John Scale facts for kids

John Dymoke Scale was a British spy who worked for MI6, also known as the Secret Intelligence Service. He was born on December 27, 1882, in England. Scale was a Lieutenant Colonel in the army and received special awards for his service.

Scale first went to Russia in 1912 as part of the British Indian Army. He learned to speak Russian and became a translator in 1913. He later joined a special British group in St Petersburg called the Anglo-Russian Commission. This group worked on spreading information to influence public opinion, which is called propaganda.

Working as a Spy

John Dymoke Scale was an important agent for British intelligence. In 1916, he worked with other agents like Stephen Alley and Oswald Rayner. They were all part of a secret operation led by Mansfield Cumming, who was a key figure in British intelligence.

Connection to Rasputin

Scale's name is often mentioned in connection with the mysterious end of Grigori Rasputin. Rasputin was a very influential person in Russia at the time. Records show that Scale met with Oswald Rayner and Felix Yusupov in St Petersburg just before Rasputin's death.

Many books and documentaries have suggested that British intelligence, including Scale, might have been involved in the events leading to Rasputin's passing. Some even claim that Scale gave orders to Rayner.

A Secret Letter

A letter from Stephen Alley to Scale hints at British involvement. It said that their "objective has clearly been achieved" and mentioned "Dark Forces." This suggests that a plan had been put into action, and its goal was met. The letter also noted that Rayner was "attending to loose ends," meaning he was taking care of final details.

Later Life

By March 1918, John Dymoke Scale was in charge of an MI6 office in Stockholm, Sweden. This shows his continued importance in the world of secret intelligence.