OFFICES OF THE 

SENIOR UNITED STATES LIAISON OFFICER 

LONDON, ENGLAND 

UNITED KINGDOM lolAIL ADDRESS 

FLAT 5 0 7 7 N AUDLEY ST 

LONDON. W I. l:NGLAND 

U S. MAIL ADDRESS 

BOX 55 

NAVY No 100 

F P O. NEW YORK, N Y 

2 November 1954 

MEMORANJlL1M TO l•D.l .• W. F. FRIEDMAN, NSA SC~"TIFIC ADVISORY BOARD 

SUBJ".J:CT: Tests of Crypt Ability 

1. When P1•ofessor Wilks visited GCHQ recently he inquired into the 

processes used here for selecting employees who may be expected to do 

well at cryptanalysis. I have now secured copies (see inclosures) of 

some tests used at GCHQ as an aid in selecting candidates for positions 

as B IV's. 

2. Employees of GCHQ are in three categories: A, Administrative; 

B, Technical; and C, J~ecuti ve 1 or what we would call Clerical. Holders 

of the A grades are carefully picked for outstanding general ability, 

and are expected to be the key members of the organization. B's are 

picked j'or promise of technical proficiency, in language, mathematics, 

or whatuver. C's are usually picked from the graduates of pre-college 

schools. 

3. In order to apply for a B IV rating; a candidate must have 

taken a first or second class degree from a university. The field of 

concentration need not have boen language or mathematics (actually one 

of the '~andidates selected this year had concentrated in l!:nglish 

literature). Pifty or sixty having the prerequisite degree applied 

to GCHQ last summer, and of these fifteen were :i,.nvited to come for 

interviews and tests. Along with the applicants fresh from the unive!'--

sities, a few people already holding other grades in GCHQ applied for 

B IV•s, and sa:i.e of these also took the tests. From all these six 

were selected for positions, four from the new applicants and two from 

those already working at GCHQ. 

4. There were three tests: (1) Progressive Matrice~, 1947, one 

hour, but candidates were asked to mark the place they had reached after 

40 minutes; (2) ISH Test (copy inclosed) 1 l~O minutes; and (3) Problems 

(copy inclosed). The Progressive Matrices, 1947, can only be obtained 

by arrangement with the author, Mr. J. c. Raven, Crichton Royal, 

Dumfries, Scotland. An example of this sort of test can be seen in 

SECRET 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 12-24-2013 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 
• 

... 

USID-4353 - 2 Nov 54 

Progres~ive Matrices, 1938, also by Mr. Raven, a sample set of which may 

be obtained, with accompanying literature, from H. K. Lewis and Campany, 

Gower S~reet, London, W.C. 1, for one pound. The test consists of a 

series ~>f diagrams, the s;ymm.etry of which needs to be completed by the 

addition of one image from a number pictured at the bottom of the page. 

Thus, in its si.inplest form, a matrix showing columns of dots, crosses, 

and circles might be completed by the addition of a circle of the appropria te size, i£ this were the short column. 

5. The ISH test has been given experimentally to several cryptolinguists at G:JHQ, and it is considered an interesting test of imagination 

and accuracy in translation. The problems presented involve the solution 

of obvious transposition busts, with a much more challenging test of the 

candidate's crypt ability in the supplementary problems. None of the 

candidates had time, as it turned out, for the supplementary problems. 

6. The results of the tests were not decisive in the choice of 

candidates. Candidates are selected on the basis of their university's 

recommendation and on the interview at GCHQ. The tests may be regarded 

as a check on the other evidence about a candidate, but a candidate would 

hardly be selected if he were quite hopeless at the tests. 

7. Some further information about the personnel policies affecting 

A and B Class members of GCHQ may be of interest. Inclosed is one copy 

(for the Chairman, NSA Scientific Advisor--.r Board) of the British Civil 

Service announcement of the A and B class positions available at Cheltenham. "fothing much beyond what is said in these circulars about the 

nature of the work is told to possible candid.ates in the course of 

recruitment, but members of the appointment boards at both Oxford and 

Cambridge have been indoctrinated and given a tour of GCHQ. Also there 

are still alumni of the war-time GCHQ organization on the faculties of 

the British universities who can look about for promising recruits among 

their students. 

8. It will be noted from the circulars that all appointments pra... 

posed after interviews at GCHQ must be reviewed by the Civil Service 

Commission. And the classes A, B, and C correspond to regular civil 

service classes. In practice, division, branch, and some section heads 

in the more difficult technical fields are holders of A grades, and 

anaJ:ysts and cryptC>-olinguists with less administrative responsibility 

are B class. 

9. The salary scales mentioned in the circulars are now out of date, 

the amounts having been increased by from 50 to 200 pounds. 

l.O. Promotion at C-CHQ depends on annual ratings and interviews 

before pranotion boards. In the annual (confidential) rating the superviser may mark the employee as (1) not yet qualified, (2) qualified, or 

SECRET 
USLQ...4353 - 2 Nov 54 

(3) highly qualified for promotion to the next grade. These reconun.enda.-

tions by the various supervisers are standardized by division heads and 

then by the Personnel Officer and entered on lists of qualified and 

highly qualified candidates for promotion to each grade. The consideration of the candidates takes into account the annual performance ratings 

(about 50%), seniority (about 20%), and the interview before the promotion 

board (about 30%). The promotion board before whom the candidate is 

invited to appear has as its chairman the Personnel Officer or his representative, and includes two members of GCHQ at least two grades senior 

to the candidate and a representative of the candidate-ti division. The 

can::l.idates finally selected are entered in one of two lists, one for 

immediate, one for eventual, promotion, which are sent to the Director 

for approval. But vacancies in the grade concerned must occur before 

promotion can take place. 

5 Incls: 

Aau.,,,,.,~- LESLIE A. RU 

USID, London 

1. Translation from the ISH 

2. Problems 

3. Supplementary Problems 

4. Recruitment to the "A" Class etc. (142/54)(Copy for Mr. Friedman only) 

5. ~ecruitment to the "B" Class etc. (258/54 (copy foi: Mr. Friedman only) 

Distribution: 

Mr. Friedman (Org. & 2 w/l set of Incls) 

DD/P-.i?:RS 

NSA-14 

DD/PROD 

NSA-.0643 

File 

SECRET 
. . REF ID:A58987 

SUPPLEMENT.ARI PROBLDGS. 

3. Is it possible to solve probl.ems 1 and 2 w.i. thout 

recourse to onagrar.:mrl.ng'l (By o.IlD{;ra..::..:d.ng ;,·,re cea.n :mtting 

the colur..ms together so as to r.Ul.ke m>rd.s along the rems. 

I:t c. oethod is o.vD.ilo.ble Tdlioh o.voids an.o.gramcing it ooul.d 

be used if the texts hod been substi tutcd in sar.i.e vay before 

being trans~osed). 

4-~ Suppose the ti.re texts in Problec. 2 had been transposed 

by TJeo.na of tuo different keys of the sDDe length. Ooul.d 

'\re tell fra:i the positions of the r epeo.ts that the trro keys 

uere different? 17ould it be :;,->ossiblc to obtain the two keys 

it.ithout recourse to anograr.:mrl.ng'1 
REF ID:A58987 

TRANSLATION FROM TEE ISH 

INTRODUCTION 

The follovdng short piece for translation has the super!'icia1 

appearance of being ro.ther fo.cetious nonsense. The 11 1.anguage" has, how·ever, 

o. simple gran:nno.r, given below, end you are D.lso given o. vocabulary containing 

sho:t't "d.ici..io:rw.ry entries" for the basic \70rds in the piece. Ccmpound. words 

are not given in the vocabulary, but their formation is simple; for example, 

SHUDDER being o. verb meaning 11 to vibrate" and BOR a noun meaning "o. dr.i.1111 

SHUDDER-BOR is the compound noun in this language for o. road-drill. With the 

aid of the grammar and vocabulD.ry given, translate the piece as if from a real 

languo.ge. 

Marks will be given for producing a convincing tro.nslo.tion into 

English, tho.t is to soy one tho.t makes sense and can be justified in the light 

of the duto. given. 

ISH ho.s o. very simple grammar. 

Verbs end in "-er" for o.ll fonns, including po.rticiplcs and verbal 

nouns, except the po.st tenses in which 11 -er" is cho.nged to "-ar11 , end the future 

for which ·it is 11 -or". 

Singular and. plurc.l of nouns are not disting¢.shed and t he only 

3rd persono.l pronoun is 11 e 11 , possessive "is", objective "im", used for "he, his, 

him, she, they" etc. 

NU:MXroN 

NATTER 

GAIN 

Cfit~ 

WOG 

ClJ.iLER 

SC/lTTER 

1..PPER 

SCR:..TCHER 

VIP 

DCG 

SWIZ 

.t..Lt • .RMER 

THING 

IN 

There is no article. Prepositions and conjunctions o.re often omitted.. 

... 

••• 

... 

... 

••• 

••• 

... 

••• 

••• 

••• 

••• 

••• 

••• 

••• 

••• 

VOOABULARY 

f1rst, principal, preceding, 

to speo.k, say, tell 

.a.go.in, against. 

servant, minister. 

o.broo.d., foreign. 

to co.use. 

to send out. 

to appear. 

to write. 

greo.t, important, main. 

doy. 

lightning, electricity. 

to warn, alarm • 

lli'fair, thing, article. 

in .. 

PIOOE OF ISH FOR TRli.NSLLTION 

preliminary. 

Numwun-Cho.p co.llo.r is scratcher-chap swiz-no.tter Wag-thing 

Scratche:r.-Oha.p cc.ller in. n1E'l,·run-scro.tcher swiz-soratcher sco.tter 

Vip-Sca.tber-Cho.p & Scatter-Chnp wog, alo.nler i.lll alcnner 

scra.tchcr-thing gcin appor in vip Ish dog-scratcher & na.tter 

ira gain-natter im. 
REF ID:A58987 

The first massage has 5 colurms of 5 letters and 2 short ones of l,. letters, the 

second has 6 columns of 5 letters and 1 short one of 4 letters. Column 3 is short 

in both :ciessa,zes and is therefore the right-hand column. Colum.'l 6 is short in the 

first message and long in tho second and is therei"cre the next to the right-hand 

column. 

(a) 6 3 (b) 6 3 

IN I ?T 

ND If D 

TH TH 

,!H N! 

H 

It now loobJ as if' the T in colun:n 3 of (b) is the same as the T in column 6 of 

(a.) end so we e::!=POct an H after it. This ~I would come at the bottom of the left 

hand column of (b). Column 4 has such an H, so we try that on the left 

(a.) 4. • • • • 6 3 (b) 4 . . . • 6 3 

A IN A IN 

T MD T ND 

I TH I TH 

T TH F NT 

E -- HE 

- We nmr want on E i.r.. the "'l.o:rt '.o :.b.:: 2.cf "y ha.."'i'.. ooJ ilJl'ln of (b) and column 1 provides 

one. 

(a.) 4 1 •• • 6 3 (b) 4 1 • •• 6 3 

AB I ?T AB IN 

T Ii ND 'l.'H. ND 

IS TH IS TH 

TW !!! FO N! 

!J ;§ J!E~ H 

It is ncnY" cloar tha.t ir.10 o.:rc '\'1011 on -'me 1ra;r to recoveri....ng the original texts, and 

the order of the rema.ining three columns is quickly found. I 

1 • Herc o.rc tuo ciphor messages. Can you recovor the originol. texts? 

(a.) l'TSIUO TEAET D·IT.~ DNIGN HRNEl:i 

.AA1'1E...4. ~T EEOi-N VOl\T.AE IORnT y 

I \ 

(b) NSIUO ELEAE TUI'U. SD??-1Y m•1

rmrr 

N.AAA.lrf ii.'.!l'lL M'n::ET I!-T\1\'.1-?' OEIOR 'fi'I, 

2, Here a.re anothor pair of massages. Con you recover the original texts? 

(o.) WUOOE RTSL:m DYARH TSUSI HNOEA 

WESEY Jl!iiTS.A IR'l!IA WProT IHOYE 

F.38.A:l: Ear·$.. EflT 

(b) A30ST OTL'\D :.iJ:TOEA WNH?!S m:ims 

HSHTS usm.::m IR'.l!TA TIOEF SS.AU: 

~JSLED DYJE'i UIDEI LEEnl M 
. .,

• 

REF ID:A58987 

PROBLEi::S 

A ra.cssago can be put :i.l1to ci:9l'lor by trnnspos:L'Pl.g t."1.c order of its letters 

in the i'ollow:i....?Jg WOJ'• .A koy consisti?lg of tho figures .from 1 uptra.rds arranged 

in an agreed ordor is provided, o.g. 

4172563 

Tho :imssage is written in lines with one 1ottcr undor ca.oh f'igurc of the koy, 

a. now line boi.."'lg bogun otter the last figure o.f' tho lcoy. 

4 1 7 2 5 6 3 

A B I R D I l'T 

T H E H A l'T D 

I s 1'1 0 R T H 

T w· 0 I ~ T H 

E B u s H 

Tho cip:i.or version is D.Olr obtained by w.i. thdro:w:i.ng tho colucns in order a.oooming 

to tho lr.oy ca.oh column being road downwards. 

:EHSW:B RHOIS !1IiF.A TIT.CD Amm I·lTTIE WOO' 

Hero is anotbor mosscgo with noorly·tho samo toxt onoiphorcd in the SelOO wa:y and 

with tho some key. 

4 1 7 2 5 6 3 

A B I R D I N 

T H E H A I•T D 

I s Tl! 0 R T II 

F 0 u R I l'T T 

H E B u s H 

. B:~OE RHORU 1llHTA TI FED ARIS I ~ E'"{(JB 

If we arc given tho ttlO cii;hor versions, 'WO ca.."'l -soc that they have been obtained 

by transposing almost identical texts in this way, becBll.Se if ·we divide them into 

scvo11 columns tho tops of the columns ore the same :f'oi" each. 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

(a) ~/RfIOIS,11IEH/AT.I'm,/DARrffi/m~~·10U 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

(b) _gOE~ORtJ,1JIHT/.'.ATilffi~..Rism1TNH/!EWUB 

Wo con nCW" recover the originol message texts by pu.tting the columns in ardor so 

tha.t we oon :road words along the rOW"S. A start .con bo 1D!l.de as follows:-
.. 

• 

REF ID:A58987 

IV PAY,: PROSPECTS ..'.ND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 

11 • .fil!rting Salary 

(I) Successful candidates will be appointed to the .ll. IV grade. For a man 

in Oheltenha~working the standard week o'f 4.5i hours, the total remuneration 

on appointment is about £515 if he has done two years' compulsory National 

,Service, and about £458 if he has not. For a woman it is about £458. These 

amounts are made up as follows:-

Salary (see ( i) ) •• 

Extra Duty Allovra.nce (see (ii)) 

Totals 

£500 or £445 £1~ or £13 

£515 or £4.58 

( i) SALARY 

(a) 

(b) 

The scale of salary in London is, for a man, £470 ri'sing 

by annual increments of £30 to £680, and then by annual increm;ints 

of £35 to £855; for a woman it is £470 rising by annual increments 

of £25 to £545, by annual increments of £30 to £725, and then by one 

further increment to a maximum of £750. 

Successful candidates who have rendered full-time service in 

H.M. Forces under the National 8ervice .. ·1cts (including voluntary 

service in so far as it has been undertaken in lieu of oompulsory 

National Service) will have their starting pay increased by 

one increment for each complete year of such service up to a 

maximum of two. Candidates with less than ti.vo years' service 

will receive incremental credit for any fraction of a year. 

(c) .ri.t the end of two years' actual established service in the 

·grade (or on completion of probation if that should be later) 

men and women will receive a special increase of £50. Where 

an annual increment is due on the Sa.Die date, it will be paid in 

addition to the special increase. 

(d) The London salary calculated under (a) to (c) is subject to 

deduction for officers who are serving outside London. "The 

deduction ve.ries from £12 to .£4!) according to salary and town. 

In the Cheltenham area, where the majority of .l~.IV' s are employed, 

the scale ranges f'rom £41+5 to £815 for men, and from £445 to £:120 

for women. 

(ii) EXTRA DUTY .ALLOW.ANOE 

.An extra duty allowance is payable (see under "Hours"). In 

Cheltenham, this amounts to three per cent., of the salary. 

(II) If you are already a civil serwi.nt, your starting salary as a Grade A.rv 

Of'f'icer will be as shown a.b!l>ve, whatever your existing salary may be. 

12. Prospects 

The career open to a Ile'IV' entrant is good. Above the A.IV grade the grades 

and salaries in the Departmental".A"Olass are at present as follows:-

NOTE: 

MEN 

(London Rates) 

A III £1,150 x 40 - £1,190 

x 50 - £1,540 x 30 - £1,570 

A J:I lE- £1,500 x 75 - £1,725 

£2,000 

The rates for women are lower at all points. 

(Cheltenham 

Rates) 

£1,090 rising to 

£1,472 

£1,420 ri~ing to 

£1,625 

£1,900 

*Sal.aries of Grade A II ot'f'ioers vihich are below £1,500 attract a pay 

add~irion of approximately 1o% on the first £500, 5% on the second £500 

and 2~ on the third:-£500 <J£. .salary; on salaries of £1,500 to £2,000 

there is at present an addition of £~00. 

642/500/EP/ c/3/54 -3-
REF ID:A58987 

Above the A.I level there are a f'ew higher directing posts, with salaries f'rom 

£2,500 to £3,250 (London rates) or £2,400 to £3,150 (Cheltenham rates). 

There a.re no ha.rd and f'~st rules about promotion to these grades. All 

promotion is on mrit to a vacancy; the numbers are so c.~lculated that an A.r:v 

may expect to be promoted to the rank of' A.III within about 7 years, i.e. at about 

age 30. An exceptionally able A.IV may be promoted to A.III after about 5 years 

and to !:.. .II at about age 35 to 37. 

13. Probation 

Successful candidates will have to serve a probationary period of' two years 

and will not be retaine·d i.r their probationary period is not satisfactory. Those 

• 

who are already established civil servants will be on trial for the same period and 

are liable to be re·1erted if their trial service is not satisfactairy 

1~ Hours 

The Department is at present working a 4st hour vreek (including meal intervals). Candidates on entry to the Departmental 11.b11 Class will not normally be 

required to work longer than these hours, but attendance of' members of this class 

is governed more by the requirements of the work than by the standard week. 

Members of' the "A" Class whose remunera. tion (including Pay l-1.ddi tion) does not 

exceed £1,435 (men) or £1,255 (women) are at present eligible for an extra duty 

allowance if' they regularly work 4~ hours a week. 

15. Leave 

The annual leave allowed to meiribers of the Government Communications 

Headquarters Departmental"ll'' Class is 36 ·working days in addition to the usual 

public holidays. 

Sick leave on full pay less any National Insurance banef'it received is 

allovred up to a maximum of six months in any period o'f: twelve months, and 

thereafter for a further period on half pay, subject to a dsdllction of' National 

Insurance benefit in certain cases. 

16. Superannuation 

All candidates appointed from this competition are eligible for superannuation benefits under the Superannuation Acts which normally provide a pension 

end lump s-qm gratui·ty calculated on the number of years' service and the average 

salary over the three years before retirement. No contributions are required to 

secure these benefits, but there is also a contributory pension scheme for widows 

and children. Women who retire on marriage after not less than six years' 

qua.lif'ying service w:i.11 be eligible for a marriage gratuity. 

17. Liability to trans'f:er 

Candid.ates appointed to Government Communications Headquarters as a result 

of' this competition are liable to postings to any part of' the United Kingdom or 

on tours of service abroad in accordance idth the requirements of the department. 

In addition to certain removal expenses, lump sums ranging f'rom £25 to £90 are 

paid upon permanent transfer as compensation for disturbance. 

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, 

March, 1954. 

642/500/EP/ d/3/54 

-4-

... 

. ~ 

.. 
REF ID:A58987 

'CIVIL SERVICE CQ}.il1:J:SSION 

BECJRUITMENT TO THE "B" CLASS IN 

GOVERNMENT COI~ JUNICATIONS HEADQUARTERS 

(£DEPART!!iENT OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE) 

258/54-

The work of Government Communications Headquarters covers most of the 

activities of a medium-sized Government Department. The duties o'f: the "B" Class 

in the Department demand capacity both 'f:or individual work of a research nature 

and for the direction of tea..~s engaged on such work. Mathematical, scientific and. 

linguistic (ir.cluding classical) training are suitable for the duties of the class. 

Government Comrnuriications Headquarters is at Chel te:nham., but the staff are 

also liable to serve anywhere in the United Kingdom or if necessary overseas (see 

para.graph 1 7). 

Three or four posts in the B.IV grade are usually filled each year by interviews 

from among Un:tversi ty s;tudents of first or second class honours standard.. Further 

information is given below. 

CONTENTS: I 

II 

III 

IV 

CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY 

THE COMPETITION 

CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT 

PAY., PROSPECTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE. 

I. CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY 

1. The Competition is open to both men and women. 

2. ~ 

Candidatt:s are expected to be aged 21 - 27 (both inclusive), but allowance will 

be made for service in H.M. Forces. 

3. Educatio~ 

Candidates must have, or obtain in the year in which they apply, a first or 

second class honours degree. 

4- Nationality 

( 1 ) Every candidate must 

(a) be a natural-born British subject; and 

(b) have been born within the United Kingdom or within one of the selfgoverning Dominions of parents both of whom were also born within 

the United Kingdom or within one of the self-governing Dominions. 

(2) No departure from this rule will be made without the special permission 

of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and then only in exceptional 

cases and in favour of candidates who are British subjects and who also 

satisfy one of the following cond.itions:-

(a) If' natural-born British subjects, they must either 

(b) 

(i) have at least one paren·~ who is, or was at death, a British 

subject; or 

(ii) have resided in Her Majesty's dominions anil/or been employed 

elsewhere in the servi~e of the Crown for at least five years 

out of the last eight years preceding the date of their 

appointment. 

If naturalised British subjects, they must have resided in Her :Majesty's d.om~nions and/or been employed elsewhere in the service of the Crown for 

at least five years out of the last eight years preceding the date of 

their appointment. 

104D/ a/500/1YP/4/54 
- --- - - - - - --------~------------------

REF ID:A58987 

(o) If not qualified under (a) or (b) of this sub-paragraph they must 

satisfy the Commissionera that they are so closely oon.~ected with 

Her Majesty's dominions either by ancestry; upbringing, or residence, 

or by reason of National Service, that an exception may properly be 

made :Ln their favour. 

II. THE COMPETITION 

5. Ap;plication 

.An application form. is enclosed. 'When completed it should be sent to the 

ad.Cress given on the form to arrive _!lOt later tha....£_15th Ma;,.: 1954. 

6A Method of Selection 

Selection will be by interview. Candidates will first be interviewed by 

representatives of the Department... Those candidates who seem most suitable, from 

their records and reports of these interviews, will then be S'JJlllUOned to a Selection 

Board of the Civil Service Commission in London; this Board will probably sit in 

June or JuJ.y and will recommend for the vacancies those candidates who appear to 

be best fitted for the appointments. 

If you are swrmoned to interview you lllllst yourself bear travelling expenses 

within the United Kingdom up to 7s. 6a... but if you have to spend. more than 7s. 6d. 

on travel by bus or third class rail, rrom your normal place of residence (or 

from the place of landing in the United Kingdom in -!;he ca.He of candidates from 

overseas) to the place of interview, the whole amount will be refunded. 

EXJ;>enses incurred in travel to t~1.iB 001:1....'"ltry f'ro:n. fl.broad. c~:rmot be paid by 

the Civil Service Co:nmission. If' you s.re servi:ng :!.n Ii .. M. Forces you should 

consult the appropriate Service authcri."'"y ab('\ut lea.v.:i of P.bsenoe to attend the 

interview and, it' serving overseas, a1:.out tra-.relli!'..g expe1:ses to the place of 

landing in the United Kingdom. 

Subsistence allowance cannot be paid.. 

III. CONDITIONS OF APPODii"MJTh~ 

- --· - 7. Certifica~ 

Before the selected candid.ates can be appoin~ed the Civil Serrice 

Commissioners must isSlle their certi~icate of qualification, r.1ich is given 

when the Commissioners have satisfied themselves a"bout th~ ce.ndid.ates' age, 

r.o. tio:nali ty, heal th and character; and. a.:f'ter the fee of £2 1 Os. has been paid. 

8. Candid.ates trained as teache~ 

Candidates 'V'tho have been trained as teachers and upon whose training public 

money has been spent cannot be appointed until the consent of the appropriate 

central education authority (e.g., the Ministry of Educat:i.on, the Sc?ttish 

Education Department, the J{in.i.s~ry of Education f'or :i:·ortnern Ireland) nas been 

notified to the Commissioners. 

9. Canvassil'.Y!i 

.A:rzy- attempt on the part of' candidates to.enlist support for their applications 

through Members of 'Parliament or other :i.nfluential persons, except as referees 

to be named by them in their appl~cation forms, Will disqu~if'y them for appointment. 

1 o. Seouri ty 

Candidates f'or Civil Service appointments are reminded that the Government 

have decided that no-one may be employed in the Civil Rervice in connection with 

work the :na tu.re of which' is vital to the securi l:iy of the State if' he is believed 

to be either 

(i) a member of the Communist Party or of' a Fascist organisation; or 

(ii) assc>ciated with either the Coll1.munist Party oi .. a Fascist organisation 

in such a way as to raise legitimate doubts about his reliability. 

1040/b/500/VTJ?/4/54 
.. 

REF ID:A58987 

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 

RECRUITMENT TO THE 11A11 CLASS IN 

GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS HEADQUARTERS 

(A DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE) 

142/54 

The work of the Department of the Foreign O:f'fioe known as Government 

Communications Headquarters is wide in scope, complex and varied. It covers 

most aspects of the activity of a medium-sized Government Department, including 

committee work and contact with other Government Departments. While the duties 

of the 'W' Class require no specialised qualifications, members of the Class, whQ 

serve in a number of branches of the Department during their cadet period, are 

expected to become experts in particular aspects of the work. After their cad.et 

period they are expected to take part in the making of policy and to be responsible 

for the orga.nisation and direction of the work. 

The staff of G.C.H.Q. are mostly employed at one office in the United 

Kingdom in the Cheltenham area. The staff are liable to serve overseas (see 

paragraph 17 below). 

Two or three posts in the "A" Class are usually filled each year by interview 

from among University students of first or second class honours standard. The 

final selectj.on will be made probably in June. Jilrther information is given 

below. 

CONTENTS: I. CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY 

II. THE COMPETITION 

III• CONDITIONS OF .APPOINTMENT 

rv • PAY, PROSP.EXJTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 

I CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY 

1. The Competition is open to both men and women. 

2. .Age 

Candid.ates are expected tQ be aged 21-25 {both inclusive), but allowa.nee will 

be mads for service in H.M. Forces. 

3. Edu®.tiea 

Candidates must have, or obtain in the year in whicil they.apply, a first or 

second class honours degree. 

q.. Na. tiona.li tz 

(1) Every candidate must 

(a) be a natural-born British subject; and 

(b) have been born within the United Kingdom or within one of the selfgoverning Dominions of parents both of whom were also born within 

the United Kingdom or within one of the self-governing Dominions. 

(2) No departure from th.is rule will be made without the special permission 

of the Secretary of State for .Foreign Affairs,. and then only in exoeptione.l ca.ses 

and in favour of candidates who are British subjects and who a1so satisfy one of' 

the following oonditions:-

{a) If natural-born British subjects, they must either 

(i) have at least one parent who is, or was at death, a Britis}J. 

subject; or 

(ii) have resided in Her Majesty's dominions and/or bee11 employed 

e;I.sewhere in the service of the Crown foi; at least five years 

out of the last eight years preceding the date of their 

appointment. 

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• (b) If' naturalised British subjects, they must have resided in Her Majesty's 

(c) 

dominions and/ or been employed elsewhere in the service of' the Crovm 

for at least five years out of the last eight years preceding the date 

of 1..heir appointment. 

If not qualified under (a) or (b) of this sub-paragraph they must satisfy 

the Commissioners that they are so closely connected with Her Majesty's 

dominions either by ancestry, upbringing, or residence, or by reason 

of national service, that an exception may properly be made in their 

·favour. 

II THE COMPETITION 

5. .t..pplica ti on 

An Application Form is enclosed. When completed it should be sent to the 

address given on the form to arrive not later than 30th April, 195.l,.. 

6. Method of Selection 

Selection will be by interview. Candidates will first have an informal 

preliminary interview at their Universities, and if' recommended by the interviewer 

they will then be interviewed by representatives of the Department. Those 

candidates who seem most suitable, from their records and the reports of' these 

intervieVTers, will then be summoned to a Selection Board of the Civil Service 

Co:rmlissioners in London; this Board will recommend for the vacancy the candid.ate 

who appears to l>e best f'i tted for appointment. The Selection Board will probably 

sit in June. 

Travelling expenses of less than 7/6a.. are not refundable; but if you spend 

more than 7/6d. in travelling to interviews, by bus or third class rail in the 

United Kingdom from your normal plaoe of stud¥ or residence, the whole amount will 

be refunded. The Commissioners cannot pay subsistence allowance. 

III CONDITIONS OF !APPOINTMENT 

7. Certification 

Before the selected candid.ates can be appointed the Civil Service 

Commissioners must issue their certificate of qualification, which is given when 

the Commissioners have satisfied. themselves about the candidates' age, nationality, 

health, and character; and after ·{;he fee o'f: £4 has been paid. 

8. Candidates trained as teachers 

Candidates who have been trained. as teachers and upon whose training public 

money has beert spent cannot be appointed until the consent of the appropriate 

central education authority (e.g., the Ministry of Education, the Scottish 

Education Departmen't, the Ministry of Education for Northern Ireland) has been 

notified to the Commissioners. 

9. Canvassing 

.Any attempt on the part of candidates to enlist support f'or their applications through Members of Parliament or other influential persons, except as 

referees to be named by them in their Application Forms, will disqualify them for 

appointment. 

10. Security: 

Candidates for Civil Service appointments are reminded that the Government 

have decided that no-one may be enployed in the Civil Service in connection with 

work the na tw::-e of which is vital to the security of the State if he is believed 

to be either 

(1) a meniber of the Communist Party or o'f a Fascist organisation; or 

(2) associated with either the Connnunist Party or a Fascist organisation 

in such a way as to raise legitimate doubts about his reliability. 

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The Commissioners are not, as such, concerned with security enquiries, Which 

are the responsibility of the llil'l.ister in charge of' the Department concerned, and 

they cannot enter into correspondence with candidates on this matter or answer 

an:y questions. 

IV. PAY, PROSPECTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 

11. Salacy 

Successful candidates will be appointed to the B.IV grade. 

I. For men appointed to Cheltenham - where most officers of this grade will 

be employed - working the stand.a.rd week of 45i hours, the total remuneration on appointment is about £499 if' they have completed two years 

National Service and. about £4-50 if' they have not undertaken National 

Service. For women it is about £450. 

These am.cunts are made up as follows: 

~muneration 

Salary (see (i)) £437 (or £4-85 after 2 years National Service) 

Extra duty allowance £ 13 (or f...111:. after 2 years National Service) 

(see (ii)) 

£450 £499 

(i) ~ar;y 

(a) The scale of salary in London is:-

(b) 

(c) 

Men: £460 rising by one annual increment of' £25 to £485, then by 

£30 to £665 and then by £35 to £800. 

Women: £460 rising by one annual increment of £20 to £480, then by 

£25 to £675. 

Su.ccessf'ul candidates who have done f'ull time service inH.M. Forces 

under the National Service Acts (including voluntary service in so far 

as it has been undertaken in lieu of compulsory National Service) 'Will 

have their starting pay on appointment "increased by one increment for 

each complete year of such service up to a maximum. of two. Candidates 

wi·ch less than 2 yea.rs' service will receive incremental creclit for 

an:y fraction of a year. 

The London s~lary calculated under (a) and (b) above is subject to 

ded:uotion for officers who are serving outside London. The deduction 

ranges from £11 to £40 according to salary and location and in 

Cheltenham is £23 at the minimum of the sea.le rising to £40 (men) 

a..11.d £30 ( wanen) at its maximum. 

(ii) Extra dutl allowance 

.An extra duty allowance is payable (see under "Hours") .. 

In Cheltenham this amounts to .3'/o of the salary. 

II.. Successful candidates who are already serving in the Civil Service will 

not carry their existing salary with them but will have their starting 

salary assessed as above. 

12. Prospects 

The career open to a new entrant is good. 

Above the B.IV grade the grades and. saJ.aries in the Departmental "B" Class 

are as follows:-

- 3 -
I 

REF ID:A58987 

lien 1 s Ra·tes Women's Rates 'f 

• 

London Cheltenham London Chelte~ 

BIII £830 x £35 - £1,005 £790 rising £700 x £30 - £730 £670 rising 

x £4D - £1 , 1 05 to £1,045 x £35 - £905 

x £40 - £980 £940 

BII £1,105 x £45 - £1,150 £1 , 045 rising £980 x £35 - £1,050 .£940 

x £50 - £1,325 to £1,245 x £40 - £1,170 

£1 ,110 

BI £1,200 x £50 - £1,475 £1 , 140 rising £1,050 x £40 - £1,170 £997 

to £1,395 x £50 - £1,325 

£1,245 

Above this grade there are a few higher posts at a salary for men of' £1,500 

to £1,750 if in London (or £1,420 to £1,650 in Cheltenham); corresponding rates 

for women are £1,340 to £1,580 in London (or £1,260 to £1,480 in Cheltenham). 

to 

rising 

to 

rising 

to 

There are no hard and. fast rules about promotion to these grades. All promotion 

is on merit to a vacancy. The numbers are so calculated that a B.IV ~.ay expect to 

be prolll.Oted to the rank of B.III within about seven years and every normally successful 

of'f'ioer of the class should reach the rank of B.II. 

For the senior grades o£ the class competition is more severe. 

In addition to the "B" Class there is a Departmental "A" Class with a career 

approximating to the Home Civil Service Administrative Class. There is opportunity 

for cross-promotion from the "B" Class to the "A" Class. 

13. ~batiO,E 

Successful. candidates will have to serve a probationary period of two years 

and. will not be retained if their probationary period is not satisfactory. Those 

who are already established civil servants will be on trial for the same period 

and are liable to be reverted if their trial service is not satisfactory • 

•. I 

14- Hours 

The Department is at present working a 45-~ hour week (including meal intervals). 

Candidates on entry to the Departmental "B11 Class will not normally be required to 

work longer than these hours, but attendance of inembers of this class is governed 

more by the requirements of the work than by the standard week. Members of the 11B11 Class whose remuneration does not exceed £1,435 (men) or £1,255 (women) are 

at present eligible for an extra duty allowance if they regularly work 45~ hours 

a week. 

15. Leave 

The annual leave allowed to members of the Government Communications Headquarters Departmental "B11 Class is 36 working days in addition to the usual public 

holidays. 

Sick leave on full pay less any National Insurance benefit received is 

allowed up to a maximum of six months in any period of twelve months, and thereafter for a further period on half pay, subject to a deduction of National 

Insurance benefit in certain cases. 

All candidates appointed from this competition are eligible for superannuation 

benefits under the Superannuation Acts which normally provide a pension and lump 

sum gratuity calculated on the number of years' service and the average salary over 

the three years before ret&rement. No contributions are required to secure these 

---------- ~ NOTE: The basic salary quoted for B.I and for the higher posts in the Class 

is increased by approximately 1 Oj-Q on the first £500, 9% on the second. £500 

and 2~ on the third £500 of salary, up to £1,500; and from £1,500 to £2,000 

there is an addition of £100. 

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REF ID:A58987 

benefits, but there is also a contributory pension scheme for widows and children. 

Women who retire on marriage after not less than six years• qualifying service 

w.i.11 be eligible for a marriage gratuity. 

17. ~~i ty to transfer 

Candidates appointed to Government Communications Head.quarters as a result 

of this competition are liable to postings to an:y part of the United Kingdom or 

on tours of service abroad in accordance with the requirements of the department. 

In ad.di tion to certain removal expenses, lump sums ranging from £25 to £90 a.re 

paid upon permanent transfer as compensation for di3turbanoe. 

CIVIL SERVICE 001\'lMISSION, 

April, 1954. 

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