Oswald Allen Harker
Acting Director General of MI5 from 1940 to 1941.
About Oswald Allen Harker
Lived 1886 – 1968 (aged 81–82). Oswald Allen Harker was an intelligence officer.
Brigadier Oswald Allen Harker CBE (1886–1968), known as Jasper Harker, was Acting Director General of MI5 from 1940 to 1941.
Background Oswald Allen Harker was born in Cirencester in 1886, the son of James Allen Harker, a professor at the Royal Agricultural College, and his wife Lizzie Allen Harker. His younger brother was Brigadier Arthur William Allen Harker CBE.
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 was appointed as the new Director General in April 1941 Harker stepped down to be the Deputy Director General again.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Oswald Allen Harker?
Acting Director General of MI5 from 1940 to 1941.
When was Oswald Allen Harker born?
Oswald Allen Harker was born in 1886 in Cirencester.
When did Oswald Allen Harker die?
Oswald Allen Harker died in 1968.
What was Oswald Allen Harker's occupation?
Oswald Allen Harker was an intelligence officer.
What nationality was Oswald Allen Harker?
Oswald Allen Harker's recorded nationality: British People.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Oswald Allen Harker
· DBpedia: Oswald Allen Harker
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Oswald Allen Harker. https://biography.guide/oswald-allen-harker/
MLA: "Oswald Allen Harker." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/oswald-allen-harker/.
Chicago: "Oswald Allen Harker." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/oswald-allen-harker/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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