Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)

In the 19th century, British intelligence work was undertaken by the Intelligence Department of the War Office. An important figure was Sir Charles Wilson, a Royal Engineer who successfully pushed for reform of the War Office's treatment of topographical work.{{cite web |url=http://www.pef.org.uk/profiles/major-general-sir-charles-william-wilson-1836-1905 |title=Major General Sir Charles William Wilson, 1836–1905 |access-date=2011-12-07 |publisher=Palestine Exploration Fund }}

In the early 1900s intelligence gathering was becoming better understood, to the point where a counter-intelligence organisation (MI5) was formed by the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DoMI) under Captain (later Major-General) Vernon Kell; overseas intelligence gathering began in 1912 by MI6 under Commander (later Captain) Mansfield Smith-Cumming.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-spymaster-who-was-stranger-than-fiction-737707.html|title=The spymaster who was stranger than fiction|work=The Independent|date=29 October 1999|access-date=5 May 2014}}

Although the first proposals to create an intelligence corps came in 1905, the first Intelligence Corps was formed in August 1914 and originally included only officers and their servants. It left for France on 12 August 1914.{{sfn|Clayton|1996|p=18-20}} The Royal Flying Corps was formed to monitor the ground, and provided aerial photographs for the Corps to analyse.{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/history_of_intelligence_corps.pdf|title=History of the Intelligence Corps, p. 3|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=5 May 2014}}

During the Irish War of Independence, Intelligence Corps operatives were used to monitor the Irish Republican Army. On Bloody Sunday (1920) 15 British Military Officers and civilians were shot and killed during multiple attacks in Dublin. Of the 15 killed six were Army Intelligence Officers, two were Courts Martial Officers, one was a senior Staff Officer serving with Irish Command (Brevet Lieut-Colonel Hugh Montgomery), three policemen (all former British military), two civilians (all former British military) and one local civilian.{{cite book |last=Fitzpatrick |first=David |date=2012 |title=Terror in Ireland, 1916–1923 |location=Dublin |publisher=Lilliput Press |pages=102–140 |isbn=1843511991}} Following the war the Intelligence Corps was gradually scaled down and disbanded entirely in 1929; intelligence matters were left to individual unit officers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/intelligence-corps|title=Intelligence Corps | National Army Museum|website=nam.ac.uk}}-{{Cite web|url=http://89fss.com/int_corps.htm|title=History of the Intelligence Corps|website=89fss.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.militaryintelligencemuseum.org/history-of-the-intelligence-corps|title=The Intelligence Corps|website=Mil Intel Museum}}

On 19 July 1940 a new Intelligence Corps was created by Army Order 112 and has existed since that time. The Army had been unprepared for collecting intelligence for deployment to France, and the only intelligence had been collected by Major Sir Gerald Templer. The Corps trained operatives to parachute at RAF Ringway; some of these were then dropped over France as part of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Intelligence Corps officers were involved in forming the highly-effective Long Range Desert Group, and Corps officer Lt Col Peter Clayton was one of the four founders of the Special Air Service (SAS). Around 40 per cent of British Army personnel at Bletchley Park were in the Intelligence Corps.History of the Intelligence Corps, p. 4

The Combined Allied Intelligence Corps as it was known in Malta, began recruiting in 1940 following Italy's entry into the war on the side of Germany.Recorded interview with Captain "C.M." (Rtd) of the Combined Allied Intelligence Corps (1941–1946) at Sliema, Malta on 7 November 2012 Among its many responsibilities in the Mediterranean Theatre were debriefing and interrogation of high-ranking prisoners of war in East Africa following Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia ("Eldoret" P.O.W. Camp no. 365 being one example), counter-intelligence operations following Operation Husky the Allied invasion of Sicily in August 1943, and implementation of the Allied Screening Commission. The commission was established by Field-Marshal Sir Harold Alexander a few days after the fall of Rome in June 1944 to identify and reimburse Italian civilians who had assisted Allied escapees.Roger Absalom (2005) Allied escapers and the contadini in occupied Italy (1943–5), Journal of Modern Italian Studies, 10:4, 413–425, DOI: 10.1080/13545710500314603

Throughout the Cold War, Intelligence Corps officers and NCOs (with changed insignia) were posted behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany, to join in the intelligence-gathering activities of the British Commanders'-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany (Brixmis).{{harvnb|Gibson|2012|p=57}}

Many members of the Intelligence Corps served in Northern Ireland during "the Troubles". Units such as the Military Reaction Force, Special Reconnaissance Unit, Force Research Unit and 14 Intelligence Company contained Corps soldiers and officers.{{cite web |url=http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Image:PREM16slash154.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110222121414/http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/File:PREM16slash154.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2011 |title=PREM 16/154: Defensive Brief D – Meeting between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach, 5 April 1974 "Army Plain Clothes Patrols in Northern Ireland" |work=The National Archives |location=London |access-date=15 April 2015 }}

On 1 February 1985 the corps was officially declared an 'Arm' (combat support) instead of a 'Service' (rear support).

Intelligence Corps personnel wear a distinctive cypress green beret with a cap badge consisting of a union rose (a red rose with a white centre) between two laurel branches and surmounted by a crown. Their motto is Manui Dat Cognitio Vires ("Knowledge gives Strength to the Arm"). The corps' quick march is The Rose & Laurel while its slow march is Henry Purcell's Trumpet Tune & Ayre.History of the Intelligence Corps, p. 5

Within the British Army, soldiers of the Intelligence Corps are often referred to as Green Slime, or sometimes simply 'Slime', due to the colour of their beret.{{Cite web |title=SAS bans troops from using offensive nicknames such as 'Doris, Ruperts and crabs' |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/sas-bans-troops-using-offensive-nicknames/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=LBC}}{{Cite web |last=Hodges |first=Ben |date=2019-04-06 |title=Green Slime! Part One |url=http://www.craigrobertdouglas.co.uk/green-slime-part-one/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the British Army}}{{Cite web |last=MILLER |first=PHIL |date=2020-12-18 |title=Detectives 'not interested' in probing army commanders about Northern Ireland murders, says veteran |url=https://www.declassifieduk.org/detectives-not-interested-in-probing-british-army-commanders-about-northern-ireland-murders-says-veteran/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Declassified Media Ltd}}

Their headquarters, formerly at Maresfield Camp, East Sussex, then Templer Barracks at Ashford, Kent, moved in 1997 to MOD Chicksands in Bedfordshire along with the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (DISC).{{cite web |last1=Brigadier Brian Parritt |title=How it Started |url=https://www.militaryintelligencemuseum.org/our-history |website=Military Intelligence Museum |access-date=28 November 2024}} DISC was renamed as Joint Intelligence Training Group in January 2015.{{cite journal|title=Bedfordshire – Joint Intelligence Training Group Chicksands|journal=Sanctuary|date=2015|issue=44|page=74|issn=0959-4132}}

The Intelligence Corps Museum was created in 1969,{{cite web |url=https://www.militaryintelligencemuseum.org/intelligence-corps-display |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922035323/https://www.militaryintelligencemuseum.org/intelligence-corps-display |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 September 2020 |title=Intelligence Corps Display |website=militaryintelligencemuseum.org |access-date=23 May 2020 }} and later renamed as the Military Intelligence Museum, now also at Chicksands. Because the museum is on a working military base, it can be visited by appointment only.{{cite web |url=https://www.militaryintelligencemuseum.org/ |title=Military Intelligence Museum |website=militaryintelligencemuseum.org|access-date= 23 May 2020}}

The corps has a particularly high proportion of commissioned officers, many of them commissioned from the ranks, and also a high percentage of female members. Non-commissioned personnel join as an Operator Military Intelligence (OPMI) or Operator Military Technical Intelligence (OPTI).{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/|title=Intelligence Corps | The British Army}} They do basic 14-week military training at either the Army Training Centre Pirbright, or the Army Training Regiment, Winchester.{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/24421.aspx|title=ATC Pirbright|access-date=5 May 2014}} OPMI/OPTI soldiers then will complete a 20-week special-to-arm training at Templer Training Delivery Wing, Chicksands, at the end of which they are promoted to Lance Corporal and posted to a battalion.{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/intelligence/32302.aspx|title=Intelligence Corps opportunities|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=5 May 2014}}

Intelligence Corps battalions are under the command of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group within Field Army Troops.

• Corps Headquarters, at MOD Chicksands
• Joint Support Group
• Specialist Group Military Intelligence (Army Reserve),{{Cite book |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/985593/20210512_Reserve_Forces_Review_2030.pdf |title=Reserve Forces Review 2030: Unlocking the reserves' potential to strengthen a resilient and global Britain |publisher=Ministry of Defence |year=2021 |location=London, United Kingdom}} at Denison Barracks, Hermitage{{Cite web|date=6 July 2020|title=Information regarding locations of Army Reserve units|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/664382/response/1596315/attach/3/20200706%20FOI05506%20Arbeely%20Response%20Letter%20ArmySec.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1|access-date=7 March 2021|website=What do they know?}}
• Land Intelligence Fusion Centre, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage
• 1 Military Intelligence Battalion, at Gaza Barracks, Catterick Garrison{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/intelligence-corps-battalions/|title=1 MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BATTALION |publisher=British Army|access-date=5 January 2020}}
• Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company
• 11 Military Intelligence Company
• 12 Military Intelligence Company, at Imphal Barracks, York{{Cite web|title=Military Bases: City of York|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2017-03-28.69633.h|access-date=2021-05-15|website=TheyWorkForYou}} – supporting 1st (UK) Division
• 14 Military Intelligence Company
• 15 Military Intelligence Company
• 16 Military Intelligence Company, at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison – supporting 16 Air Assault Brigade{{Cite web|date=12 May 2021|title=1 Military Intelligence Battalion support high readiness formations, such as 16 Air Assault Brigade.|url=https://twitter.com/Int_Corps/status/1392480231211028480|access-date=15 May 2021|via=Twitter}}
• 2 Military Intelligence (Exploitation) Battalion, at Trenchard Lines, Upavon{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/2-military-intelligence/|title=2 Military Intelligence (Exploitation) Battalion|publisher=British Army|access-date=23 August 2018}}
• Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company
• 21 Military Intelligence Company, at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon-on-Thames
• 22 Military Intelligence Company
• 23 Military Intelligence Company, at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn
• 24 Military Intelligence Company
• 25 Military Intelligence Company (Army Reserve), Blighmont Army Reserve Centre at Southampton{{cite web|url=https://jobs.army.mod.uk/army-reserve/find-a-reserve-centre/south-east/southampton-blighmont-reserve-centre/

|title=Blighmont Army Reserve Centre

|access-date=13 March 2025}}

• 3 Military Intelligence Battalion (Reserve), in Hackney, London{{Cite web|title=3 Military Intelligence|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/3-military-intelligence/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=army.mod.uk}}
• Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Hackney, London
• 31 Military Intelligence Company, in Hackney, London
• 32 Military Intelligence Company, in Cambridge
• 33 Military Intelligence Company, in Hampstead, London
• 34 Military Intelligence Company, in Hampstead, London
• 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, at Ward Barracks, Bulford Camp (Regular Army) – supports 3rd UK Division{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/4-military-intelligence/|title=4 Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion|publisher=British Army|access-date=23 August 2018}}{{Cite web|last=Ministry|first=of Defence|date=July 2013|title=Transforming the British Army an Update|url=http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf|access-date=28 March 2021|website=United Kingdom Parliamentary Publishings}}
• Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company
• 41 Military Intelligence Company
• 42 Military Intelligence Company
• 43 Military Intelligence Company
• Operations Support Military Intelligence Company{{Cite web|title=4 Military Intelligence|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/4-military-intelligence/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=army.mod.uk}}
• Logistic Support Section, at Aldershot Garrison – supporting 101st Logistic Brigade
• Detachments, at Bovington Camp and in Germany
• 5 Military Intelligence Battalion (Reserve), at Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh[https://www.army.mod.uk/media/10192/adr009405_in_front_5.pdf British Army Newsletter | Summer 2020 | Issue 5 | In Front]. – paired with 1 MI Bn{{Cite web|title=FOI(A) regarding Combat Service Support unit pairings|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/748312/response/1789612/attach/3/20210514%20FOI04105%20Zacchi%20Response%20Letter%20ArmyPolSec.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1|access-date=14 May 2021|website=What do they know?|date = 16 April 2021}}
• Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company, at Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh
• 51 Military Intelligence Company, in Edinburgh
• Detachment in Glasgow
• 52 Military Intelligence Company, at Napier Armoury, Gateshead
• 53 Military Intelligence Company, at Carlton Barracks, Leeds
• Detachment, at Wallis Barracks, Chesterfield
• 6 Military Intelligence Battalion (Reserve), in Manchester{{Cite web|title=6 Military Intelligence|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/6-military-intelligence/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=army.mod.uk}} – paired with 2 MI Bn
• Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Manchester
• 61 Military Intelligence Company, in Manchester
• 62 Military Intelligence Company, at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn
• Manx Detachment in Douglas, Isle of Man{{Cite web|title=Army Reserve Centre, Lord Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1LE|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/north-west/isle-of-man-lord-street|access-date=4 October 2021|publisher=British Army Reserve Centres}}
• 63 Military Intelligence Company, in Stourbridge
• Detachment in Bletchley
• 7 Military Intelligence Battalion (Reserve), in Bristol – paired with 4 MI Bn
• Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Bristol
• 71 Military Intelligence Company, in Bristol
• 715 Military Intelligence Section, at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter{{Cite web|title=Google Earth|url=https://earth.google.com/web/search/Wyvern+Barracks,+Exeter/@50.71045919,-3.51230341,22.17039751a,0d,15y,5.0357775h,91.21071447t,0r/data=CigiJgokCSFNyLfWH0pAEfpj6tmzH0pAGVBwbraxNOY_IfTonKfeJeY_IhoKFkxiSW5SanA0bUY0V096MG9GUS16WkEQAg|access-date=2021-11-11|website=earth.google.com}}
• 72 Military Intelligence Company, in Bristol
• 73 Military Intelligence Company, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage{{Cite web |title=Intelligence Corps Battalions |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/our-units/ |access-date=2021-05-15 |website=army.mod.uk}}
• 74 Military Intelligence Company, at Raglan Barracks, Newport

• Army Element

• :Category:Intelligence Corps officers

{{Portal|United Kingdom}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Clayton |first=Anthony |title=Forearmed: History of the Intelligence Corps |isbn=978-0080377018 |year=1996 |publisher=Brassey's (UK) Ltd}}
• {{cite book |last=Gibson |first=Steve |title=Live and Let Spy: Brixmis the Last Cold War Mission |isbn=978-0-7524-6580-7 |year=2012 |publisher=The History Press, Stroud, Glos.}}

• [https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/ Official website]
• [https://www.roseandlaurel.uk/ Intelligence Corps Association]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130522021737/http://www.army.mod.uk/25436.aspx 3 MI Bn (V) – London]
• [https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/5-military-intelligence/ 5 MI Bn – Edinburgh]
• [http://www.militaryintelligencemuseum.org/ Military Intelligence Museum]
• [http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/documents.php?aid=154&nid=22&start=10 The Intelligence Corps in the Second World War] The Services 1930 – 1956 at www.BritishMilitaryHistory.co.uk

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{{The British Army}}

Category:Nationstate regiments/corps of military intelligence

Category:1914 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Military units and formations established in 1914

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1929

Category:Military units and formations established in 1940

Category:Corps of the British Army in World War I

Category:Corps of the British Army in World War II