indeed drowned, the body of a man who had just died from pneumonia - in which form of death there is liquid in the lungs - was found. On the understanding that his true identity would always remain secret, consent was obtained from the dead man's relatives and, from that time forward, he became 'Major William Martin, Royal Marines', and his body was placed in cold storage as a plan was devised.
The body of 'Major Martin' was to carry two letters for delivery to Africa, one from Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Nye, Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and one from Lord Louis Mountbatten, both of which intimated that Sardinia was the target of the assault. In addition to his identity card, the 'Major' was assumed to be a brilliant, but nevertheless extravagant, man, and in his pocket was a letter from Lloyds Bank Head Office
