War hero tried to sell secrets

A FIRST World War hero who fell on hard times was caught trying to sell military secrets after investigators placed a coded advert in a newspaper's personal column, newly released files reveal.

Retired major William Burges was jailed for 12 months in 1935 after he attempted to pass classified documents about weapons tests to chemical giant ICI.

He was snared after MI5 arranged for a three-word personal ad to be published in a national newspaper that encouraged him to go ahead with his plan.

He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey and was jailed for a year.