secret services were organized into numbered sections. These were called Military Intelligence, department number x, or MIx for short. For example, MI1 handled information management.
The numbers and names of these sections changed over time. Here are some examples of what they did:
| Name | What they did in World War I | What they did in World War II | What happened to them |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI1 | Handled office work and secret codes. | Managed administration. | Reorganized around 1919. MI1b helped create GCHQ. |
| MI2 | Gathered maps and information about certain parts of the world. This included the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. | Gathered information on the Middle East, Far East, and some European countries. | These jobs were moved into MI3 in 1941. |
| MI3 | Gathered maps and information about other European countries. | Gathered information on Eastern Europe and Baltic states. | Jobs moved into MI6 in 1945. |
| MI4 | Created maps and topographical information. | Was the geographical section for maps. | Moved to Military Operations in April 1940. |
| MI5 | Worked against spies and dealt with military rules for civilians. | Worked closely with the Security Service on stopping spies. | Still active today. |
| MI6 | Handled money, economic information, and personnel records. Also watched arms trading. | Worked closely with the Secret Intelligence Service. | Still active today. |
| MI7 | Censored the press and created propaganda. | Handled press and propaganda. | Moved to the Ministry of Information around May 1940. |
| MI8 | Censored cables (messages). | Intercepted signals and secured communications. | Joined with MI6 in 1941. |
| MI9 | Censored mail. | Debriefed British prisoners of war who escaped. Also helped with escape plans. | Operated until 1945. |
| MI10 | Dealt with foreign military attaches (officers from other countries). | Gathered technical intelligence from around the world. | Joined with MI16 after World War II. |
| MI11 | Handled military security. | Disbanded at the end of WWII. | |
| MI12 | Liaised with censorship groups in the Ministry of Information. | ||
| MI13 | (Not used) | ||
| MI14 | Focused on Germany and German-occupied areas. Used aerial photography. | Operated until spring 1943. | |
| MI15 | Focused on aerial photography. Later became air defense intelligence. | Operated during World War II. | |
| MI16 | Gathered scientific intelligence (started in 1945). | ||
| MI17 | Acted as the main office for the Director of Military Intelligence from April 1943. | ||
| MI18 | (Not used) | ||
| MI19 | Interrogated enemy prisoner of wars (started in December 1941). | Operated during World War II. | |
| Others | MIR: Information on Russia, Siberia, Central Asia, Persia, Afghanistan, China, Japan, Thailand and India | MI (JIS): An "Axis planning staff" related to the Joint Intelligence Staff. | |
| MI L: Dealt with attaches. | |||
| MI L(R): Russian Liaison. |
You might have heard of MI5 and MI6. These names are still very common. This is because they are often used in spy movies and news.
"MI5" is the short name for the Security Service. You can even see it in their logo and website address. MI6 is also known as the Secret Intelligence Service. Its website uses "SIS" more often, but "MI6" is also listed.
Even though they keep their old names, MI5 and MI6 now report to different government departments. MI5 works for the Home Office. MI6 works for the Foreign Office.
Who Led the Military Intelligence?
Many people held important leadership roles in military intelligence over the years. Here are some of the key leaders:
Deputy Quartermaster General, Intelligence Branch
- 1873–1878 Patrick Leonard MacDougall
- 1878–1882 Archibald Alison
- 1882–1886 Aylmer Cameron
- 1886–1888 Henry Brackenbury
Director of Military Intelligence
- 1888–1891 Henry Brackenbury
- 1891–1896 Edward Francis Chapman
- 1896–1901 John Charles Ardagh
Director General of Mobilisation and Military Intelligence
- 1901–1904 William Nicholson
Director of Military Operations
- 1904–1906 James Grierson
- 1906–1910 Spencer Ewart
- 1910–1914 Henry Wilson
- 1914–1915 Charles Callwell
Director of Military Intelligence
- 1915–1916 Charles Callwell
- 1916–1918 George Mark Watson Macdonogh
- 1918–1922 William Thwaites
Director of Military Operations and Intelligence
- 1922–1923 William Thwaites
- 1923–1926 John Burnett-Stuart
- 1926–1931 Ronald Charles
- 1931–1934 William Henry Bartholomew
- 1934–1936 John Greer Dill
- 1936–1938 Robert Hadden Haining
- 1938–1939 Henry Royds Pownall
Director of Military Intelligence
- 1939–1940 Frederick Beaumont-Nesbitt
- 1940–1944 Francis Henry Norman Davidson
- 1944–1945 John Sinclair
- 1945–1946 Freddie de Guingand
- 1946–1948 Gerald Templer
- 1948–1949 Douglas Packard
- 1949–1953 Arthur Shortt
- 1953–1956 Valentine Boucher
- 1956–1959 Cedric Rhys Price
- 1959–1962 Richard Eyre Lloyd
- 1962–1965 Marshall St John Oswald
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