Union Castle and MI6 among the crew.
by Published on 17th July 2024 09:28 AM
I have previously posted about my father (Clement Leslie Chandler), who, in 1910, joined the Boys Service RN and, within six months, "disappeared" into the fledgling British Secret Service. (Later to become MI5 and MI6.)
After spending the years before and during the Russian Revolution in St. Petersburg, (Petrograd) Russia, he was based on Union Castle ships on the England-South Africa route.
The crew lists naming him all show him in very junior positions (Cabin attendant, Baggage attendant, Bathroom attendant, Steward, and so on). That seemed a bit strange until research revealed his true role on board.
Every position he held brought him into contact with passengers and crew. He could speak to them and overhear them but remain just a part of the furniture.
You could say that he was hiding in plain sight.
His job was to identify any potential enemy spies/agents.
When the ships reached Durban he would report to his handler at St. Finbars Masonic Lodge in Rossbutgh, Durban, South Africa. With the cooperation of the South African authorities, the suspects would be further investigated and dealt with.
In 1936, he was based ashore in East London and was the handler for his seaborne successors.
In the early 1950s, his base moved to Port Elizabeth. I was then eight or nine years old. The Union Castle ships always met in PE at the weekend, one heading back to the UK, the other down coast to East London and Beira in Mozambique. Without fail, he visited both ships. Very often, my younger sister and I would go with him. Once on board, we were deposited in the ship's bakery and fed juices and buns while Dad met with whoever he received reports from.
Are any members aware that this sort of security surveillance was taking place on ships, and probably still is.
