Edward Travis
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Wilfred Harry Travis KCMG
CBE
(24 September 1888 – 23 April 1956) was a British
cryptographer
and intelligence officer
, becoming the operational head of Bletchley Park
during World War II
, and later the head of GCHQ.
, Travis joined the Royal Navy
in 1906 as a Paymaster
officer, and served on HMS Iron Duke. From 1916 to 1918, he worked on Navy cipher
s. He retired in the 1920s, having reached the rank of Paymaster
Commander
. By 1925, he was in charge of security at the Government Code and Cypher School (GCCS) and deputy to Alastair Denniston
. Travis replaced Denniston as the operational head of Bletchley Park in February 1942, although both took the title of Deputy Director. He was involved with William Friedman in working on the 1943 BRUSA Agreement
and the subsequent 1946 UKUSA Agreement. Travis remained head of the post-war successor to GCCS, GCHQ, and served as its director until 15 April 1952, when he was replaced by Eric Jones
.
Travis was appointed CBE
in 1936, and KCMG
in June 1944.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(24 September 1888 – 23 April 1956) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
cryptographer
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
and intelligence officer
Intelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
, becoming the operational head of Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and later the head of GCHQ.
Career
Educated locally in BlackheathBlackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
, Travis joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1906 as a Paymaster
Supply Officer
Supply Officer was a specialisation in the British Royal Navy which has recently been superseded by the Logistics Officer, recognising the need to align with the nomenclature and function of similar cadres in the British Army and Royal Air Force...
officer, and served on HMS Iron Duke. From 1916 to 1918, he worked on Navy cipher
Cipher
In cryptography, a cipher is an algorithm for performing encryption or decryption — a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure. An alternative, less common term is encipherment. In non-technical usage, a “cipher” is the same thing as a “code”; however, the concepts...
s. He retired in the 1920s, having reached the rank of Paymaster
Supply Officer
Supply Officer was a specialisation in the British Royal Navy which has recently been superseded by the Logistics Officer, recognising the need to align with the nomenclature and function of similar cadres in the British Army and Royal Air Force...
Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
. By 1925, he was in charge of security at the Government Code and Cypher School (GCCS) and deputy to Alastair Denniston
Alastair Denniston
Commander Alexander Guthrie Denniston CMG CBE RNVR was a British codebreaker in Room 40 and first head of the Government Code and Cypher School and field hockey player...
. Travis replaced Denniston as the operational head of Bletchley Park in February 1942, although both took the title of Deputy Director. He was involved with William Friedman in working on the 1943 BRUSA Agreement
1943 BRUSA Agreement
The 1943 BRUSA Agreement was an agreement between the British and US governments to facilitate co-operation between the US War Department and the British Government Code and Cypher School...
and the subsequent 1946 UKUSA Agreement. Travis remained head of the post-war successor to GCCS, GCHQ, and served as its director until 15 April 1952, when he was replaced by Eric Jones
Eric Malcolm Jones
Sir Eric Malcolm Jones KCMG CB CBE is a former director of the British signals intelligence agency, GCHQ, a post he held from 1952 to 1960.-Career:...
.
Travis was appointed CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1936, and KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in June 1944.