Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII by Damien Lewis Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Damien Lewis
responsibility being laid at Britain’s door.
The plan for the cut-out mission involved March-Philipps sailing his ship into Santa Isabel Harbour under cover of darkness, whereupon he and his men would overpower the ships’ crew, seize the vessels, blow their anchor chains and spirit them away to one of the nearest British ports, lying some 1,500 miles across the Gulf of Guinea.
If spotted, the
Maid Honour
would simply appear as an unidentifiable fishing trawler, albeit one sporting some unusual weaponry for such a ship. If she was captured – and this was to be avoided at all costs – the
Maid Honour
might still maintain the bluff of being of Swedish origin. If any of her crew were taken alive – death was considered far preferable; like all SOE agents the crew carried what had been nicknamed ‘holy communion’, a hidden suicide pill to be taken in case of capture – they were to stick to their cover story at all costs. If all of that failed the mission would be vehemently denied by the British government, who would blame ‘rebel elements’ for carrying out the attack wholly without official sanction.
Upon first consideration such a mission appeared nigh-on impossible; looking at the port’s defences there was every likelihood of failure. There were reports of increasing numbers of Spanish troops and armaments arriving on Fernando Po. Its vital strategic position made the island a tempting target for both Germany and Britain – for whoever controlled Fernando Po pretty much controlled the Gulf of Guinea. The Spanish had garrisoned the island with forty of their officers, commandingsome five hundred native troops, with one hundred or more reservists of European nationality to call upon if need be.
There were a dozen 4-inch guns stationed around the island, and in Santa Isabel itself the Customs House, barracks and main public buildings had machine guns positioned overlooking the harbour. The Spanish Governor of the island was known to be strongly pro-Nazi and thus hostile to British interests.
Needless to say, if
Maid Honour
Force made it to Fernando Po their mission would entail violating just about every rule of war. The cut-out job would represent an outrageous act of piracy and kidnapping on the high seas; it would violate the ‘neutrality’ of Spain; and in wearing no uniforms the raiders ‘deserved’ only to be treated as spies, if captured.
If March-Phillipps was successful, Britain – Churchill – needed to be able to deny absolutely all knowledge and culpability. Otherwise, Spain might be provoked into granting Germany access to invade the British territory of Gibraltar, and her vital ports. If Germany took Gibraltar, that would mean the war for the Mediterranean would be all but lost; defeat only be a matter of time.
Accordingly, there needed to be a plausible explanation as to how on earth two German and one Italian ships had fallen into British hands. Working closely with Ian Fleming, then SOE’s liaison at the Admiralty – and the future author of the James Bond books – M set about coming up with just such a ruse. The cover story finally agreed upon by M, Fleming and others in the know consisted of several sophisticated and interlocking elements.
The British destroyer HMS
Violet
, stationed in the West African port of Lagos, in Nigeria, would steam into the Gulf of Guinea to intercept the three vessels once they had been ‘cut-out’ of port. It would be claimed that the Italian and German crews had mutinied, severing their own anchor chains and sailing away of their own accord. Officially,
Violet
would seize the ships and their crew in international waters, and escort them into British custody at Lagos harbour.
Need-to-know and convincing theatre was absolute paramount with this element of the cover story. The captain of HMS
Violet
would be given sealed orders for his eyes only, and told to open them only once at sea. He wouldn’t know the nature of his mission until he had
The plan for the cut-out mission involved March-Philipps sailing his ship into Santa Isabel Harbour under cover of darkness, whereupon he and his men would overpower the ships’ crew, seize the vessels, blow their anchor chains and spirit them away to one of the nearest British ports, lying some 1,500 miles across the Gulf of Guinea.
If spotted, the
Maid Honour
would simply appear as an unidentifiable fishing trawler, albeit one sporting some unusual weaponry for such a ship. If she was captured – and this was to be avoided at all costs – the
Maid Honour
might still maintain the bluff of being of Swedish origin. If any of her crew were taken alive – death was considered far preferable; like all SOE agents the crew carried what had been nicknamed ‘holy communion’, a hidden suicide pill to be taken in case of capture – they were to stick to their cover story at all costs. If all of that failed the mission would be vehemently denied by the British government, who would blame ‘rebel elements’ for carrying out the attack wholly without official sanction.
Upon first consideration such a mission appeared nigh-on impossible; looking at the port’s defences there was every likelihood of failure. There were reports of increasing numbers of Spanish troops and armaments arriving on Fernando Po. Its vital strategic position made the island a tempting target for both Germany and Britain – for whoever controlled Fernando Po pretty much controlled the Gulf of Guinea. The Spanish had garrisoned the island with forty of their officers, commandingsome five hundred native troops, with one hundred or more reservists of European nationality to call upon if need be.
There were a dozen 4-inch guns stationed around the island, and in Santa Isabel itself the Customs House, barracks and main public buildings had machine guns positioned overlooking the harbour. The Spanish Governor of the island was known to be strongly pro-Nazi and thus hostile to British interests.
Needless to say, if
Maid Honour
Force made it to Fernando Po their mission would entail violating just about every rule of war. The cut-out job would represent an outrageous act of piracy and kidnapping on the high seas; it would violate the ‘neutrality’ of Spain; and in wearing no uniforms the raiders ‘deserved’ only to be treated as spies, if captured.
If March-Phillipps was successful, Britain – Churchill – needed to be able to deny absolutely all knowledge and culpability. Otherwise, Spain might be provoked into granting Germany access to invade the British territory of Gibraltar, and her vital ports. If Germany took Gibraltar, that would mean the war for the Mediterranean would be all but lost; defeat only be a matter of time.
Accordingly, there needed to be a plausible explanation as to how on earth two German and one Italian ships had fallen into British hands. Working closely with Ian Fleming, then SOE’s liaison at the Admiralty – and the future author of the James Bond books – M set about coming up with just such a ruse. The cover story finally agreed upon by M, Fleming and others in the know consisted of several sophisticated and interlocking elements.
The British destroyer HMS
Violet
, stationed in the West African port of Lagos, in Nigeria, would steam into the Gulf of Guinea to intercept the three vessels once they had been ‘cut-out’ of port. It would be claimed that the Italian and German crews had mutinied, severing their own anchor chains and sailing away of their own accord. Officially,
Violet
would seize the ships and their crew in international waters, and escort them into British custody at Lagos harbour.
Need-to-know and convincing theatre was absolute paramount with this element of the cover story. The captain of HMS
Violet
would be given sealed orders for his eyes only, and told to open them only once at sea. He wouldn’t know the nature of his mission until he had
Similar Books
The Tower
J.S. Frankel
The Collaborator
Margaret Leroy
The Snow White Bride
Claire Delacroix
Lovers Premiere (Kimani Romance)
Adrianne Byrd
On the Plus Side
Tabatha Vargo
Bad Moon Rising
Loribelle Hunt
Swept Away: The First Bloodline
Crystal Smith
Elf on the Beach
TJ Nichols
The Girl at Midnight
Melissa Grey