Other Leaders

Oliver Stratchey 1874-1960

At the age 67, Oliver Strachey replaced Herbert Yardley on January 15th 1942 as the head of the Examination Unit. He had previously headed the British government's code cipher school team working on german overseas intelligence ciphers.[1] The British had promised Canada that if they dismissed Yardley that they would provide another leader in the interim until the Canadians were able to find a better match. He is described by historian Gilbert B. Robinson as “a man whose best work had been done” by the time he arrived at the Examination Unit. He lasted only 7 months before the Canadian government found a replacement.[2]

F.A. Kendrick

F.A. Kendrick, who took over as the lead of the Examination Unit in July of 1942. He was in his 30s, shy and handicap, possibly from polio as a child. He was better equipped to deal with modern machine-encryption over the older transposition encryption. [3] The Examination Unit flourished under Kendrick and was able to take on more and more decryption work than before. They were so successful that an under Kendrick the Information Centre was created in spring 1942 to support their work. The Information Centre acted as an autonomous advisory authority and as a specialized library. The unit stayed under Kendrick until the end of the war and through its entire time at 345 Laurier. [3]

[1] Pepall, Diana. Canada’s Bletchley Park: The Examination Unit in Ottawa’s Sandy Hill 1941-1945. 2017[2] F. Jensen, Kurt. Cautious Beginnings: Canadian Foreign Intelligence, 1939-51. 9780774814843. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2008. Canadian Electronic Library/desLibris. [3] F. Jensen, Kurt. Cautious Beginnings: Canadian Foreign Intelligence, 1939-51. 9780774814843. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2008. Canadian Electronic Library/desLibris. Ch 3. Downloaded 16-10-2018. Copyright © 2008. UBC Press All rights reserved.

Report abuse