Join us on Friday 4th July at 7:30pm as we welcome Finding Hester to Kirkdale Bookshop – a group of lawyers, archivists, technologists, educators, and authors who have all brought their specific skills to the research of Hester Leggatt, a woman who helped trick the Nazis during Operation Mincemeat and who have now applied and compiled this research into a fascinating book.
This book explores the untold story of Hester, a woman who helped trick the Nazis, and is a fascinating read for fans of West End musical Operation Mincemeat and anyone with an interest in women’s war stories.
Perhaps one of the stranger tales to come out the Second World War is Operation Mincemeat. A corpse dressed as a British pilot was dropped in the ocean near Spain, with the forged documents he carried landing in the hands of the Germans to convince them to move their troops to the advantage of the allied forces.
To sell the ruse of the corpse, MI5 had to create a credible backstory for their fictitious pilot. They filled his pockets with receipts, cigarettes, a photograph, and, importantly, two fabricated love letters.
An interview with MI5 secretary Jean Leslie, conducted by Ben Macintyre for his book (Operation Mincemeat), revealed the name of the woman behind those letters to be a “Hester Leggett’. A name and spelling, repeated ever since, including in both the film and the musical.
But Hester Leggett does not exist.
The false identity was discovered by a group of fans of the musical. While we know much about the other key figures portrayed in the musical, Hester was always a mystery. Once the group started to research her, they discovered that she was, in fact, actually Hester Leggatt.
This misplaced vowel made all the difference as the group go on to uncover a huge amount about the real Hester. This book tells the story of how the musical fanbase found her school records, her family, her real love letters from the Second World War, and definitive confirmation from MI5 that they had the right person.
Tickets are £5 (+ a small booking fee)
Includes admission & refreshment