 |
|
One would expect such an exotic area to be expensive, and yet, we were pleasantly surprised. The larger supermarkets offer good value for money. The local produce is abundantly available and affordable. The prices at restaurants are at least 50% higher than normal. But, comparing it with prices at other exotic places we visited, we thought it to be quite affordable.
While on holiday I couldn't help reflecting on some events that took place more than sixty years ago. My reflections were triggered by the recent report that Lieutenant Commander N. A. "Bill" Jewell died on 18 August 2004 at the age of 90. In 1943, Lieutenant Commander Jewell, later an admiral, was skipper of the British submarine, Seraph, which carried the remains of one "Capt. (acting Maj.) William Martin" of the Royal Marines, with bogus papers attached, for release in the ocean near the Spanish seashore, into the orbit of German counterintelligence. The first time I heard of a place called Sardinia was when I saw a monochrome film in the late fifties with the title "The Man Who Never Was." This British film dramatised some events that took place around Operation Mincemeat, as it was code named, and was one of the very few Top Secret wartime operations to be made into a film. Operation Mincemeat and its aftermath make fascinating reading.
The story
Once the Germans had been defeated in, and expelled from, North Africa the Allies began their plans to land on the European mainland. The first target was Italy. But before any landings could begin on Italian shores, the Germans had to be removed from the Island of Sicily. You merely have to look at the map to realise that Sicily was the logical place for the allied landing launched from North Africa. The Germans were heavily entrenched on Sicily and determined not to be removed. They also had the active support of the civil authorities. Mussolini's fascists did not suffer criminals kindly, and life was made unbearable for the Mafia over several years. Many of them left for America to carry on with their criminal activities. The result in Sicily was that the civil infra structure became orderly and operational.
The plan
The build-up of troops and equipment that would be necessary for the invasion was certain to attract attention. If "Operation Husky," as the invasion was code named, was to be a success, rather than a slaughter, the enemy's command had to be led astray. Squadron Leader Sir Archibald Cholmondley, of the British Intelligence interservice XX Committee (XX for double cross) suggested that a set of false plans should be planted on a dead man, who would deliver them into the enemy's hands. This obviated any concern that the chosen spy could turn out to be a double agent, as well as ensuring that he wouldn't break under torture and confess whatever he knew about the true nature of his mission. Cholmondley entrusted the details of the mission to Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu of Naval Intelligence.
The hoax
It was Montagu's idea that "Martin" should appear to have drowned, probably after his plane crashed off the coast of Spain. This necessitated finding a corpse whose lungs were already full of fluid, so that any doctors who examined the body would accept that he had been at sea for some time. He found a 34-year-old man who had recently died of pneumonia brought on by ingesting rat poison. This homeless Welsh alcoholic named Glyndwr Michael committed suicide in a warehouse in London. Ultimately - he was the man, posthumously, who convinced Hitler's High Command that the Allied invasion of southern Europe in 1943 would be in Sardinia when its real target was Sicily.
The man would have been dead for some time before he fell into enemy hands, but the effects of salt water upon the corpse would disguise the inevitable decomposition. Intelligence secretaries pitched in to write love letters to "Martin," and one of them even donated a picture of herself in a swimsuit--ostensibly a photo of the dead man's fiancée. Cholmondley carried the letters in his wallet for some time, to give them an authentically worn appearance. "Martin's" personality was further enhanced by an irate letter from his bank manager, a stern letter from his father, a few overdue bills, a replacement military I.D. card, matchbooks, theatre tickets, keys... All the personal stuff of a likable young man who might be somewhat careless in his personal affairs (and thus more likely to wind up face-down on a beach in Spain), but who was doubtless quite good at his job. These items went into the briefcase with the documents that told of the Allies' plans to invade Sardinia.
The person, on whom Ian Flemming later based his character Q for his James Bond stories, was in real life only known as Fraser-Smith. He was asked to provide a container 6' 2" long, 3' wide, to carry a 'deadweight' of 200lb. Fraser-Smith, as usual, didn't ask why, but later learned how the container was used.
Operation Mincemeat was well under way. All that remained was to escort poor "Major Martin" into enemy territory. The body was packed in dry ice, and put aboard the British submarine HMS/M Seraph, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Jewell. Just off the port of Huelva, with currents carefully plotted, Commander Jewell sent the crewmen back below, briefed his officers and prepared the body, inflating its life vest and making sure his document case was securely chained to him. Lt. Jewell said a short prayer and Seraph gave "Major Martin" into the arms of the sea. The currents did the rest, delivering the body to the neutral Spanish authorities and the German counterintelligence forces.
The follow-up
The discovery of the body didn't end the charade. The Allies were well aware that the Abwehr (German intelligence) would be watching them closely. Britain demanded that Spain return "Martin's" briefcase; after the requisite amount of diplomatic posturing, they did. It appeared to be untouched, but microscopic examination of the contents revealed that they had been carefully studied. "Martin" himself was buried in Huelva, with full military honours. His grieving fiancée sent flowers to adorn his grave. (And up until 1994, someone came regularly to lay red carnations there, but no one ever saw who it was.) On June 4, The Times included his name in the casualty lists. The Germans were completely convinced. Within days of "Martin's" appearance on the Spanish coast, Montagu telegraphed Winston Churchill to say "Mincemeat swallowed whole."
Back in America, the Mafia boss, Lucky Luciano, was already in gaol for some time. Today it is common knowledge that the American Military Intelligence cut a deal with him. He was allowed to manage his criminal operations from his cell in gaol in return for co-operation and information regarding Sicily. The word went out and Military Intelligence was able to "interview" co-operating Sicilians living in America. They were able to compile minute details of the coast and towns of Sicily. The official line was: “The U.S. had reason to believe the Mafia wanted the Axis forces off the island, so that they could get back to peace and prosperity for its own purposes.”
The invasion
On July 9, 1943, the Allies moved. They concentrated their assault on the southern tip of Sicily, well away from the German troops massed at the northern end, facing Sardinia. On July 10, 1943 over 180,000 men hit the beaches or were airdropped onto the island, defended by only two German divisions. The British walked into the port of Syracuse virtually unopposed. For many of the American forces this was their first time in combat and numerous set-backs were encountered. However, the Germans began evacuating their forces on August 11 and were able to get off the island some 100,000 men plus their equipment. On August 16, the Americans beat the British to Messina, located on the north-eastern tip of the island. The remaining Germans evacuated on August 17.
The legacy
Pay-day arrived in Sicily. The fascist civil authorities were chased off and the American left their allies, the local Mafia structures in charge of every town in Sicily! Many Sicilians exiles subsequently returned from America. It took the post-war Italian Governments some forty years to re-gain law and order in Sicily.
When I reflected on the above history, I realised that the agony of Sicily after liberation was replayed in recent history, and is still replayed: Iraq, Afganistan, and in a slightly different way in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
When you travel in Northern Sicily the strongholds built by the Germans are still evident along many of the passes. Fortunately, none is visible in Sardinia. Sardinia too had its share of bandits, outlaws, and gangsters. In 1961 the Italian film producer, Vittorio de Seta, made the film Banditi a Orgoloso. But even then organised crime was nothing compared to organised crime in Sicily. Today Orgoloso is a pleasant town with bright murals visited by thousands of tourists.
It is unlikely that we'll ever visit Sicily again, but Sardinia might see us again and again!
Kind regards.
Philip de Bruin