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There was rather a marvellous EV last year with the theme of 'Operation Mincemeat'.

In case you missed it there is a BBC4 programme about the story available freely now on iplayer.

An astonishing episode from wartime.

KT17, thanks for reminding me of that terrific crossword. It was great in itself, but also introduced me to the really fascinating story behind it all.

Me too Malone, I'm slightly embarrassed not to have known about it...

...but in our favour I think there was a great deal of secrecy surrounding the escapade some long time after the war, probably understandable given security concerns.

Suffice it to say i find the character and competence of the men and women who made it happen - and also the compliance of the top brass - quite inspiring.

Admirable people - the operation must have saved many thousands of lives, and shortened the beastly war.

Mx

Hi both, obviously I concur with your sentiments re the puzzle and the subject matter and thanks for the heads-up re the program kt17.
I imagine there are books about this particular operation in greater detail but The Defence of the Realm (The Authorised History of MI5) is well worth a read (I think it's now available in paperback); it gives an insight into how the operation was incepted from "their" viewpoint and other examples throughout their history together with the history itself.

https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Mincemeat-Bizarre-Fooled-Assured/dp/0307453286/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=operation+mincemeat&qid=1561604254&s=gateway&sprefix=operation+mincemest&sr=8-1i

I read the above when it first came out- riveting. The film version of "The Man Who Never Was" is pretty nifty too.

Thank you Ginge and thank you Aristo, wilco.

I didn't do this crossword but was curious to find out about "Operation Mincemeat", so I went and got the book. I'm about a quarter of the way through and can say it's a thoroughly engrossing read. I would say "you couldn't make it up" but.......people did!

Brendan, I'm thrilled that you're getting the same enjoyment I got thanks to this marvellous crossword, I wish it were available online.

PS The story gets more and more remarkable!

Hi Kt17,

I just wanted to let you know that I have just now finished Ben Macintyte's quite brilliant book on Operation Mincemeat. I'd meant to read just a couple of chapters before i went to sleep but, and I'm sure this will come as no shock to you, i just couldn't put it down and ended up reading it through to the end.

PS. You weren't wrong when you said it just gets better:-)

All the best,

Bren.

Thanks Brendan!