THE US VICE CONSUL
A little more of the puzzle? This man, Bayard L.R. King, born in 1922, was moved to Adelaide in March 1948. He had been a diplomat in Iran, Persia, prior to his arrival in South Australia.
Not many months later, 25th December 1948, Bayard is on the move again, this time to China.
I hear the distant groanings, 'So What!' Well, he was surprisingly young for the job of Vice Consul, just 26 years of age. And a Vice-consul seems a long way distant from his earlier professions, an ambulance driver, oh yes, and a member of the OSS. Those with some knowledge will know that the OSS morphed into the CIA in September 1947.
All of that suggests quite strongly that there was a CIA presence in Adelaide from March to December 1948.
'KING--Bayard LeRoy, died in Albuquerque, NM on January 1, 2008. Born in NYC, 1922. Attended St. Paul's School and Harvard. An ambulance driver in the American Field Service, in North Africa during WWII. Served in the OSS, awarded the Croix de Guerre. Following, served as a U.S. Foreign Service officer in Baghdad, Australia, Latin America, Africa. Deputy Chief of Mission in Bamako and Kinshasa. Survived by wife Joyce, two children from first marriage, Alexandra King-Nastase and George Gordon King, four grandchildren.'
I will post more on this man and other interesting people who operated in Australia in the relevant period.
OSS File 19 to 21 Roll 1.
Just what was Mr. King's experience?
AZERBAIJAN
In Persia, Bayard reported to Ambassador George V. Allen, this was the man who fought off a determined Soviet attempt to control the massive oil fields in the North of the country:
On September 11, 1947, US ambassador George V. Allen publicly decried intimidation and coercion used by foreign governments to secure commercial concessions in Iran, and promised full US support for Iran to freely decide about its own natural resources. With this unequivocal encouragement, the Majlis refused to ratify the Soviet oil agreement on October 22, 1947; the vote was 102 to 2
it was in March 1948 that Bayard left Persia to head for Adelaide, South Australia. At this time relations between Australia and the US were at a low ebb with open talk of communist influence and infiltration at the highest levels of Government.
Was the choice of Adelaide entirely coincidental or was he sent there to carry out a job which was concluded in December 1948?
In the comments below, Clive had found a link to a photo of Moya Shields along with her sister Athalie. The date was September 1941. This lady became the first Mrs. King:
Many thanks, Clive, JR & RH! Another interesting aspect of the puzzle. It seems to be falling into place quite well.
Was the choice of Adelaide entirely coincidental or was he sent there to carry out a job which was concluded in December 1948?
In the comments below, Clive had found a link to a photo of Moya Shields along with her sister Athalie. The date was September 1941. This lady became the first Mrs. King:
Many thanks, Clive, JR & RH! Another interesting aspect of the puzzle. It seems to be falling into place quite well.
A comprehensive list of known secret service agents operating / visiting SA in 1948 might well demonstrate the state of the Nation with regard to Russian, American, English and Australian intelligence matters. We could start Hollis's mob, this ^ bloke then move onto the Reds listening in at Glenelg
ReplyDeleteQuestions to ask are these. Who amongst the intelligence and police communities would have known of Bayard's presence and do you think they would have met?
ReplyDeleteMoya Beryl Shields 29-07-1923-13-05-2010 was Bayard's first wife. She was born in Unley, Adelaide and died in Washington DC. Clive
ReplyDeleteAny idea on the date of their marriage Clive?
ReplyDeleteHellmuth from the previous post, was involved in gold smuggling, I believe. Perhaps the OSS was investigating the location of Hirohito's gold and trying to get a handle on the spoils of war.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Moya and Bayard were married on 20 March 1950 in NY. Clive
ReplyDeleteA fair chance that they met whilst he was in Adelaide in 1948. Anything known about her family?
ReplyDelete"The Mail" 6 Sep 41 Page 9- "Diana's Notebook"-shows photo of Moya and her sister Athalie. Clive
ReplyDeleteWell, Moya and family lived in upmarket Unley in Adelaide, Unley is still very much an upmarket suburb. Curious that nothing appears in the local newspapers 'society columns' about Moya's engagement, this is surprising as other 'well to do families' had photos of their sons/daughters marrying other 'well to do people'. All I can think is that, with Bayard, being an U.S. diplomat, the 'powers that be' ruled out giving any publicity to this couples future plans. Must have been frustrating to Moya's parents, but it is understandable that the U.S. authorities didn't want to broadcast the fact that Bayard was in SA. Clive
ReplyDeleteWell, I was mistaken about keeping Bayard a state secret! See "The Mail" 13 Mar 48 P17; 15 Jun 48 P5; 20 Nov 48 P23 and 25 Dec 48 P2. Item on 20 Nov 48 even mentions Moya Shields. Clive
ReplyDeleteAll you want to know about Moya
ReplyDeletehttps://www.geni.com/people/Moya-King/6000000078362437892?through=6000000030228749701
All you wan to to know about Bayard
ReplyDeletehttps://www.geni.com/people/Bayard-King/6000000030228749701?through=6000000078362437892