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Roy Kendall

1899 – 1972

Australian politician and intelligence officer

Politician Intelligence officerSailor
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About Roy Kendall

Lived 1899 – 1972 (aged 72). Roy Kendall was an Australian and British politician, intelligence officer, sailor and naval officer.

Roy Kendall (9 June 1899 – 9 March 1972) was an English-born Australian politician and intelligence officer for the British Secret Intelligence Service.

Born in London, he was educated at Bristol Cathedral School before becoming a merchant seaman. After serving in the Royal Naval Reserve from 1914 to 1918, he was recruited by Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) in December 1941 for the purpose of "penetrating the Japanese Mandated Islands or other areas in the Pacific". He was "vouched for" by the Australian director of naval intelligence, and in 1942 was appointed head of Secret Intelligence Australia, a branch of MI6 in Australia, reporting directly to Winston Churchill.

After the war, he became a newsagent in Brisbane, Australia. In 1949, he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Liberal senator. He remained in the Senate until retiring in 1964. Kendall died in 1972.

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
Bristol Cathedral Choir School, Thames Nautical Training College
Positions held
Member of the Australian Senate
Employers
Secret Intelligence Service, Secret Intelligence Australia
Awards
Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve

People in Roy Kendall's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Roy Kendall's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Roy Kendall?

Australian politician and intelligence officer (1899-1972)

When was Roy Kendall born?

Roy Kendall was born on 9 June 1899 in Battersea.

When did Roy Kendall die?

Roy Kendall died on 9 March 1972 in Mount Ommaney.

What was Roy Kendall's occupation?

Roy Kendall was a politician, intelligence officer, sailor and naval officer.

What nationality was Roy Kendall?

Roy Kendall was Australian and British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Roy Kendall

· Wikidata: Q7373026

· DBpedia: Roy Kendall

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Roy Kendall. https://biography.guide/roy-kendall/

MLA: "Roy Kendall." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/roy-kendall/.

Chicago: "Roy Kendall." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/roy-kendall/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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