Conrad O'Brien-ffrench
Conrad O'Brien-ffrench, 2nd Marquis de Castelthomond | |
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SIS/MI6 Agent ST36 1919–1922. He rejoined in 1930 and became an operative (Agent Z3) for Claude Dansey's Z Organization until 1938.[1] |
Conrad Fulke Thomond O'Brien-ffrench, 2nd Marquis de Castelthomond (19 November 1893
Early life and education
Conrad Fulke Thomond O'Brien-ffrench was born in London, England, the second son of Henry Albert De Vreque O'Brien-ffrench, 1st Marquis de Castelthomond, and his wife Winifred née Thursby, heiress and daughter of Major James Legh Thursby, of Ormerod House Lancashire.[5][6]
He and his elder brother Rollo (Rollo Adrien Vladimir Thursby Marie Altieri O'Brien-ffrench) spent their early childhood in Italy at
Royal North-West Mounted Police
When he was 16, Conrad's life took an abrupt turn when Rollo died in an accident playing football.
After basic training O'Brien-ffrench was posted to Cypress Hills, a remote and untamed area. He was later posted to Willow Creek and then Battle Creek, but mid-1912 received word that his mother was dying from cancer.[1] He purchased his release and returned to Esher in Surrey to be by her side.[1] She died the following summer.[5]
During this time O'Brien-ffrench and friends took weekend trips to the Brooklands race track, where he was introduced to motor racing. Subsequently he purchased a 1909 Mercedes Simplex and developed a taste for fast cars.[7]
Military service
Battle of Mons
Following his mother's death, O'Brien-ffrench travelled to his ancestral homeland in Ireland and joined The Tipperary Militia, a special reserve unit of the Royal Irish Regiment.[2] In August 1914 he was promoted to captain and engaged in the Battle of Mons with his regiment as part of the British Expeditionary Force.[8] On the first day of battle he was severely wounded, captured and taken prisoner.[4] He was held first at Torgau, a Bismarckian fortress, and then at Burg de Magdeburg POW camp.[9]
After numerous failed escape attempts, O'Brien-ffrench was transferred to what was considered an escape-proof camp at
MI6
Following World War I, O'Brien-ffrench was summoned to Whitehall in December 1918 to meet then Colonel Stewart Menzies, who recruited him into MI6.[16] At the time, Menzies reported to Captain Mansfield Smith-Cumming, the first head of the British Secret Service, who was called "C", a designation that remains to the present day.[17] He was posted to the British Legation in Stockholm as assistant military attaché under the command of Major Dymoke Scale. While a POW, O'Brien-ffrench had learned fluent Russian, and was now tasked with gathering information from Russian refugees fleeing the aftermath of the 1917 revolution.[1]
In 1920, O'Brien-ffrench was assigned to escort Russian diplomat
Subsequently, the postwar depression and easing Soviet–British relations caused cutbacks to the Secret Service, and O'Brien-ffrench resigned from the service and returned to England.[7]
India
Upon his return, O'Brien-ffrench was assigned as an
In February 1922, Nehru witnessed a meeting requested by the Viceroy of India, Lord Reading (Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading), with the Prince to discuss the possible arrest of Gandhi.[7] On 1 February 1922, Gandhi had written a letter to the Viceroy informing him of the Bardoli district's decision to commence mass civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes, unless the Viceroy declared a policy of non-interference with non-violent activities.[24][25][26]
On 4 February 1922, upon learning that the sub-inspector of Chauri Chaura police station assaulted Congress volunteers at Mundera Bazar, an angry mob gathered at the station, demanding explanation from the official.[27] While the crowd marched on, shouting anti-government slogans, police fired warning shots agitating the crowd further.[27] In response the crowd began throwing stones at the police, who were then ordered to open fire, and killed three and wounding several others. The police retreated, some believe due to lack of ammunition, others attributing it to fear of the angry crowd. Chaos ensued and the heavily outnumbered police returned to the shelter of the thana (city hall). The crowd challenged the police to come out, and on being paid no heed, set the thana on fire, killing 22 officers, including the station officer, who were trapped inside.[27][28]
Gandhi did not support the violent actions, and consequently suspended the
Mountaineering
During O'Brien-ffrench's stay in India, he was introduced to mountaineering and the Himalayas.[7][32] One of his more dangerous climbs was near Srinagar in the Vale of Kashmir.[33] While climbing the Skoro La Pass, a mountain downpour created dangerous conditions, transforming the rocky cliff his party was ascending into an icy waterfall. A landslide, freezing conditions and dwindling light forced the team to rapidly forge an alternative route. O'Brien-ffrench led the team to safety, and ultimately to the summit.[34]
O'Brien-ffrench explored the Himalayas,
Expeditions
Year | Mountain Range | Expeditions | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
1921 | Himalayas, Pakistan | From Srinagar to Burzil Pass then over Burgi La to Scoro La and near Mango Gusor[37] | Guide: H. Tantari | |
1928 | Switzerland | Glacier of Arolla (Pennine Alps, canton of Valais, Switzerland) to Mont Collon (11,932 ft /3,637 m, Pennine Alps)[38] | ||
Dent de Perroc (12,057 ft /3,675 m, Wallis, Switzerland)[39] | ||||
Aiguilles Rouges (Switzerland) | ||||
Mt. Arolee (in winter) | Guide: Camille Bonnisson | |||
1930 | Dolomites, Italy | Latimer from Col. Canon | ||
Rosengarten. Gr. Cront & Pie. Gront. | ||||
Langkofel (10,436 ft / 3,181 m, Dolomites, Italy)[40] | ||||
Piz Boè (10,341 ft / 3,152 m, Dolomites, Sella group, Italy)[41] | Guide: P. Dawetz | |||
Marmolada (10,964 ft / 3,342 m, Dolomites, Italy)[42] | ||||
Corono di Putla | ||||
Mt. Telegrafo (Cima Telegrafo, 7,238 ft / 2,206 m, Italy)[43] | ||||
Pusanelle | ||||
1931 | Haute-Savoie, France | Aiguille de Tré-la-Tête (12,894 ft / 3,930 m), to Aiguille de Beranger
|
||
Col de la Seigne (glacier, Mont Blanc)
|
||||
Col di Sanaorlis | ||||
Cirque de Gavarnie (central Pyrénées) | ||||
McCauigon ind the Ridge from Pique de Rongeat to Cime de Pomerol | With Mrs. ffrench | |||
1932 | Islas Canarias, Lanzarote , Spain
|
Monte Corona (1,985 ft / 605 m, Islas Canarias, Lanzarote, Spain)[44] | Volcano on Islas Canarias | |
Peaks from Col de Capronale towards Cap Bianco Mountains | ||||
Corsica, région of France | Capo al Berdato (peak in Corsica, France) | |||
Corsica, région of France | Monte Cinto (8,877 ft / 2,706 m, Corsica, France)[45] | Highest mountain on Corsica | ||
Theme to Asco (Haute Asco, valley in the north) | ||||
Capu di u Vitullu (4,366 ft / 1,331 m, tallest summit of Les Calenche)[46] | With Arthur Richardson Z. | |||
1933 | Vorarlberg, Austria | Hoher Riffler (10,393 ft / 3,168 m, Verwallgruppe, Tyrol, Austria) | Highest peak of Verwallgruppe | |
Pitz Burn | ||||
Fluchthorn (12,451 ft / 3,795 m, Pennine Alps, Valais Region, Switzerland)[47] | 2nd highest mountain in Silvretta Range | |||
Sisaptauo | ||||
Zimbra (8,678 ft / 2,645 m, Rätikon, Bludenz, Austria) | ||||
1933 | Hohe Tauern Range , Austria
|
Schwarz Kopfit | Herras. Fritz Peterlitner | |
Hasn Kogel | ||||
Venediger Group (Hohe Tauern Range, Tyrol, Austria)[48] | Climbed many peaks in this range |
Art
Returning to England and to civilian life, O'Brien-ffrench explored a career in the arts. Years earlier, a hunt secretary had commissioned him to paint a series of hunting scenes that were subsequently published in a book.
Upon completion of his studies, O'Brien-ffrench travelled to Jamaica with his father, painting and preparing for an exhibition at the Claridge Gallery in London.[33] The paintings and drawings in the exhibition included Jamaican scenes, as well as portraits of H.R.H. The Duchess of Pistoia, H.S.H. The Duchess d'Arenberg, Il Duca de La Tour Corio and Il Marchese di Castlethomond.[50]
Exhibitions and collections
O'Brien-ffrench had exhibitions in galleries and museums in Europe, Jamaica, Canada and the United States, including the following:
- The Claridge Gallery, "Conrad ffrench", London, England, 16–30 October 1930[50]
- The Grand Salon, Group Exhibit, Paris, France, 1930's[33]
- Art Collection of Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies[51]
- Loveland Museum and Gallery, "Artistry in Living – The Life of Conrad O'Brien-ffrench", Loveland, Colorado, U.S. 1 August – 19 September 1987.[52][53]
- Monivea Artisan Garden Gallery, Exhibit of Paintings by Conrad O'Brien-ffrench, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada. ongoing exhibit[54]
Teaching
O'Brien-ffrench taught art at the
Marriage and family
On 16 June 1931 O'Brien-ffrench married Maud Astrid, the youngest daughter of Colonel Bo Tarras-Wahlberg, of Stockholm, A.D.C. to King Gustav V of Sweden.[2] They were married in Paris, honeymooned in London and Austria, and then settled in Kitzbühel, Austria, where O'Brien-ffrench continued his work with the British Secret Service. The marriage produced a daughter, Christina Laetitia, and was dissolved in 1934. O'Brien-ffrench remarried on 1 May 1945, in London, England, to Rosalie Isabelle Baker, daughter of Ralph George Baker. They moved to Canada (see Fairholme Ranch) and had two sons, Rollo and John.
Return to Secret Service
O'Brien-ffrench had become a friend of
O'Brien-ffrench provided intelligence on
Himmler's Gestapo, in 1940, prepared for Nazi Germany's invasion of Britain in World War II by compiling a list of more than 2,300 names of the most-wanted Britons in
During the war O'Brien-ffrench also served as Imperial censor in Trinidad.[70]
Fairholme Ranch
Conrad married Rosalie Isabelle Baker, daughter of Ralph George Baker, on 1 May 1945, in London, England. After World War II Conrad and his wife moved to British Columbia, and purchased waterfront property on Maple Bay, Vancouver Island.[71][72] Soon they moved again to "Fairholme Ranch," a property located five miles east of Banff, Alberta and within Banff National Park's boundaries.[73][74] Conrad designed and helped to build a large 14-room lodge and a cottage at Fairholme, where he and Rosie raised their sons, Rollo and John.[75][76] Conrad settled down to a new life of raising horses and teaching at The Banff School of Fine Arts.[71][77] Founded in 1933 by Alberta University as a school of theatrical arts, The Banff School of Fine Arts expanded its curriculum and in 1948 Conrad joined the faculty to teach visual arts.[78]
In 1958, HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon took up residence at Fairholme Ranch during her Canadian visit of that year.[73][76][79][80][81] It provided splendid views of Princess Margaret Mountain named in honour of her visit.[82][83]
"On 28 July the Princess drove from the ranch house where she was staying, a few miles outside of Banff, to visit the
The historic lodge was later carefully disassembled, moved and rebuilt just outside Stony Plain (near Edmonton, Alberta).[85]
Later years
Conrad lived in West Vancouver[72][86] and eventually retired to his chalet in Loveland, Colorado.[87] He taught and exhibited art, living out his years painting and lecturing art, philosophy and theology.[7]
Biography
O'Brien-ffrench, Conrad (1979). Delicate Mission, Autobiography of a Secret Agent. Skilton and Shaw (Fudge and Co. Ltd), London.
Delicate Mission, Autobiography of a Secret Agent is in many collections, including:
- The Imperial War Museum
- The British Library
- Library and Archives of Canada
- White Museum of the Canadian Rockies
- The Alpine Club Library
Interviews
O'Brien-ffrench, Conrad (23 October 1979). "Interview of Conrad O'Brien-ffrench". BBC Radio (Interview). Interviewed by Dennis McCarthy. Nottingham, England.
O'Brien-ffrench, Conrad (24 October 1979). "Interview of Conrad O'Brien-ffrench". London Radio (Interview). Interviewed by Bobby Vincent. London, England.
O'Brien-ffrench, Conrad (26 June 1984). "Interview of Conrad O'Brien-ffrench". Cheyenne Today (Interview). Interviewed by Jack Savage. Cheyenne, Wyoming: KFBC.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Stewart, Walter (1975), "James Bond of West Vancouver", Maclean's, no. February, pp. 60–65
- ^ a b c d e f g Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage (1939). Burke Publishing Co., Ltd., London, England.
- ^ Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald(28 October): 10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h The National Archives. "Medal card of Conrad Fulke Thomond O'Brien-ffrench". Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh (1976), Burke's Irish Family Records, London, UK: Burkes Peerage Ltd, p. 411.
- ISBN 1-4021-3111-9.
- ^ ISBN 0-7050-0062-1.
- ISBN 978-1-84342-272-3.
- ^ The National Archives (1916). List of Officers Sent Back to Officers' Internment Camps. Kew, London, England: The National Archives. FO 380, Copy 111 b 16478.
- ISBN 0-9711966-0-5.
- ISBN 0-7050-0062-1.
- ^ The National Archives (1915). Extract from letter from Lieut. Ffrench, at Burg. Kew, London, England: The National Archives. FO 380.
- ^ Foreign Office (1915). Foreign Office Letter, May 13, 1915: Treatment of 39 British Officers in Germany. Kew, Britain: The National Archives. FO 380.
- ^ ISBN 0-06-016605-3.
- ^ ISBN 0-8047-0478-3.
- ^ Espionage Info. "MI6 (British Secret Intelligence Service), K. Lee Lerner and Judson Knight in Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security". Retrieved 26 October 2009.
- ^ Federation of American Scientists. "Secret Intelligence Service MI6". Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ISBN 0-7050-0062-1.
- ISBN 978-0-684-85932-3.
- ^ a b Maine, Basil (1937). Edward VIII—Duke of Windsor. London: Hutchinson. p. 266. 1-2057-304.
- OCLC 504269858.
- ISBN 0-670-49137-3.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-2111-7.
- ISBN 9788123001982. 540771.
- ISBN 81-261-0199-7.
- ASIN B001OMJ6EE.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-451-62742-1.
- ^ a b chaurichaura.com. "Chauri Chaura History". Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- ISBN 81-7023-205-8.
- ^ gandhihistory.com. "Gandhi History". Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ISBN 978-1-55704-807-3.
- ^ ISBN 0-09-173659-5.
- ^ a b c d Artistic CV, 1947, p. 1
- ISBN 0-7050-0062-1.
- ^ O'Brien-ffrench, Conrad (1978). The May Mountaineer. The Alpine Club. pp. 8–13. acl 22275.
- ^ Tattersall, E. Somerville (1933). The Alpine Club Membership Documentation, 1933. The Alpine Club, 23 Savile Row, London. pp. 1–2.
- ^ gutenberg.org. "The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir, by Sir James McCrone Douie". Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Mont Collon". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Dent de Perroc". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Sassolungo - Langkofel". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Piz Boè". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Marmolada-Punta Penia". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Cima Telegrafo". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Monte Corona". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Monte Cinto". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "SCapu di u Vitullu". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Fluchthorn". Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Summitpost.org. "Venediger Group". Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ Bateson, Helen (1979), "Colorado Painter a One-Time Spy", Vancouver Express, no. 14 March
- ^ a b Conrad ffrench, Exhibit program, London, England: The Claridge Gallery, 16–30 October 1930
- ^ White Museum of the Canadian Rockies. "Art Collection of the Whyte Museum". Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ Walbye, Phyllis (1987), "A Life in Review: Museum Exhibits Art of O'Brien-ffrench", Daily Reporter Herald, no. 1–2 August, pp. 1, 3
- ^ Heath, Jennifer (1987), "Exhibit Reflects 007 Model's Life", Rocky Mountain News
- ^ Monivea Salt Spring. "About the Art / Monivea Artisan Garden Gallery". Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "Capt. ffrench Buys Estate Near Banff", Crag & Canyon, no. 1 Nov, 1946
- ^ "Royal Owner of Lodge Ex-Art Instructor", Herald, no. 22 July, 1958
- ^ ISBN 0-7146-3470-0.
- ^ ISBN 0-7146-5533-3.
- ^ The Times OnlineBen Macintyr. London. 5 April 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
- ^ ISBN 0-8108-5050-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8108-6190-9.
- ISBN 1-59114-009-9.
- ^ Selby, Sir Walter (1953). Diplomatic Twilight: 1930–1940. J. Murray, London. pp. 42–43. 493743.
- ^ Deluce, Daniel (1945), "Gestapo Named British 'Criminals' 1940 List of 2,300 Suspects", The Daily Telegraph
- ISBN 1-58579-014-1.
- ISBN 0-9536151-3-8.
- ^ ISBN 0-9536151-3-8.
- ^ a b historyplace.com. "The History Place--The Triumph of Hitler". Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ISBN 0-340-26910-3.
- ^ "One-Man Art Show Original, Amusing", Vancouver Sun, no. 22 May, p. 9, 1943
- ^ a b "Capt. Ffrench Buys Estate Near Banff", Crag & Canyon, no. 1 Nov, 1946
- ^ a b Bateson, Helen (1972), "The Real James Bond, a Retiring Figure. The Fact of the Fiction.", The Province, no. 26 August, p. 28
- ^ ISBN 1-894856-40-6.
- ^ Lothian, W.F. (1981). A History of Canada's National Parks, Volume 3. Ottawa, Ontario: Parks Canada. pp. 100, 102. 1-380-6200.
- ^ O'Brien-ffrench, Conrad (1951), "A Ranch in the Rockies", Country Life.
- ^ a b "Official Residence", Crag & Canyon, no. 23 July, 1958
- ISBN 0-7737-3269-1.
- ^ The Banff Centre. "History of The Banff Centre". Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ ITN Source, GAUMONT BRITISH NEWSREEL (REUTERS). "ALBERTA.....(CANADA) Princess Margaret spends 3 days during her Canadian tour & visits National Park. July 1958". Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
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has generic name (help) - ^ Willmore, Vera (1958), "Fairholme Ranch Enchants Margaret", Herald, no. 8 July
- ^ "Royal Visitor to Rest at Lodge Near Banff", Herald, no. 19 July, pp. P215, 1958
- ^ "Mt. Princess Margaret". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
- ^ "Princess Margaret Mountain". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
- ^ "The Princess and the Ballet Dancers: A Delightful Scene During Princess Margaret's Visit to the Banff School of Fine Arts on the Third Day of Her Stay in Alberta", The Illustrated London News, no. 9 August, 1958
- ^ Gravelines, Gail. "History in the remaking." Edmonton Journal, 18 November 1989, p. 49.
- ^ Bateson, Helen (1970), "Master Spy Lives in Quiet Retirement Here", Lions Gate Times, no. 8
- ^ Ennsslin, John C. (1985), "Ex-British Spy Becomes Ordinary Person", Rocky Mountain News, no. 2 January, p. 14