11 Facts About Jane Sissmore

Jane Sissmore had been responsible for investigations into Soviet intelligence and subversion.

Jane Sissmore then joined the Secret Intelligence Service, but when Kim Philby, later to be exposed as a double agent, became her boss he reduced her investigative work because he feared she might uncover his treachery.

Jane Sissmore, the daughter of John Edmund Angelo Sissmore and Kathleen Maud Forbes-Smith was born in Bengal on 11 March 1898 and moved to London in her early childhood with her parents and elder brother.

Jane Sissmore became head girl at Princess Helen's College, Ealing and was recruited to MI5 in 1916 as an eighteen-year-old clerk.

Jane Sissmore has been described as "one of MI5's most remarkable wartime recruits".

Jane Sissmore retired from military duty in 1935 but continued in a civilian role.

Jane Sissmore was awarded the MBE in 1923 as an "Administrative Assistant, General Staff, War Office" and in 1929 moved to B Division where she was in charge of investigating Soviet intelligence and subversion activity.

The formal interview panel rejected Hollis but he was nevertheless employed on Kell's decision provided Jane Sissmore took responsibility for him.

Jane Sissmore had spent a big chunk of a shrewd lifetime studying Communist activity in all its aspects.

Jane Sissmore later wrote "Jane would have made a very bad enemy".

Jane Sissmore therefore sidelined her and gave her the task of analysing intercepted radio traffic from Eastern Europe.