Speaker for 8th January 2019
Coleraine Probus hear the secrets of 'Operation Mincemeat'
It seemed that the Christmas theme had spilled over to the New Year when Andrew Walsh was introduced to the club members, with title of his talk being “Operation Mincemeat". However, the story Andrew told was far away from Santa, for this was the name given to one of the greatest acts of war time sub-defuse, and ultimately led to the allied victory in 1945.
The town of Huelva on the south-west coast of Spain is an unpretentious industrial town, where a grave in the local cemetery, contained a body with two names. On April 30th 1943 Antonio Rey Maria, a Spanish fisherman discovered a body, dressed in a British Royal Marine's Uniform, floating in the sea off the coast at Huelva. Attached to the body was a brief case. Why the body was there became the story that changed the war.
The Grave at Huelva
The momentum of W.W.II had shifted with the Allies having control of North Africa. Now a second front to relieve Stalin in the East was to be considered. This was "Operation Husky" and it would depend on a key action, the invasion of Sicily, to give Stalin that help. However, Churchill knew this would be problematic, for in his own colourful words “Everyone but a bloody fool would know that it's Sicily”. The problem was passed to the MI5 'Twenty Committee' (why was it called this? - see below) to find a way to disguise this obvious action. Enter Ft. Lt. Charles Cholmondeley and Ewen Montagu the “corkscrew” brains behind “Operation Mincemeat”. This would involve giving the Germans “top secret” documents that detailed an imminent invasion of Greece. These would be attached to an apparent dead body of a British Officer that would eventually be washed up on the shore near the Spanish town of Huelva.
Ft. Lt. Charles Cholmondeley and Ewen Montagu
Obtaining a suitable body would be a difficult task but with the help of Sir Bernard Spilsbury the State Pathologist and Bentley Purchase a London Coroner, this was found. This was a destitute, homeless Welsh tramp called Glyndwr Michael who was given the identity of "Acting Major William Martin, Royal Marine". Attached to the body was the brief case containing secret documents fabricated by British Intelligence. These included an ID. card (stamped as 'renewed' to cover its 'newness'), a girl friend’s photo, two love letters, an engagement ring receipt and other convincing pocket litter which included a letter from General Archibald Nye to General Harold Alexander the British Commander in North Africa. On 30th April 1943 Royal Navy Submarine HMS Seraph surfaced and 'Major Martin' was gently released into the sea off Huelva to be retrieved by Antonio Rey Maria.
The body of Glyndwr Michael - "Major Martin"
Although a neutral country, Spain had sympathy for Germany. After some difficulties, the contents of the brief case were allowed to be copied by a German spy, before being returned to the British Consul. Major Martin was buried in the local cemetery with full military honours. The copied documents were handed to the German Admiral Wilhelm Canaris and eventually were delivered to Adolf Hitler, who was convinced, against advice of some of his Generals, that the bogus documents contained genuine plans for Allied troop movements. On Hitler’s orders many German reinforcements in Sicily were sent to Greece. On July 10th the Allies invaded Sicily and “Operation Husky" began. While in America, Churchill received the message “Mincemeat swallowed rod, line and sinker.”
Some of the fake documents
A fake girlfriend
In addition to saving thousands of Allied soldiers lives, “Operation Mincemeat” helped in the downfall of Italian leader Mussolini and turned the tide of the War towards an Allied victory in Europe.
The Allies invade Sicily
When Glyndwr Michael died as an insignificant tramp on the streets of London who could have ever predicted he would go on to embarrass Goebbels and Hitler, and play a key part in the success of an Allied Invasion.
The British Government revealed the body’s true identity only in 1998 and the inscription “Glyndwr Michael; Served as Major William Martin, RM” was added to the gravestone in Huelva. A plaque commemorating Michael is now also on the war memorial in Aberbargoed. It is headed “Y Dyn Na Fu Erioed” which translates to “The Man Who Never Was”.
(Special thanks to Graham for such a detailed write-up - WebEd)
Members who would like to view an interesting TV documentary on 'Operation Mincemeat' should 'Click' the logo below (this will open in a new window).
Members who would like another look at Andrew's excellent presentation and get the answer to the 'Twenty Committee' question, please 'Click' this link.
