[Misc] Operation Mincemeat - Somewhat Absurd True Story

[studio150]

Is their next production a musical of I was Monty's Double to keep the theme going

 

[Acker79]

Ben Macintyre's documentary about Operation Mincemeat is on BBC 4 tonight at 9pm.

Since seeing the show I have become mildly interested in the operation, so I'll check that out. Thanks for the heads up!

I don't suppose there are any delightful farce inspired music hall numbers in the documentary?

 

[The Rivet]

I visited his grave in Spain last year. Got there midday and took an hour to find it. My wife was very happy about that.

View attachment 112041

The man who paved the way to a 'relatively' unopposed invasion of Sicily. I had a relation fight there with No 3 Commando.

 

[Barham's tash]

Fixtures

 

[Acker79]

Ben Macintyre's documentary about Operation Mincemeat is on BBC 4 tonight at 9pm.

I got around to watching it last night. It was interesting, and fun seeing the bits of the story that reminded me of bits in the show.

 

[Acker79]

This film was based on Operation Mincemeat: https://www.bing.com/search?q=the+m...-21&sk=&cvid=475D6EEFEB624086B97E68482C44D45D

I thought it sounded familiar

https://www.futilitycloset.com/2015/12/07/podcast-episode-84-the-man-who-never-was/

The Man Who Never Was is on BBC 2 on Saturday afternoon, if anyone is interested.

 

[Acker79]

The musical is coming back for a short 10 show run!

https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show/operation-mincemeat/

 

[Bry Nylon]

Now this is mostly about a new musical I saw recently,...the show is called 'Operation Mincemeat'

I went last night and it was offal.

 

[Acker79]

I went last night and it was offal.

 

[Bry Nylon]

I went last night and it was offal.

Tough crowd in tonight...

 

[Norman Potting]

Double Cross is good as well - that is about how every German spy in the UK during the war was actually a double agent working for MI6. Plus there were loads on the continent making stuff up and passing it onto German high command, in the run up to D-Day, who believed it - one was awarded the Iron Cross even though pretty much everything he told the Germans was a pack of lies created by MI6! Great stuff and all true.

Operation Fortitude by Joshua Levine is worth a read, describes the deceptions that took place regarding the when and where of D-Day. Also recommend Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare about the various eccentric and brave individuals and the weird and wonderful ways and gadgets used to deceive and sabotage the Third Reich.

 

[dolphins]

Operation Fortitude by Joshua Levine is worth a read, describes the deceptions that took place regarding the when and where of D-Day. Also recommend Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare about the various eccentric and brave individuals and the weird and wonderful ways and gadgets used to deceive and sabotage the Third Reich.

Which version of the ...Ungentlemanly Warfare book, Norman? There's two I've found with that title, one by Giles Milton, the other by Damien Lewis...

 

[Is it PotG?]

The Man Who Never Was has been redone, with a decent cast.

Operation Mincemeat is out in May, with Colin Firth up top.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1879016/.

 

[Acker79]

And coinciding with that, the musical is having another run.

[tweet]1505849063975104514[/tweet]

 

[Arthritic Toe]

If you enjoyed the book as I did, follow it up with Agent Zig Zag also by Ben McIntyre

I enjoyed it even more.

Read this recently. Absolutely fascinating. We were so far ahead of the Germans in the intelligence game which was a crucial part of winning the war. Information from what they called the 'most secret sources' (i.e. the cracking of the enigma machine) shortened the war by years.as the Germans had 100% confidence that it was uncrackable.

 

[Is it PotG?]

If you get the chance, watch this first.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wllmb

 

[Happy Exile]

Double Cross is good as well - that is about how every German spy in the UK during the war was actually a double agent working for MI6. Plus there were loads on the continent making stuff up and passing it onto German high command, in the run up to D-Day, who believed it - one was awarded the Iron Cross even though pretty much everything he told the Germans was a pack of lies created by MI6! Great stuff and all true.

Derek Robinson has written some novels based on the life of this chap https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Pujol_García - been a while since I read them but remember them being entertaining and, if I'm remembering right, quite funny at the time. The Eldorado Network is the first in a trilogy about him.

 

[Happy Exile]

There was a west end play called "Pressure" about the weather and D-Day landings on last Summer. The finest play I've ever seen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_(play)

Just as a local connection, did you know the chief meteorological officer for D-day who is key in that play, Group Captain James Stagg, retired to Seaford? There's a blue plaque on his house. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stagg

 

[Norman Potting]

Strong Sussex/Ashdown Forest connection with many of these operations were the high masts at Kings Standing code name "Aspidistra". Used for transmitting/intercepting radio signals. Site is still in use by Sussex Police, one rather pathetic mast remains, presumably for Police purposes.

 

[KZNSeagull]

If you get the chance, watch this first.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wllmb

That looks good. May have to take a trip to the cinema.