Event    From /4/1943  To /4/1943

Operation Mincemeat

Categories: Armed Forces, Espionage

Operation Mincemeat was a successful WW2 British deception operation to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. British intelligence obtained an unwanted body and took it to Hackney Mortuary where it was dressed as an officer of the Royal Marines and given personal items identifying him as the fictitious Captain (Acting Major) William Martin. Also placed on the body was correspondence between two British generals which suggested that the Allies planned to invade Greece and Sardinia, while pretending to invade Sicily.

The body was taken to Scotland and then by submarine close to the coast of southern Spain and released into the sea. It was picked up by a Spanish fisherman who took it to the authorities and the documents were shared  with the Germans. Result: German reinforcements were shifted to Greece and Sardinia, leaving Sicily relatively unprotected, meaning there were fewer casualties when the Allies landed in July 1943.

The pathologist Sir Bernard Spilsbury advised on what state the body should be in to be convincing as the victim of an air crash and/or drowning and having spent some time in the sea.

This image from the National WW2 museum in New Orleans shows some of the ‘pocket litter’ that was "created for Martin – various bits and bobs that would go inside the man’s jacket and wallet that would add flavour to his story and help convince the Spanish and the Germans that he was a real man."

The Operation was, at least in part, based on a idea of Ian Fleming's.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Operation Mincemeat

Commemorated ati

Hester Leggatt

A musical comedy 'Operation Mincemeat' with a plot based on the WW2 Operation...

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Operation Mincemeat

The Biblical quotation draws attention to the secrecy which was essential to ...

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Other Subjects

Hugh Grayson

Hugh Grayson

Resident of the West Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Richard Alexander

Richard Alexander

Flight Sergeant Richard Lear Alexander was born on 22 July 1914 in Yellowhead, Kankakee, Illinois, USA, the son of Harry William Alexander (1892-1945) and Ada H. Alexander née Zimmerman (1896-1977)...

Person, Armed Forces, USA

War served, WW2
1 memorial
F. Wilson
War dead, WW2
1 memorial
H. W. Harding

H. W. Harding

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
H.M.S. Victory VI

H.M.S. Victory VI

During WW1 Crystal Palace was used as a training establishment for the Royal Navy. It was officially known as H.M.S. Victory VI, and informally as HMS Crystal Palace. 125,000 officers and men were ...

Place, Armed Forces, Education

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Dr. Barnardo - Ben Jonson Road

Dr. Barnardo - Ben Jonson Road

E1, Ben Jonson Road, 58 Solent House

Doctor Barnardo, 1845 - 1905, began his work for children in a building on this site in 1866. London County Council

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Fortune Theatre - WC2

Fortune Theatre - WC2

WC2, Russell Street

The SWET plaque is towards the left of the building. The blue plaque is over at the right, near the corner. The grand entrance with the ...

4 subjects commemorated