Naval Intelligence Division (United Kingdom) facts for kids
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| Division overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1912 |
| Preceding Division |
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| Dissolved | 1964 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | Admiralty Building Whitehall London |
| Parent department | Admiralty Naval Staff |
The Naval Intelligence Division (NID) was a special part of the British Navy that gathered secret information. It was created in 1912 and was the main intelligence group for the British Navy. The NID helped the Navy make important plans and understand what other countries were doing. People sometimes called it "Room 39" because of its office number in the Admiralty building. This division worked until 1964, when a new, bigger intelligence group called Defence Intelligence Staff was formed.
Contents
The idea for naval intelligence started way back in 1882 with a group called the Foreign Intelligence Committee. This group grew and became the Naval Intelligence Department in 1887.
How the NID Changed Over Time
At first, the NID staff did two main things. They collected information about other countries. They also helped plan how the fleet (all the navy ships) would get ready for war.
Over the years, the NID's jobs changed. In 1900, a "War" section was added to help with strategy. Later, a "Trade" section was made to protect merchant ships. However, the "Trade" section was removed in 1909 after some problems.
In 1910, the NID stopped being in charge of war planning. These tasks moved to a new department. The NID then focused mostly on gathering and organizing secret information. In 1912, it became a key part of the new Admiralty War Staff. Even when that group changed in 1917, the NID continued its work until 1964.
During World War I, the NID played a huge role in breaking secret codes. Their special team, known as Room 40, was very successful. They intercepted and decoded many enemy messages.
One of their biggest successes was decoding the Zimmermann Telegram. This secret message helped bring the United States into the war. It showed how important secret intelligence could be in world events.
In World War II, the NID continued its vital work. They received special "Ultra" messages. These were secret enemy communications that had been decoded. The NID got these messages directly from Bletchley Park, where the codebreakers worked.
The NID also started a special unit called the 30th Assault Unit. This group's job was to gather information, scout out areas, and carry out secret missions. Some members of this unit, like Ralph Izzard, helped inspire the famous fictional spy, James Bond. This is because Ian Fleming, who created James Bond, also worked for the NID!
The NID also had a "Geographical Section." This section created special handbooks. These books provided important information about different places around the world. They were used by the British Armed Forces to help them plan missions and understand foreign areas. They made these books during both World War I and World War II.
Joining Forces: Defence Intelligence
In 1965, the intelligence groups from the Navy, Army, and Air Force all joined together. They formed a new, single organization called the Defence Intelligence Service. This new group works under the Ministry of Defence.
Many important officers led the Naval Intelligence Division over the years. They were called the Directors of Naval Intelligence. Some of these leaders included:
- Rear-Admiral Lewis Beaumont, who was a director from 1895 to 1899.
- Rear-Admiral Sir Reginald 'Blinker' Hall, who led during World War I from 1914 to 1919.
- Rear-Admiral John Godfrey, who was in charge during World War II from 1939 to 1942.
There were also many Deputy (assistant) Directors who helped lead the NID.
See also
- Ian Fleming, who worked for the NID and created the character James Bond.
- Ralph Izzard, an NID officer and member of the 30 Assault Unit, also an inspiration for James Bond.
- Merlin Minshall, another NID officer who inspired parts of James Bond.
- Ewen Montagu, who planned a famous NID operation called Operation Mincemeat.
- Office of Naval Intelligence, the intelligence group for the US Navy.
