Walter Archer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walter Edward Archer |
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Walter Archer in Norway
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service | SIS (MI6) |
| Operation(s) | World War I |
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| Birth name | Walter Edward Archer |
| Born | 4 July 1855 Hampton, London, England |
| Died | 19 August 1917 (aged 62) Sand, Rogaland, Norway |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse |
Alice Lima Murray
(m. 1878) |
| Children | Norman Archer (son) |
Walter Edward Archer (born July 4, 1855 – died August 19, 1917) was a British government worker and a spy. He was also a big expert on salmon.
Walter Archer was in charge of the Fisheries Division for the UK government from 1903 to 1912. This division looked after fish and fishing. He also led an important international science group called the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Because he loved salmon, he moved to Sand, Norway. In 1912, Walter and his son Hugh became spies for the Secret Intelligence Service (also known as MI6). They were given secret names, "Sage" and "Sagette," to watch German ships near Norway and Denmark.
Life as a Salmon Expert
Walter Archer was very interested in salmon. He moved to Sand, Rogaland, Norway, in 1884. There, he got the rights to fish for salmon in the Suldalslågen river for 40 years.
He worked hard to protect the salmon. He helped build special "salmon stairs" at the Sandsfossen waterfall in Sand. These stairs allowed fish to swim past the waterfall easily. He also started a salmon hatchery and marked salmon to study them. Thanks to his efforts, fish could swim freely in the river without being disturbed, except by sport fishing with a rod and line.
In 1892, Archer became the main inspector for salmon fishing in Scotland. Later, in 1898, he became the Inspector of Fisheries for England and Wales. From 1903, he was in charge of the Fisheries Division for the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. He was also part of important groups that studied fish and fishing. In 1908, he became the President of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, which is the oldest international science group focused on the sea.
In 1912, Walter Archer had to leave his public job because he was not well.
Secret Spy Missions
At the end of 1912, Walter Archer and his oldest son, Hugh, were asked to become spies. They were given the secret names "Sage" and "Sagette." They worked for Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming, who was the first leader of the Secret Intelligence Service. Their job was to watch German ships along the coasts of Southern Norway and Denmark.
Hugh was a former naval officer and knew a lot about navigating ships. Both Walter and Hugh knew Norway and Denmark very well. They were paid to spend a year watching ships and helping with other naval tasks. They planned to sail around the coasts in a private yacht. They also wanted to get lighthouse keepers, ship pilots, and coast guards to report any German ship movements.
Walter ("Sage") and Hugh ("Sagette") stopped their spy work in May 1913. However, Hugh ("Sagette") continued for another six months.
Family Life
Walter Archer married Alice Lima Hay Murray on October 17, 1878, when he was 23 years old.
They had six children:
- Hugh (born 1879)
- Harold (born 1880)
- Olive (born 1882)
- Twins Ruth and Esther (born 1886)
- Norman Ernest Archer (born 1892), who later became a British diplomat.
Walter Archer passed away on August 19, 1917, in Sand, Rogaland, Norway, where he was buried.
Images for kids
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"Sagette" and "Sage" on Edirene
