Sunday, January 23. 2005Intrepid Society Celebrates William StephensonWinnipeg's Intrepid Society today marks 11 years of celebrating the life and career of Canadian Second World War spymaster, Sir William Stephenson, "The Man Called Intrepid".
Retired rail clerk Syd Davy founded the Society, which now has over 110 members. "He wrote the book on intelligence." says Davy. "We're still Canada - we wouldn't be if it wasn't for him. I appreciate the things he did for us." Stephenson was born in Winnipeg Jan. 11, 1896, served in the First World War as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps, and was one of Canada's air aces, with 26 kills. After the war, he settled in England, studied engineering, got into the radio business with Lord Beaverbrook, and became a millionaire at age 30, though his patents and inventions, including the wireless photo transmitter [1922]. He had many dealings with Germany and as early as 1933 was expressing concerns about Hitler and the rise of the Nazi Party. He provided Winston Churchill with key intelligence about Germany's developing advanced communication systems and armaments. In 1940, Prime Minister Churchill picked him to direct British intelligence in the United States during the World War II. Operating under the code name, Intrepid, his agency, British Security Co-ordination, with an office in Rockefeller Center, was a linchpin between British and American intelligence services before the US entered the war. He also a set up secret training school for allied spies, STS 103 (Special Training School 103), better known as Camp X, near Port Hope, Ontario. James Bond creator Ian Fleming was one of the graduates; he later worked for MI5. Stephenson is also credited with helping William "Wild Bill' Donovan create the U.S. Office of Strategic Services, predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency. He died in Bermuda in 1989. Davy wants to see Stephenson's story on Manitoba's public school curriculum. "Most people don't know about him or don't care," he said. "Winnipeg is a city that doesn't know what it's got when it's got it. If he was a Torontonian or an American, everyone would have known about him." [CP] |