Harry Houghton
Encyclopedia
Harry Houghton was a spy for the People's Republic of Poland
and the USSR during the Cold War
. He was a member of the Portland Spy Ring
.
, England
. He left school at 14 to become an errand boy. He later joined the Royal Navy
. By the end of World War II
, he was a master-at-arms
, one of the highest ranks for non-commissioned officers.
After the war, he joined the civil service and in 1951 was attached to the staff of the naval attaché of the British Embassy in Warsaw
, Poland
. Houghton dabbled in the black market, starting with coffee and moving on to medical drugs. This made him money and acquaintances but also led him to heavy drinking and the attention of the Polish Secret Police.
Houghton's heavy drinking did get him into trouble. His wife complained of domestic abuse and there were concerns that he was mixing with the wrong people. In 1952 he was ordered home.
Although some considered him a security risk, Houghton was appointed to the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment at Portland
where the Royal Navy would test equipment for undersea warfare. He lived in a caravan. Houghton and his wife separated in 1956 and later divorced. He then began an affair with Ethel Gee
, a filing clerk who also worked at the base.
His former wife warned that he was a security risk and had brought secrets home, but the claims were taken as resentment for the way he had treated her.
Houghton's drinking did not stop, and he was living far beyond his salary. He bought a house and car and would buy rounds at the pub. This brought him under suspicion, and MI5
placed him under surveillance
. This led them to other members of what was to be called the Portland Spy Ring
.
In his book Spycatcher
, Peter Wright
claims Houghton first came to MI5's attention when a Polish mole (codenamed Sniper
) reported he had information about a Russian spy in the British Navy. According to Wright, Sniper did not know the name of the spy, but said it sounded like Huiton. Additionally, Sniper obtained documents that had been sent by the spy, helping MI5 to determine who had access to the documents.
Houghton and Gee were among five spies arrested in London by Special Branch
detectives on January 7,1961. The others were Konon Molody
("Gordon Lonsdale"), Morris
and Lona Cohen
, all professional spies.
Houghton claimed at his trial that he had been blackmailed by the Poles and the Russians into spying for them. While in Poland, he had had an affair with a woman black marketeer and was told that she would go to prison if he did not provide secrets. Threats were also made about Gee and his former wife, and he claimed he was twice attacked by thugs. Houghton claimed that the information he gave them were newspaper cuttings and matters already in the public domain.
, Dorset
in 1985.
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
and the USSR during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. He was a member of the Portland Spy Ring
Portland Spy Ring
The Portland Spy Ring was a Soviet spy ring that operated in England from the late 1950s till 1961 when the core of the network was arrested by the British security services. It is one of the most famous examples of the use of illegal residents — spies who operate in a foreign country but...
.
Early life
Henry Frederick Houghton was born in LincolnLincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He left school at 14 to become an errand boy. He later 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...
. By the end of 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...
, he was a master-at-arms
Master-at-arms
A master-at-arms may be a naval rating responsible for discipline and law enforcement, an army officer responsible for physical training, or a member of the crew of a merchant ship responsible for security and law enforcement.-Royal Navy:The master-at-arms is a ship's senior rating, comparable in...
, one of the highest ranks for non-commissioned officers.
After the war, he joined the civil service and in 1951 was attached to the staff of the naval attaché of the British Embassy in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Houghton dabbled in the black market, starting with coffee and moving on to medical drugs. This made him money and acquaintances but also led him to heavy drinking and the attention of the Polish Secret Police.
Houghton's heavy drinking did get him into trouble. His wife complained of domestic abuse and there were concerns that he was mixing with the wrong people. In 1952 he was ordered home.
Although some considered him a security risk, Houghton was appointed to the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment at Portland
Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Grid reference: .-History:...
where the Royal Navy would test equipment for undersea warfare. He lived in a caravan. Houghton and his wife separated in 1956 and later divorced. He then began an affair with Ethel Gee
Ethel Gee
Ethel Elizabeth Gee , nicknamed "Bunty", was an Englishwoman who helped her lover spy on their country for the Soviet Union. She was a minor member of the Portland Spy Ring.-Early life:...
, a filing clerk who also worked at the base.
His former wife warned that he was a security risk and had brought secrets home, but the claims were taken as resentment for the way he had treated her.
Spying career
By 1956 it is believed that Houghton was passing secrets to Polish spies, who sent them to the Soviets. These included details on submarine warfare. Gee had access to secrets. She would make them available to Houghton and he would photograph them. On the first Saturday of each month Houghton would go to London, sometimes with Gee, and exchange packages with a contact.Houghton's drinking did not stop, and he was living far beyond his salary. He bought a house and car and would buy rounds at the pub. This brought him under suspicion, and MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
placed him under surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
. This led them to other members of what was to be called the Portland Spy Ring
Portland Spy Ring
The Portland Spy Ring was a Soviet spy ring that operated in England from the late 1950s till 1961 when the core of the network was arrested by the British security services. It is one of the most famous examples of the use of illegal residents — spies who operate in a foreign country but...
.
In his book Spycatcher
Spycatcher
Spycatcher: The Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer , is a book written by Peter Wright, former MI5 officer and Assistant Director, and co-author Paul Greengrass. It was published first in Australia...
, Peter Wright
Peter Wright
Peter Maurice Wright was an English scientist and former MI5 counterintelligence officer, noted for writing the controversial book Spycatcher, which became an international bestseller with sales of over two million copies...
claims Houghton first came to MI5's attention when a Polish mole (codenamed Sniper
Michael Goleniewski
Michael Goleniewski a.k.a. 'SNIPER', 'LAVINIA', , was a Polish officer in the People's Republic of Poland's Ministry Of Public Security, the deputy head of military counterintelligence GZI WP, later head of the technical and scientific section of the Polish intelligence,and a spy for the Soviet...
) reported he had information about a Russian spy in the British Navy. According to Wright, Sniper did not know the name of the spy, but said it sounded like Huiton. Additionally, Sniper obtained documents that had been sent by the spy, helping MI5 to determine who had access to the documents.
Houghton and Gee were among five spies arrested in London by Special Branch
Special Branch
Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
detectives on January 7,1961. The others were Konon Molody
Konon Molody
Konon Trofimovich Molody was a Soviet intelligence officer, better known in the West as Gordon Arnold Lonsdale. He was an illegal resident spy during the Cold War and the mastermind of the Portland Spy Ring....
("Gordon Lonsdale"), Morris
Morris Cohen (Soviet spy)
Morris Cohen also known in London as Peter Kroger was an American convicted of espionage for the Soviet Union. His wife Lona was also an agent.-Birth and education:...
and Lona Cohen
Lona Cohen
Leontine Theresa "Lona" Cohen , also known while she was in London as Helen Kroger, was an American spy for the Soviet Union. She was the wife of another spy, Morris Cohen.-Espionage:...
, all professional spies.
Houghton claimed at his trial that he had been blackmailed by the Poles and the Russians into spying for them. While in Poland, he had had an affair with a woman black marketeer and was told that she would go to prison if he did not provide secrets. Threats were also made about Gee and his former wife, and he claimed he was twice attacked by thugs. Houghton claimed that the information he gave them were newspaper cuttings and matters already in the public domain.
Later life
On 22 March 1961 Houghton and Gee were both sentenced to fifteen years in prison. They were released early on 12 May 1970 and they married in 1971. Houghton died in obscurity at PoolePoole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
in 1985.