Secret Intelligence Service

The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), more commonly known as MI6 (originally Military Intelligence Section 6), or the Secret Service or simply Six, is the United Kingdom external security agency.

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SIS is responsible for the United Kingdom's espionage activities overseas, as opposed to MI5 which is charged with internal security within the UK. It was founded in October, 1909 (along with MI5) as the Foreign Section of the Secret Service Bureau. Its first director was Captain Sir George Mansfield Smith-Cumming, who, often dropping the "Smith", used his initial "C" as a code name which was also used by all subsequent directors of SIS (compare with "M" in the James Bond stories).

Related Topics:
Espionage - MI5 - 1909 - Mansfield Smith-Cumming - Code name - M - James Bond

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The insignia of SIS is a green 'C' (This is a nod to the initial director and his habit of signing all official documents with green ink) with an image of a brain inside it, with the words "Semper Occultus" - translating to Always Secret, underneath.

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