As a former MI6 officer, it seems incredible to me that the story of Cromie, Dukes and Agar has ever been forgotten. It is as heroically British as the Great Escape or the defence of Rorke’s Drift and yet if you were to stop people in the street today, not one in a thousand would have heard of them. These men very nearly changed the course of the history of Western Europe and therefore of the world. If their reports had been listened to and their daring actions supported there is a good chance that the Bolsheviks would have lost the Civil War and the Soviet Union might never have existed.
I rediscovered this story whilst researching the history of MI6 for a television documentary. I had been aware of the bare outline of the tale for many years but it was only as I began to study the original sources that I discovered the fascinating details of the mission. Originally I thought that this would be perfect operation to celebrate the centenary of MI6. As you will see, our actions were so clumsy (and sometimes, reprehensible) that this has not turned out to be the case. And yet, given the Service’s poor performance in recent years, perhaps it is a good thing if some of the mystique which has prevented proper consideration of the Service’s numerous faults is brushed aside, even if only for a short while.
In fact I was concerned that this tale presents a rather too negative, if accurate, picture of MI6. I have always enjoyed a productive relationship with my former employers and I did not want to be seen to be unduly knocking the Service. In view of this, I have consulted representatives of the Service and discussed this issue with them. They are content for the record to stand in its current form.
If you enjoy this story I hope you will take time to read the endnotes. A lot of detail which was taken out of the story at the drafting stage has been placed there. I believe it adds considerably to the background and if you find this story interesting, it is well worth browsing through.
Similarly, I am sure that there is a great deal more information in family memories, photographs and other records which I was not able to uncover during my research. If anyone has information relating to the characters or events in this book then they are warmly encouraged to write to me care of the publishers.
Finally, as young Secret Intelligence Service trainees we all used to receive regular lectures on the history of the Service and its most exciting operations. Take it from me, in the annals of the Service there is no more thrilling story than that of Paul Dukes.
This was the sort of spy we all wanted to be …
H.F.
February 2008
[N.B. I have used the term MI6 to refer to the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) throughout this work as I believe the general reader will be more comfortable with the term. I apologise in advance to those who will doubtless point out that the latter is the technically correct term.]