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The Dennis Wheatley 'Museum' - Dennis Wheatley in World War II: a supplement
Wingate is commissioned to write a Top Secret History
The cover page of Wingate's Top Secret History of Deception
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The History's limited circulation list...
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After the defeat of Germany, Ronald Wingate was initially sent out to the Far East, and there as an officer on Mountbattens staff with roving duties, he met General MacArthur, who impressed him.
In November 1944, Wingate went out to Delhi to meet the Viceroy and Governor-General, who at this time was Lord Wavell, who had originally urged Deception upon the Chiefs of Staff, and in many ways Deception came full circle.
As Wingate was to recall:
When I first went out in November 1944, the Viceroy, Lord Wavell, with whom I had lunch, walked me round the gardens for half an hour, instead of receiving me for the usual five minutes, leaving all his guests, and his agitated staff. He then insisted on my addressing the C-in-C, the army commanders, and the Chiefs of Staff, on certain aspects of the Normandy landings. The Foreign Secretary, an old friend of mine, was privileged to attend this meeting, and I think he was shocked. Not only was he a soldier, and a scholar, but also - and this is not generally realized - a statesman.It must have been pleasing to both of them to be able to see that Wavells original urging of centralised Deception had borne such noble fruit.
After the defeat of Japan, Wingate returned to London and took over from Bevan as Controlling Officer so Bevan could return to stockbroking and civilian life. Having little to occupy him, Wingate took up the task of writing the history that DW had started, giving it a wider and more strategic theme.
This superbly-written document is a masterpiece of erudition, and can still be seen in the National Archives, where its original secrecy is underscored by its very small circulation list.
We know from a letter that Wingate wrote to DW that it was completed in April 1947.
| References: | Wingate on his meeting with Wavell, 'Not in the Limelight p 219. On Wingates summary assessment of the effectiveness of Deception, see 'The Deception Planners p 229 |
| Provenance: | Top image courtesy of The National Archives [CAB 154/101 & additionally DEFE 28/4] |
| Bottom image courtesy of The National Archives [DEFE 28/48] |
