Page 42 - History of War - Issue 01-14

Key characters

FLIGHT LT CHARLES LT COMMANDER CHARLES FRASER-SMITH LOUIS MOUNTBATTEN COLONEL JOHNNIE BEVAN LT GENERAL
CHOLMONDELEY EWEN MONTAGU A probable inspiration for Lord Mountbatten was The officer in overall SIR ARCHIBALD NYE

Secretary of British Montagu and his top- the character of Q in the the Chief of Combined command of wartime The Vice Chief of the

intelligence unit the secret naval-intelligence 007 films, Fraser-Smith Operations during the war. deception, Colonel Imperial General Staff,
Twenty Committee, department Section worked for the Ministry of Operation Mincemeat's Bevan was the man who Nye was responsible
Cholmondeley was the man 17M helped Charles Supply fabricating gadgets hoax letters with the kept Prime Minister for writing the all-
who conceived the idea Cholmondeley to develop for agents operating proposed campaign plan Winston Churchill important fake letter
for Operation Mincemeat. the logistics of the plan. in occupied Europe. were addressed to him. informed of Operation that was used to
Mincemeat’ s prog ress. misinform the Germans.
Mincemeat’s progress.

to help Admiral Cunningham with preparations
to help Admiral Cunningham with preparations
In repl y quote: S.R. 1 989/43 for the next amphibious assault.
for the next amphibious assault.
Combined Operation s Headquarter s The most crucial element of the letter was
The most crucial element of the letter was
the last paragraph, clearly indicating that
1A Richmond Terrace the last paragraph, clearly indicating that
the assault on which Martin would advise
the assault on which Martin would advise
Whitehall, S.W.1 was to be on the home of the sardine.
was to be on the home of the sardine.
Operation Brimstone, therefore, must be
22nd April Operation Brimstone, therefore, must be
aimed at Sardinia. It was, Montagu admitted,
aimed at Sardinia. It was, Montagu admitted,
a “laboured” witticism. Like many Britons,
a “laboured” witticism. Like many Britons,
Dear General, Montagu found the German sense of humour
I am sending you here with t wo copie s of the pamphlet which ha s somewhat leaden. “I thought that that sort of
Montagu found the German sense of humour
somewhat leaden.
been prepared, de scribing the activitie s of m y Command; I have al so joke would appeal to the Germans.”
joke would appeal to the Germans.”
enclo sed copie s of the photograph s which are to be included in the But would they be taken in? This second
But would they be taken in? This second
pamphlet. The book ha s been written b y Hilar y St George Saunder s, letter contained dangerous fl aws. It appeared
letter contained dangerous fl aws. It appeared
to indicate that Mountbatten knew the contents
to indicate that Mountbatten knew the contents
the Engli sh author of Battle of Britain, Bomber Command and other of Nye’s letter, which was unlikely. Would the
of Nye’s letter, which was unlikely. Would the
pamphlet s which have had a great succe s s both in thi s countr y and Chief of Combined Operations have needed
Chief of Combined Operations have needed
to explain why the information was not being
in your s. to explain why the information was not being
The edition which i s to be publi shed in the State s ha s alread y
sent by cable? The sardines joke smelled fi shy.
sent by cable? The sardines joke smelled fi shy.
Louis Mountbatten was a member of the royal
enjo yed pre-publication sale s of nearl y a million and a half, and Louis Mountbatten was a member of the royal
family: if anyone could get sardines whenever
family: if anyone could get sardines whenever
I under stand the American authoritie s will di stribute the book he wanted them, it was surely Lord Louis.
he wanted them, it was surely Lord Louis.
widel y throughout the US Arm y. Final additions
F
inal additions
I under stand from the Briti sh Information Service in Wa shington
There was one fi nal letter to add to the cache.
as one fi

nal letter to add to the cache.
There w
that the y would li ke a ‘me s sage’ from you for u se in the This had no military signifi cance and was
This had no military signifi cance and was
adverti sing for the pamphlet, and that the y have a s ked you direct, included to literally make weight. If Martin was
included to literally make weight. If Martin was
carrying only two letters, he would probably
carrying only two letters, he would probably
through Wa shington, for such a me s sage. have put them in an inside pocket for safety.
have put them in an inside pocket for safety.
I am sending the proof s b y hand of m y Staff Officer, Major W Martin
But in that case, they might be overlooked
of the Ro yal Marine s. I need not sa y ho w honoured we shall all be if by the Spanish or Germans, as had happened
by the Spanish or Germans, as had happened
with the body of Lt Turner in 1942.
with the body of Lt Turner in 1942. “Papers
you will give such a me s sage. actually on the body would run a risk of
actually on the body would run a risk of
I full y reali se what a lot i s being a s ked of you at a time when you
never being found due to the Roman Catholic
never being found due to the Roman Catholic
are so full y occupied with infinitel y more important matter s. But prejudice against tampering with corpses.”
prejudice against tampering with corpses.”
I hope you ma y find a fe w minute s’ time to provide the pamphlet with A briefcase would be harder to miss, but if
A briefcase would be harder to miss, but if
Martin were to carry a briefcase, he would
Martin were to carry a briefcase, he would
an expre s sion of your invaluable approval, so that it will be read need something bulkier than a couple
need something bulkier than a couple
widel y and given ever y chance to bring it s me s sage of co-operation of letters to put in it. Hilary Saunders,
of letters to put in it. Hilary Saunders,
the House of Commons librarian and the
to our t wo people s. the House of Commons librarian and the
husband of Montagu’s colleague Joan
husband of Montagu’s colleague Joan
We are watching your splendid progre s s with admiration and
Saunders, had just written a pamphlet on
Saunders, had just written a pamphlet on
plea sure, and all wi sh we could be with you. the Commandos, a story of derring-do to
the Commandos, a story of derring-do to
You ma y spea k freel y to Major Martin in thi s a s well a s an y other
boost public morale. It was decided that
boost public morale. It was decided that
Martin’s briefcase would contain proofs of
matter s since he ha s m y entire confidence. Martin’s briefcase would contain proofs of
this book, together with another letter from
this book, together with another letter from
Mountbatten, asking General Eisenhower
Mountbatten, asking General Eisenhower
to write a puff for the US edition.
Your s sincerel y, to write a puff for the US edition.
Both letters were written on the same
Loui s Mountbatten typewriter, and signed by Mountbatten
typewriter, and signed by Mountbatten
himself, who was told the letters were
himself, who was told the letters were
General D wight Ei senho wer needed for a top-secret mission. The
only element now missing was the
Allied Force s H.Q. fi nal seal of approval from on high.
fi nal seal of approval from on high.
Algier s
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