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Britain has always been in the forefront
of the development of underwater weapons and countermeasures
and the Admiralty research establishments based on Portland
and its harbour has played a vital part. The advent of the
nuclear submarine ensured that this form of warfare was a
prime cold war target for hostile intelligence activity.
Cast
Harry Houghton
Alcoholic middle aged naval clerk stationed at the British
Embassy in Warsaw, Poland in 1950. A womaniser kept Polish
mistress, Karytzia. Earned extra income from black market
dealing in coffee smuggled in diplomatic bags. Reported by
superiors as a security risk. Posted 1952 to the Top Secret
naval Underwater Detection Establishment at Portland.
Ethel Gee
Spinster, also middle aged, a filing clerk with high level
security clearance in drawing office at the Underwater Detection
Establishment. Desperate for a man. Paired with Houghton and
set up home with him.
Gordon Lonsdale
Top Russian Spy. Real name Konon Trofimovich Molody using,
in Britain, identity of dead Canadian Businessman. Became
Houghton's controller.
Helen and Peter Kroger
Husband and wife spies. KGB communication team. Booksellers
in Ruislip, London, having escaped roundup of Russian spies
by FBI in USA under names of Morris and Lona Cohen.
The Authorities
Various MI5 agents and Special Branch officers. Their
wives acting as tails.
The Plot
1952 - Houghton subverted by
Poles using past Warsaw information. Directed to obtain details
of nuclear submarines and submarine warfare. Introduced to
handler, Gordon Lonsdale.
Ethel Gee assists Houghton by
smuggling top secret research documents, hidden in brown envelopes,
to Houghton. Houghton passes same to Lonsdale in 'Gents' of
various drinking establishments. Houghton visits Lonsdale
in London for briefing 1st Saturday of every month.
Polish intelligence defector
to CIA, Michael Golenewski, names Houghton as spy. Tailed
by security agents and wives. Contact with Lonsdale noted.
Leads to Krogers. Sudden spate of burglaries reported in Ruislip.
Krogers burgled twice.
Houghton and Gee arrested outside
Old Vic, Waterloo Road, handing documents to Lonsdale. Simultaneously
Krogers arrested and communications equipment seized.
Equipment
Cameras
Houghton supplied with minox cigarette lighter camera
for clandestine work and bigger sophisticated equipment for
use at home.
Communications and Espionage
Krogers equipped with high powered radio transmitter with
74-ft internal house aerial, tuning instructions, microdots,
and domestic items equipped with hidden compartments.
Trial 1961
Lonsdale sentenced to 25
years, exchanged 1964 for British spy Greville Wyne.
Krogers exchanged 1969 for Gerald
Brooke, lecturer sentenced by Soviets for distributing subversive
literature.
Houghton and Gee sentenced 15
years, served 10 and released 1971. Married on release and
changed names. Houghton wrote memoirs.
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