{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Bernard Sheldon''', CB (14 July 1924 – 19 February 2008) was an officer of MI5 and a lawyer.<ref name="times-obituary">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100524052815/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3439381.ece Bernard Sheldon], obituary, The Times, 27 February 2008, retrieved 29 June 2009</ref>
==Biography== Born on 14 July 1924, he received a scholarship to Hurstpierpoint College in 1938,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1580057/Bernard-Sheldon.html|title=Bernard Sheldon|date=2008-02-28|work=Telegraph|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> was captain of the school, joined the Royal Naval Reserve in 1943, being commissioned the following year.<ref name="times-obituary"/> He served on HMS Formidable, seeing action against the Tirpitz and at the Battle of Okinawa.<ref name="times-obituary"/>
He was demobilised in 1946 and studied for the Bar, became a member of the Middle Temple in 1947, then was called to the bar in 1949.<ref name="times-obituary"/>
While working for the Colonial Legal Service in Malaya he was recruited by MI5.<ref name="times-obituary"/> In 1963 he became security liaison officer in Hong Kong.<ref name="times-obituary"/> He returned to London in 1966, becoming understudy to MI5's legal adviser until he assumed the role in 1968.<ref name="times-obituary"/> He became legal adviser to the Secret Intelligence Service and Government Communications Headquarters.<ref name="times-obituary"/>
He was involved in the prosecutions of Geoffrey Prime, Michael Bettaney and Hugh Hambleton.<ref name="times-obituary"/>
Controversial allegations about security service activity in Northern Ireland involved him in damage limitation on behalf of the security services.<ref name="times-obituary"/>
He retired in 1987, became involved in Citizens Advice Bureau as well as police, fire service and prison boards.<ref name="times-obituary"/>
He died on 19 February 2008.<ref name="times-obituary"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheldon, Bernard}} Category:1924 births Category:2008 deaths Category:People educated at Hurstpierpoint College Category:British people in British Malaya Category:British expatriates in Hong Kong Category:Colonial Legal Service officers Category:MI5 personnel Category:GCHQ people Category:Royal Naval Reserve personnel Category:Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II Category:Royal Navy officers of World War II Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath