For nineteen months my twenty war papers, written as a civilian, had brought me into intimate contact with a number of officers on the Joint Planning Staff and for a further five months, as a commissioned member of it, I had made the acquaintance o many others. Moreover, my circle of war-time friends extended far outside it, to officers and others whose co-operation could assist in our work.

With very few exceptions the senior officers to whom I’d been sent to make requests for assistance in our plans had received me in a most friendly fashion. Partly, perhaps, that was because I adhered rigidly to the behaviour expected of junior officers during the First World War. On being shown into the room of an Admiral, General or Air Marshal, I stood rigidly to attention until addressed. This usually resulted in a smile, or invitation to sit down and the offer of a cigarette.

I then relaxed, said my piece cheerfully and, if I had to argue a point, spoke as though to an equal; so the interview often ended by our laughing together. The, as I got up to go, I said, ‘I wonder, sir, if you happen to have a day free to lunch with me?’

Such invitations from very junior officers were unusual; but many of them had read my books, they had to lunch somewhere and doing so at their clubs became monotonous; so, after only a very slight hesitation, they nearly always accepted. Once the ice had been broken in this way I asked them to dinner. The majority had sent their wives to the country, so it made a pleasant change for them to enjoy a meal with Joan and Diana.

In consequence, not a week passed but Admirals, Generals and Air Marshals dined or lunched with me, or I with them ... ... ...

‘The Deception Planners’ pp 61-62