An array of artifacts from MI5’s archives are set to be showcased to the public for the first time starting this Saturday. Among the items on display is a worn leather briefcase left behind by Guy Burgess in 1951 when he fled to Moscow. This joint exhibition with the National Archives sheds light on the early years of the Security Service through a collection of objects and documents. According to MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum, this exhibition reflects the organization’s commitment to transparency whenever possible.
In a separate display, visitors can view a shriveled lemon that played a key role in the espionage activities of German spy Kurt Muller in 1915. Muller used lemon juice to encode secret messages in letters sent to Holland, but was apprehended with the lemon in his possession. Following his arrest and subsequent execution, MI5 engaged in a deception operation by sending false letters to the Germans in Muller’s name, garnering funds to purchase a new office car in the process – an action that reportedly drew criticism from the Treasury.
Another captivating exhibit is a counterfeit Nazi medal crafted for Eric Roberts, also known as Jack King, one of MI5’s most effective agents during World War II. Roberts, under the guise of a Gestapo operative, successfully infiltrated Nazi sympathizers in Britain, ultimately identifying nearly 500 individuals. The display includes details of how he awarded the Nazi “War Merit Cross” to two individuals who believed they were being recognized for their allegiance to the German Reich.
Part of the exhibition delves into the Cold War era, featuring one of the briefcases left behind by Guy Burgess as he fled to Moscow alongside fellow spy Donald Maclean in 1951. Burgess, a British diplomat and double agent for the Soviets, was a member of the infamous Cambridge Five spy ring. Despite their high-profile defection, none of the Cambridge Five were ever prosecuted for espionage. The showcase also includes relics from modern history, such as a piece of mortar from the 1991 Provisional IRA attack on Number 10 Downing Street, which MI5 had forewarned about due to their ongoing monitoring of IRA weaponry and bomb technology. The exhibition, titled MI5: Official Secrets, is scheduled to run from April 5 to September 28 at The National Archives in London, offering free admission to all interested visitors
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