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This story was submitted to the People's War site by CSV/´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Nottingham on behalf of Jack H Storer with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

This is a memory of World War II from the Spring of 1944 when I was a Captain in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment serving as GSO lll (Int)- General Staff Officer Grade lll Intelligence Duties — on the staff of a large military Head Quarters at Felstead School, near Braintree in Essex. Like most large schools and similar institutions in East Anglia, Felstead School had been evacuated to the west country early in the war and the buildings requisitioned by the military. In 1944 the build up and training for the anticipated landing in Europe was proceeding at an ever growing pace and security was all important for the successful outcome of the operation depended on absolute secrecy from the enemy. The need for constant vigilance was continually being drummed home and there were posters everywhere broadcasting the slogan ‘Walls have Ears’

One day — I cannot remember the exact date but it was probably in about April or May - I received a telephone call from a friend of mine, Major Bernard Moles, who was also an officer in the Beds & Herts Regt, who was serving on the Staff of HQ Colchester Garrison. .He said he needed to come and see me urgently. Colchester has always been a peace time garrison town and, at that time, it was stiff with troops. When he came in he told me that he had been in the Colchester Garrison Officers Club the night before and, whilst in the toilet, had heard the Garrison Adjutant, who was clearly in his cups, holding forth to a group of officers about the ‘flap’ going on because the King was coming to Colchester, and he knew as he had been warned to arrange an escort of RMP (Royal Military Police) motor cycle outriders whose machines were to carry Union Jack pennants. He asked me if it was true and was it general knowledge. I assured him that it was not true, but that it was too near the truth to be comfortable, but that the true story was so secret that I could not divulge it to him.

This was the time when the invasion of Europe, code named Operation OVERLORD, was fast approaching. The whole operation was shrouded in secrecy and we had no idea of the date of the invasion, for that was the closest guarded secret of all. But we knew it was fast approaching by the tremendous build-up in signals traffic and military activity generally. What we had prepared for, with the greatest care and under the strictest security, was a conference to be attended by the Corps and Divisional commanders, and other senior officers involved with OVERLORD, to be addressed by the designated Commander of 21st Army Group, General Sir Bernard Montgomery, who had commanded 8th Army in North Africa so successfully, and who shortly afterwards was promoted Field Marshal. This was to be the final ‘briefing but one’ before the invasion of Europe and itself was codenamed Exercise BREAKER IV. If the news had leaked out and there had been any sort of attack on the HQ, and especially if any of the very senior officers had been killed or wounded, it would have had disastrous effects and could have caused utter mayhem with the operation, and even postponement or cancellation. It was that SECRET and the most secret operation I had ever been involved in. We had special units out in the field, guarding against surprise attack; special RAF patrols flying overhead; and all roads, and traffic approaching the area, were under close surveillance: some roads were closed and traffic diverted. There was strict control over our own HQ and only those with ‘need to know’ knew what was happening. Special arrangements were made for the officers attending to lunch in the GOC’s Mess (General Officer Commanding). Clearly the information broadcast around the Officers Club the night before was highly dangerous. I took my friend in to see the GSO1 Lt Colonel Ken Stanley OBE, 4/7 Dragoon Guards — today, he would be called the Chief of Staff - and recounted what had happened. After a few questions he lifted the telephone and was put straight through to the Garrison Commander, Colchester; the code word BREAKER IV was spoken, a brief outline was given and the Garrison Commander was ordered to place the Garrison Adjutant under immediate close arrest. My friend Bernard Moles was sworn to secrecy.

A day or two later the conference and briefing took place exactly as planned. General Montgomery, or ‘Monty’ as he was known universally, was something of a showman who would go to great lengths and do unorthodox things, such as wearing the black beret of the Armoured Corps with two badges — his own badge as a General plus the badge of the Royal Tank Corps: anything which would help to raise the morale of the troops and give them confidence in him as Commander in Chief. All went well. The senior officers arrived and the security precautions worked well, and then Monty swept into Felstead School in his large military open staff car, with Military Police outriders flying Union Jack pennants on their motor cycles. To our consternation he drove straight into the middle of the cricket ground, alighted from his car, sat on the running board with his ADC (Aide de camp) and, rather ostentatiously I thought, consumed a packet of sandwiches. All the clerks in the offices surrounding the cricket field, and other onlookers who could manage it, were gaping at him for ‘Monty’ was a famous figure and his name was on everyone’s lips. This was a sight not to be missed. Whilst enjoying his sandwiches the GOC joined him and then together they walked to the Conference Hall with Monty waving to all and sundry: rather like a Royal Progress. Security had not been breached but Monty had given us a few anxious moments and we, the lesser mortals, heaved a sigh of relief when it was all over!

A short time afterwards the final briefing for OVERLORD, Exercise BREAKER V, took place at St Paul’s School in London, Monty’s former School, and the invasion of Europe was launched on 6th June 1944. The rest is history. I was caught up in the excitement and feverish activity of the work of a Staff Officer. I do not know what happened to the Garrison Adjutant for it passed out of my zone of responsibility. I believe he received a severe reprimand but his stupid loss of self control could have had disastrous results. Fortunately he had failed to realise that the Union Jack pennant was worn not only by the Sovereign but also by a C-in-C and his escorts.

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