Oswald Allen Harker 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...

 (1886–1968), also called Brigadier 'Jasper' Harker, was Acting Director General of MI5 from 1940 to 1941.

Career

Harker served as the Deputy Director General prior to his promotion. He was promoted to acting Director General of MI5 in June 1940 when Major-General Sir Vernon Kell was dismissed. When Sir David Petrie

David Petrie

Sir David Petrie, KCMG, CIE, CVO, CBE, KPM was director general of MI5, the United Kingdom's internal security service, from 1941 to 1946...

was appointed as the new Director General in April 1941 Harker stepped down to be the Deputy Director General again.

He is often confused with his younger brother, Brigadier Arthur William Allen Harker.