Dive into the eccentric life of Mansfield Cumming, MI6's first chief, known for his quirky methods, like stabbing his own wooden leg to test recruits. Explore bizarre gadgets and uncover how his rebellious spirit shaped British espionage during WWI. Hear personal anecdotes that illustrate the heartbreak he faced during wartime tragedy. The discussion weaves humor and historical insight, revealing the complexities of human behavior in intelligence work while highlighting the resilience and creativity of MI6 operatives.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
First Impression of C
Augustus Agar, a naval officer, described his first encounter with Mansfield Cumming, the head of the British Secret Service.
Cumming, known as "C," maintained an air of intrigue, reading documents and seemingly ignoring Agar before abruptly declaring, "I think you will do."
insights INSIGHT
Unconventional Beginnings
Mansfield Cumming, the first chief of MI6, wasn't the stereotypical aristocratic or Oxbridge spy.
A naval cadet from age 12, he was known for rule-breaking, punished for offenses like reading novels and throwing bottles at trains.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Technological Pursuits
After retiring from the Navy due to seasickness, Cumming pursued interests in technology and gadgets, including motor cars and flying.
He even built a grandfather clock, which was later displayed in the MI6 chief's office.
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Mansfield Cumming and the Founding of the Secret Service
Alan Judd
This book is an authorised biography of Mansfield Cumming, the first head of MI6, who signed himself 'C' in green ink, a tradition that continues to this day. Cumming was a colorful figure known for his eccentricities, including his wooden leg and his unconventional methods of testing potential recruits. The book delves into Cumming's early life, his role in founding the Secret Service, and the challenges and successes of the organisation during its early years. It draws on Cumming's voluminous diaries and other classified documents to separate fact from fiction and provide a detailed account of the development of MI6 and its influence on the 20th century[1][3][4].
The Riddle of the Sands
Erskine Childers
The novel follows Charles Carruthers, a British Foreign Office employee, and his friend Arthur Davies as they sail through the North Sea and the Baltic. They stumble upon a mysterious German project in the Frisian Islands, which they eventually discover is a secret plan to transport a powerful German army across the North Sea to invade Britain's east coast. The story is filled with realistic details of sailing and the geography of the Frisian Islands, drawing from Childers' own sailing experiences. The novel is known for its authentic and detailed descriptions, which added to its authenticity and influence in the spy genre[3][4][5].
The daring, gadget-loving, mischievous founder of MI6. Mansfield Cumming, the first C, was a former navy man brought out of retirement to keep tabs on German spies around the outbreak of the First World War. Over the following decade he established MI6 and set it on course to be a central part of the British security apparatus. Known to test the mettle of potential employees by taking a knife out and stabbing his own wooden leg; Mansfield was an eccentric man who's personality has come to shape the institution which he founded.
In this Christmas special, listen as David and Gordon discuss the founding of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service.
The Rest Is Classified 
