Portland Spy Ring Part 1 (138)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 4 September 2020

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode we talk with Trevor Barnes, the author of “Dead Doubles, a new book on the Portland Spy Ring, one of the most infamous espionage cases of the Cold War. In 1960 it was discovered that crucial secrets from the world-leading submarine research base at Portland in Dorset were being stolen by a British man and his mistress. The couple were tailed by MI5 'watchers' to a covert meeting with a Canadian businessman, Gordon Lonsdale. The unsuspecting Lonsdale in turn led MI5's spycatchers to an innocent-looking couple in suburban Ruislip called the Krogers… UK Fans can buy the book here & support the podcast https://amzn.to/2Gp50gD US Fans can buy the book here & support the podcast https://amzn.to/3jHRpiy If you can spare it I’m asking listeners to contribute at least $3 USD per month to help keep us on the air (larger amounts are welcome too) plus you can get a sought after CWC coaster as a monthly financial supporter and you bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ I am delighted to welcome Trevor Barnes to our Cold War conversation… There’s further information on this episode in our show notes,plus a book giveaway which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode138/ If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook. Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated – goodbye. Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations 0:00 Introduction and Background of Trevor Barnes 1:03 Overview of the Portland Spy Ring and Trevor Barnes' book "Dead Doubles" 9:14 Investigation and Surveillance of the Krogers and Portland Spy Ring 13:32 Missed Opportunities and Gender Bias in the 1950s 25:24 Introduction to Rafter Technology Used for Surveillance 32:54 MI5's Surveillance Strategy and Role of Women 35:30 Moral Dilemmas Faced by MI5 During the Investigation 37:22 Investigation into the Search Family 43:04 Trevor Barnes' Approach to Historical Accuracy in His Book 46:44 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments Chapters powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:05.8	I was trained as a historian. I mean, I was lucky enough, really, really fortunate when I was studying history to be taught by Christopher Andrew, Professor Christopher Andrew of Cambridge University, who many of your listeners will know, is a leading historian of the uses and abuses of intelligence.
0:29.6	This is Cold War Conversations. If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts.
0:40.0	Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at Cold Warconversations.com.
0:48.8	In 1960, it was discovered that crucial secrets from the world-leading submarine research base at Portland in Dorset
0:56.7	were being stolen by a British man and his mistress. The couple were tailed by MI5 Watchers to a covert
1:03.8	meeting with a Canadian businessman Gordon Lonsdale. The unsuspecting Lonsdale, in turn, led
1:10.5	MIFI's spycatches to an innocent-looking couple in suburban rice lip called the Krogus.
1:18.0	If you can spare it, I'm asking listeners to contribute at least three US dollars per month to help keep us on the air.
1:26.3	Larger amounts are welcome too. Plus, you get that
1:29.5	sought-after Cold War Conversations drinks coaster as a monthly financial supporter, and you bask in the
1:36.8	warm glow of knowing that you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to cold warconversations.com slash donate.
1:46.9	Please leave a written review wherever you listen to this podcast.
1:51.0	It really helps us get new guests on the show.
1:54.9	I am delighted to welcome Trevor Barnes to our Cold War Conversation.
2:03.6	Why, right? welcome Trevor Barnes to our Cold War conversation. Why write about this story now? What's changed? Well, what's changed in particular is the fact
2:11.9	that MI5 has released almost all, I'll talk about which ones it hasn't released yet, almost all of its files on this.
2:21.1	But of course, that in itself isn't enough because having decided that the story really need to be told using those documents as a basis,
2:32.6	I wanted to go and sound the depths of other potential sources,
2:39.1	in particular in Russia, which is fascinating to get a little bit of new detail
2:44.7	from individuals who I met when I was over there.
2:49.8	And then also in America, because one of the key
	...

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