History of the British Inter-Services Security Board and the Allocation of Code-Names in the Second World War

AbstractDuring the Second World War there was an increasingly developed system for controlling the code-names used for operations where different Allied forces were involved. This paper follows the development of this system – based on the British Inter-Services Security Board – that spread to overseas theatres on the British side and to American forces world-wide. The selection of code-names was not without controversy; with Winston Churchill getting personally involved and his intervention is highlighted. A critique of the system is attempted, although the final judge is ultimately the success of the security of the activities disguised by the code-names. AcknowledgementsThis paper is based on Code-names of World War II (1939–1945): A Bibliographic Examination of their Allocation and Meaning, a thesis submitted for a Fellowship of the Library Association, June 1986.Notes1 Christopher Andrew and Richard J. Aldrich, ‘The Intelligence Services in the Second World War’, Contemporary British History 13/4 (1999) pp.130–69.2 F.H. Hinsley et al., British Intelligence in the Second World War, Vol. One: Its Influence on Strategy and Operations (London: HMSO 1979) pp.93–4.3 F.H. Hinsley and C.A.G. Simkins, British Intelligence in the Second World War, Vol. Four:Security and Counter-Intelligence (London: HMSO 1990) p.247 et seq.4 Undated DO letter to Sir Edward Harding, Dominions Office, WO 283/1.5 Inter-Services Security Board [note] from DCIGS ‘To all Directorates and Sections Concerned’, 14 February 1940, WO 283/1.6 M.R.D. Foot, SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive 1940–1946 (London: BBC 1984) p.11.7 Ibid., p.178 M.R.D. Foot and J.M. Langley, MI 9: The British Secret Service that Fostered Escape and Evasion 1939–1945 and its American Counterpart (London: Book Club Associates 1979) p.31.9 D. Wheatley, The Deception Planners; My Secret War (London: Hutchinson 1980) p.31.10 WHB Memoir: Major-General J.C.F. Holland, CB, DFC, The RE Journal 71/3 (1957) pp.300–2.11 Wheatley, The Deception Planners, pp.27–8.12 Ibid., p.30.13 Ibid., p.30.14 Charter for Inter-Services Security Board, CAB 21/1422, 16 March 1940.15 CAB 21/1422, 16 March 1940 op. cit.16 Wheatley, The Deception Planners, pp.18–19.17 CAB 21/1422, 16 March 1940 op. cit.18 Minutes of Twenty Second meeting held in Room 446, War Office, on Tuesday, April 16, Inter-Services Security Board, 17 April 1940, WO 283/1.19 Progress report No 8, Inter-Services Security Board, 9 May 1940, WO 166/17.20 Agenda for twenty third meeting to be held in Room 446, War Office, on Tuesday, April 23rd, at 3.30pm, Inter-Services Security Board, 23 April 1940, WO 283/1.21 Hinsley et al., British Intelligence in the Second World War, Vol One, p.267 et seq.22 Taken from a reference cited by R.I. Alotta, ‘Code-Named Operations of World War II; An Interpretation’, American Name Society 30/1 (1982) pp.5–14.23 US Department of Defense, Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office 1974) cited in Alotta, ‘Code-Named Operations’, op. cit.24 J. Bamford, The Puzzle Palace: America's National Security Agency and its Special Relationship with Britain's GCHQ (London: Sidgwick and Jackson 1983) fn p.119.25 Note on the use of operational code names, Inter-Services Security Board, 19 December 1940, WO 193/212.26 Code words – policy, [memorandum] from Headquarters Air Command South East Asia to Headquarters RAF Burma et al., 29 July 1945, AIR 23/2484.27 Memorandum on code-name, etc, Inter-Services Security Board, 26 April 1940, WO 283/1.28 Memo from MO1 to DDMO, 13 February 1940, WO 193/212.29 WO 193/212, 13 February 1940 op. cit.30 Memo from SD6b to MO1, 23 February 1940, WO 193/212.31 Signal from War Office, 27 June 1940 WO 193/212.32 Minute from DMI to DMP&P, 8 July 1940, WO 193/212.33 Allocation of code names and other abbreviated titles, meeting held on 14th August, 15 August 1940, WO 193/212.34 WO 193/212, 15 August 1940 op. cit.35 Code names, memorandum by Inter-Services Security Board, 8 November 1940, CAB 121/109.36 CAB 121/109, 8 November 1940 op. cit.37 Ibid.38 Letter from Colonel Hollis, Offices of the War Cabinet to Paymaster Captain R. Brookman, Secretary to the First Sea Lord Admiralty, 12 December 1940, CAB 121/109.39 Allocation of code names to operations, note to Prime Minster, 13 December 1940, CAB 121/109.40 Note to Colonel Hollis, 16 December 1940, CAB 121/109.41 Note from General Ismay, 22 December, CAB 121/109.42 Note to Prime Minister, 21 January 1941, CAB 121/109.43 CAB 121/109 21 January 1941 op. cit.44 Minutes of 266th meeting, held on Monday, January 27th, Inter-Services Security Board, 27 January 1941, WO 283/3.45 Minutes of 242th meeting, held on Tuesday, February 18th, Inter-Services Security Board, 18 February 1941, WO 283/3.46 Code name notification, ISSB, 6 July 1942, WO 193/212.47 Minutes of 340th meeting, held on Saturday a.m. June 28th, Inter-Services Security Board, 28 June 1941, WO 283/4.48 Draft agreement on the allocation and use of code names between the British and the United States Chief of Staff, WO 193/212, 1 October 1941.49 Code names, Note by the Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee, JIC(41) 394, 1 October 1941, WO 193/212.50 Minutes of 473rd meeting, held on Friday, Dec 12th, Inter-Services Security Board, 12 December 1941, WO 283/5.51 Inter-Services Code-Word Index, ISSB, September 1941, WO 33/1704; Inter-Services Code-Word Index Supplement, ISSB, September 1941, WO 33/1705.52 WO 33/1704, September 1941 op. cit.53 Ibid.54 Key to Allotment of Blocks of Inter-Service Code-Word Index (CCS 44/220), ISSB, 1 January 1942, WO 33/1706.55 Minutes of 501st meeting, held on Saturday, 17th January 1942, Inter-Services Security Board, 17 January 1942, WO 283/6.56 Memorandum from Dwight D. Eisenhower to the Adjutant General, Subject: Code Words to Designate Plans, Projects, Localities, etc., 10 March 1942, National Archives Record Group Number 407, p. 1, cited by Gregory C Sieminski, ‘The Art of Naming Operations’, Parameters Autumn (1995) pp.81–9.57 I.C.B. Dear and M.R.D. Foot, ‘Inter-Services Security Board, The Oxford Companion to World War II, 2001’ < http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-InterServicesSecurityBoard.html>(accessed 20 January 2012).58 Wheatley, The Deception Planners, p.28.59 Ibid., p.29.60 Inter-Services Security Board minutes of the 239th meeting…, WO 283/3, 14 February 1941.61 Information from MOD Naval and Air Historical Branches.62The Organisation for Joint Planning, Cmd 6351 (London: HMSO 1942).63 Minutes of 544rd meeting, held on Saturday, 21st March 1942, Inter-Services Security Board, 21 March 1942, WO 283/6.64 JIC(42) 53rd meeting, 20 October 1942.65 WO 283/4 28 June 1941 op. cit.66 Federal records of World War II, 1951, vol. II, p.11.67 Minutes of the 59th meeting held on Monday, July 8th, Inter-Services Security Board, 9 July 1940, WO 283/1.68 WO 283/5, 12 December 1941 op. cit.69 Minutes of 597th meeting, held on Tuesday June 2nd, 2 June 1942, WO 283/6.70 Minutes of 631st meeting, held on Tuesday 23rd June, Inter-Services Security Board, 23 June 1942, WO 283/7.71 Minutes of 621st meeting, held on Saturday, 4th July 1942, Inter-Services Security Board, 4 July 1942, WO 283/7.72 Codewords, [message] from AFHQ, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-2 to HQ 15 Army Group et al., 10 January 1945, AIR 23/7826.73 Code names, note by Secretary, Interservice Secretariat, 29 August 1944, AIR 23/7826.74 Codeword instruction no 16, Inter-Service Secretariat, Headquarters Balkan Air Force, 30 January 1945, AIR 23/7826.75 ISSB, telegram from the War Office to Army Melbourne et al., 22 February 1942, WO 193/212.76 The code word system, Note by the Secretary, Offices of the War Cabinet, 11 July 1943, PREM 3/98A.77 Code words and numbers, [message] from G(P) ME to all branches of GHQ ME, 6 February 1941, WO 201/2033.78 Codewords and codenumbers, [message] from CGS GHQ MEF to [all branches of GHQ ME], 7 July 1942, WO 201/2036.79 WO 201/2036, 7 July 1942 op. cit.80 Minutes of 886th meeting, held on Tuesday, 15 June 1943, Inter-Services Security Board, 15 June 1943, WO 283/9.81 Codewords, [message] from CGA GHQ MEF to Eighth Army, 8 April 1942, WO 201/2031.82 Operational codewords, [message] from Battle HQ Eighth Army MEF to 13 Corps and 30 Corps, 10 April 1942, WO 201/2031.83 Operational codewords, [message] from Main HQ Eighth Army MEF to 1 Corps, October 1942, WO 201/2031.84 WO 201/2031, 10 April 1942 op. cit.85 Ibid.86 Ibid.87 Extract CCS 118th meeting (CCS 338), item 10, 10 September 1943, CAB 121/102.88 Manuscript note from Colonel Capel Dunn to Brigadier Hollis re telegram from JSM Washington re CAB 121/102, 10 September 1943 op. cit., 20 September 1943, CAB 121/109.89 Signal back to Washington, 24 September 1943, CAB 121/109.90 Signal from Air Ministry to Britman Washington, 1 October 1942, CAB 121/109.91 Minutes of 992nd meeting, held on Friday, 12th November, Inter-Services Security Board, 12 November 1943, WO 283/10.92 Minutes of 1015th meeting, held on Wednesday, 15 December, Inter-Services Security Board, 15 December 1943, WO 283/11.93 Minutes of the 1016th meeting, held on Friday, 17th Dec 1943, Inter-Services Security Board, 17 December 1943, WO 283/112.94 Minutes of 1135th meeting, held on Friday, 19th May, 1944, Inter-Services Security Board, 19 May 1944, WO 283/12.95 Minutes of 1154th meeting, held on Friday, 16th June, Inter-Services Security Board, 16 June 1944, WO 283/12.96 Minutes of 937th meeting, held on Friday, 27th August, Inter-Services Security Board, 27 August 1943, WO 283/10.97 Following from Chiefs of Staff Committee COS(ME)413, [message] from Air Ministry to CinC ME, 26 August 1943, WO 201/2036.98 Minutes of 1222nd meeting, held on Monday, 25th Sept, Inter-Services Security Board, 25 September 1944, WO 283/13.99 D. Kahn, The Codebreaker: The Story of Secret Writing (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson 1966) p.501.100 Bill Hines, ‘Operation CODENAME’, Infantry Journal LX (1947) pp.42–3.101 WO 33/1704, op. cit., Preface.102 Minutes of 591st meeting, held on Monday, 25th May, Inter-Services Security Board, 25 May 1942, WO 283/6.103 Kahn, The Codebreaker, p.501.104 Wheatley, The Deception Planners, pp.78.105 Note to General Ismay from Prime Minister, 8 August 1943, CAB 121/109.106 Alotta, ‘Code-Named Operations’.107 Kahn, The Codebreaker, p.503.108 Wheatley, The Deception Planners, pp.37–8.109 D. Dodds-Parker, Setting Europe Ablaze: Some Account of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Windlesham, Surrey: Springwood Books 1983) p.93.110 A. Cave Brown, Bodyguard of Lies (London: W.H. Allen 1976).111 E.H. Cookridge, Inside SOE: The Story of Special Operations in Western Europe, 1940–45 (London: Arthur Barker 1966) p.457.112 WO 193/212, 13 February 1940 op. cit.113 C.P. Stacey and G.W.L. Nicholson, Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, vol. II (Ottawa: Queen's Printer, 1956) p.316 n; also at < http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/Italy_e.pdf> (accessed 5 October 2013).114 Minutes of 1025th meeting, held on Wednesday, 29th December, Inter-Services Security Board, 29 December 1943, WO 283/11.115 Minutes of 1116th meeting, held on Friday, 21st April, Inter-Services Security Board, 21 April 1944, WO 283/12.116 Minutes of 1044th meeting, held on Monday, 24th January, Inter-Services Security Board, 24 January 1944, WO 283/11.117 Minutes of 1326th meeting, held on Wednesday, 21st February, Inter-Services Security Board, 21 February 1945, WO 283/14.118 Extract from JIC(45) 33rd meeting, item 2, 15 May 1945.119 Minutes of 1393rd meeting, held on Monday, 11th June, Inter-Services Security Board, 11 June 1945, WO 283/14.120 Minutes of 1398th meeting, held on Wednesday, 20th June, Inter-Services Security Board, 20 June 1945, WO 283/14.121 Minutes of 1399th meeting, held on Friday, 22nd June, Inter-Services Security Board, 22 June 1945, WO 283/14.122 WO 283/14, 22 June 1945 op. cit.123 Signal from SACSEA to CinC EIF et al., 16 September 1945, CAB 121/109.124 WO 283/14, 22 June 1945 op. cit.125 Minutes of 707th meeting, held on Wednesday, 21st October 1942, Inter-Services Security Board, 21 October 1942, WO 283/8.126 Use of code words, memorandum from Director Staff Duties to AFHQ et al., 1 June 1944, W/O 193/213.127 Minutes of 1225th meeting, held on Friday, 29th September, Inter-Services Security Board, 29 September 1944, WO 283/13.128 Minutes of 856th meeting, held on Saturday, 8th May, 1943, Inter-Services Security Board, 8 May 1943, WO 283/9.129 Minutes of 775th meeting, held on Friday, 22nd January, Inter-Services Security Board, 22 January 1943, WO 283/8.130 Minutes of 491st meeting, held on Saturday, 3rd January 1943, Inter-Services Security Board, 3 January 1943, WO 283/5.131 Minutes of 1356th meeting, held on Wednesday, 4th April, Inter-Services Security Board, 4 April 1945, WO 293/14.132 Minutes of 203rd meeting, held on Saturday, December 21st, Inter-Services Security Board, 22 December 1940, WO 283/3.133 Dodds-Parker, Setting Europe Ablaze, p.93.134 Private correspondence with Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker and Mr P.M. Lee.135 Minutes of 819th meeting, held on Saturday, 20th March, Inter-Services Security Board, 20 March 1943, WO 283/9.136 Peterborough, Daily Telegraph, 21 May 1984.137 Peterborough, Daily Telegraph, 23 May 1984; see also Peterborough, Daily Telegraph, 24 May 1984.Additional informationNotes on contributorsGraham WebsterGraham Webster has recently retired after 36 years as an information professional (i.e. librarian, etc). After developing an interest in tracking down operational code-names in World War II, he produced a substantial bibliographic listing for his Fellowship of the Library Association (now Chartered Institute for Librarians and Information Professions – CILIP). It was from the covering preamble to that bibliography that developed into research into the organization and structure of the allocation of those same code-names.

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