Talk:Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service

Signature

I can't find the reason why they sign with the initial 'C', but I think it's important to note it --68.46.171.223 (talk) 14:10, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

It's simply a tradition, derived from the signing-habit of SIS's founder. See this Telegraph article:

MI6 bosses have been known colloquially as the "green ink brigade" since the days of Sir George Mansfield Smith-Cumming, the former Royal Navy officer who established the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI6, to gather intelligence on the Germans before the First World War. A man who revelled in the secrecy and glamour of espionage, Sir George signed all his correspondence with his final initial in green pen – the writing implement of choice for conspiracy theorists and cranks. His successors in the role adopted the convention and in a rare interview the current incumbent Sir John revealed that it continues to this day.

Hope that helps. I could add it to the article but am short of time right now. Azx2 17:09, 22 August 2013 (UTC)

I have added this. Mandrakos (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 07:29, 19 June 2016 (UTC)

References

External links modified

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Photos missing

When someone appears on the British Monarch’s “Christmas List” or receives anything from a CBE to a K(night)/Dame-hood, their photos usually make the public prints - newspapers, you know …. And these days, when someone is named C(hief, or for leCarre fans, Control) of M.I. 6, it’s usually a public event, except at times of war. Please fill in the missing C photos - if I have the time, I may well do it myself. Linguistic Irregular (talk) 21:55, 21 November 2025 (UTC)