British Army
Intelligence Section
Introduction
from Chronology
Lieutenant-Colonel Walter C. Wilson appointed as Intelligence Officer
for Dublin District (Division) of the British Army. (McMahon says that a
‘Special Branch’ within the BA’s Dublin District had been operational from
March.)
More Detail
With MI5 assistance, Wilson set up a school for spies at Hounslow
outside London. Recruits, mainly ex-BA
officers, were trained before being sent to Dublin. These men worked in civilian clothes and took
a variety of jobs (usually ones that gave them a cover for moving around). By June 1st, Wilson had 7 officers; 51 by
July and 82 by August. It peaked in
November with 97 staff with 75 of them being operatives. Expenditure in the
1920-1921 financial year was £20,000.
Some of the operatives frequented the Cairo Café in Grafton St in Dublin
and thus became known within some IRA circles as the Cairo Gang. Although part
of Dublin District of the BA, they often worked independently. They took part
in a number of illegal activities. The
BA record of the rebellion notes that they were “partly pure intelligence and
partly executive”. See Dec-1920/6 for
their amalgamation with Winter operation.
Other division and brigade I.O.s appointed over the coming months. (Overall BA Intelligence was commanded by
Colonel Stephen Hill Dillion or Dillon located in Irish Command HQ in Parkgate
St in Dublin.)
Kautt gives a list intelligence officers
assigned to Divisions and Brigades of the BA in Ireland during this period (but
Wilson is not on the list).