Julian Faux

Julian Faux (1935-1998) was an MI5 officer.

Faux was born in South Africa and educated at Michaelhouse school in Natal and at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he read history.

He subsequently joined the Colonial Service and served as a District Commissioner in Swaziland.

The Times records:

It was with great reluctance and regret that Faux resigned from the Colonial Service in 1968 on the eve of Swaziland's independence.

He refused to return to South Africa because of his hatred of apartheid, and decided instead to seek a new career in Britain.

He joined MI5 in 1968, according to The Times, which states that: "He served in the counter-sabotage section and then had two successive tours as an agent-runner, working against terrorist and espionage targets. It was these postings which showed his natural aptitude for operational assignments, rather than desk work."

From 1978, he spent two years as the MI5 security officer at the British Embassy, where he was officially a First Secretary.

In 198, Faux was appointed assistant director of MI5's A4 surveillance section.

He subsequently took charge of a counter-espionage agent-running section, which according to The Times was a joint MI5/MI6 section.

In 1985, he was appointed director of A branch.

Faux succeeded Patrick Walker as Deputy Director General (Operations) in 1988.

Faux retired in 1993. He subsequently worked as a security consultant, mainly in Commonwealth countries.

External Resources

• NameBase Julian Faux