On the 17th * a DDSD meeting was called and it happened to be Lumby’s day off, so it fell to Flying officer Wheatley to attend this conference.

In one of the larger rooms of the War Office there had gathered a formidable array – five Generals, two Admirals, an Air Vice-Marshal, ten Brigadiers, a covey of full Colonels and a spattering of Captains RN and Group Captains RAF. I had, of course, been admitted on showing my special pass, but as I took my seat at the long table, I was aware of numerous curious or surprised glances being cast at the single ring on my two sleeves.

For the best part of an hour, the senior officers present discussed with the Force Commander-designate, Major General Sturges, Royal Marines, the composition of the expedition. It was to consist of the Royal Marine Commandos, the 25th Infantry Brigade and two Brigades of the 5th Division. They talked of the transport required, naval escort, air reconnaissance, communications, stores, interpreters, medical supplies and a score of other matters.

At length they came to the question of a cover plan. General Sturges, evidently of too lowly a rank to have been let into the secret that a special section of the Joint Planning Staff had recently been formed to deal with such matters, had, very properly, told a member of his staff to think one up, and he proceeded to outline it.

During all this time I had remained silent but, seeing that the general’s plan had no relation to that devised by Lumby and myself, I thought it time to pipe up.

‘Sir,’ I addressed the Director of Staff Duties. ‘With due respect, I fear I cannot agree to this.’

There followed a moment of stunned silence. All eyes were turned on me with amazement, except for those of my good friend Eddie Combe, whom I saw grinning in the background. Then I went on to say: ‘I am here to represent the Joint Planning Staff of the War Cabinet, by whom a cover plan has already been formulated which has received the approval of the Chiefs of Staff’. One could have heard a pin drop as I went on to tell them what they were required to do.

After showing some reluctance, General Sturges accepted the plan I put forward. The others, I think, thought it rather amusing that an officer who held the lowest rank of all commissioned ranks, the RAF being the junior service, should have been sent to give them their orders.

* 17th March 1942

‘The Deception Planners’ pp 47-48