Operation Grandiose

'Grandiose' was the British deception and cover plan for the visit of Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the Middle Eastern theatre (August 1942).

Undertaken by Colonel Dudley W. Clarke’s 'A' Force Middle Eastern deception organisation, 'Grandiose' was based on the dissemination of a false itinerary by means of the normal glut of channels.

A 'Grandiose II' was also planned to suggest that Churchill’s meetings with senior commanders in Cairo had resulted in a decision to invade Crete and then the mainland of Greece, but this was not implemented after Clarke had been informed by the London Controlling Section that this would clash with existing plans associated with 'Torch'.