Eric Roberts (Spy)

Eric Arthur Roberts (1907-1972) was a British double agent who worked for MI5 during World War II under the alias "Jack King." He infiltrated fascist groups in the UK by posing as a Gestapo agent, successfully preventing sensitive information from reaching Germany. His operations were particularly notable for gathering intelligence on Nazi sympathizers, resulting in a list of 500 individuals of interest to MI5. After the war, Roberts continued his espionage work with MI6 in Vienna, where he faced a less stimulating desk job that led to feelings of depression and anxiety about his acceptance within the intelligence community.

Roberts was born in East Sussex and had a background that made him feel out of place among his MI5 colleagues. He was involved in significant operations, including interactions with key figures in the British Union of Fascists. His work was later overshadowed by the discovery of the Cambridge spy ring, which raised suspicions about double agents within MI5. Despite his contributions, Roberts felt unrecognized and expressed concerns about being under surveillance.

After retiring from MI5 in 1956, he emigrated to Canada, where he lived until his death. He published a book titled "Salt Spring Saga" in 1962. His life and work have been the subject of biographies and novels, highlighting his complex legacy as a wartime spy and the challenges he faced in the intelligence community.