David Petrie (born 1879)
British intelligence official; Director General of MI5, 1941–1946
| David Petrie
| |
|---|---|
| Image |  David Petrie (born 1879) |
| Born | 1879[1] |
| Died | 1961[1] |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Director General of Security Service (MI5); 1941–1946[1] |
| Known for | Indian Police intelligence chief; chairman of the Indian Public Service Commission[1] |
| Predecessor | Oswald Allen Harker |
| Website | Biography and career |
Sir David Petrie was head of the Security Service (MI5) from 1941 to 1946.[2]
Petrie served in the Indian Police from 1900 to 1936, before joining the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). He was transferred from the SIS to become head of the Security Service in 1941. [2]
Colonial police and the wartime review
In addition to his intelligence work in the Indian Police, Petrie headed the Delhi Intelligence Bureau and chaired the Indian Public Service Commission. After the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Intelligence Corps. In 1941 John Anderson asked him to investigate the difficulties of the Security Service.[1]
Petrie initially declined to take charge before examining the organisation. His report of 13 February 1941 identified poorly planned wartime expansion, overlapping responsibilities and outside interference. B Division alone had 133 officers distributed among 29 sections and some 70–80 sub-sections.[3]
Reorganisation as Director General
On taking office, Petrie secured recognition that the Director General should control the Security Service rather than remain under the executive direction of Lord Swinton. Alien control and counter-subversion were transferred from B Division to new E and F Divisions. Guy Liddell remained responsible for counter-espionage, while Oswald Allen Harker became Deputy Director General. Christopher Andrew identifies Petrie, rather than Vernon Kell, as the first head formally styled Director General.[3]
The reorganised Service operated the Double Cross system, using captured or recruited German agents to send deceptive reports to Germany. MI5’s historical account links this work to the deception supporting the Normandy landings in June 1944.[4]
External Resources
- Namebase: Petrie David
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Security Service, David Petrie, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Former Directors General, MI5, accessed 8 July 2009.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Christopher Andrew, Defend the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, section C, introduction, “The Security Service and its Wartime Staff: From Prison to Palace”.
- ↑ Security Service, World War II, accessed 8 November 2026.