CP/1/11 - James Leasor, 1942, 1974-78

CP/1/11

File

James Leasor, 1942, 1974-78

1942-1978

160 items Mixed

Leasor, James, 1923-2007
Nissenthall, Jack
Mountbatten, Louis Mountbatten,

Dieppe raid, 1942

Leasor, James,

James Leasor’s book 'Green Beach', was published by Heinemann in 1975. The book tells the personal story of RAF flight sergeant Jack Nissenthall (later Jack Nissen). As a radar expert he was assigned the task of a secret raid on a German radar station off the beach at Dieppe. This took place in 1942 with the use of 5,000 troops, mostly Canadian in order to gain experience for D-Day and to crack the secrets of German radar. The raid was known only to Lord Mountbatten and a handful of senior Combined Operations staff.

The file contains correspondence with the publisher Heinemann and includes an outline of the book and early approaches to the publisher.

Jack Nissen reviews an early manuscript of the book in a letter to Leasor (26.4.74). He asks for more of the human element to be brought into the book “I do not recognise me at all. The person I see is almost like a robot, devoid of feeling and emotion”. Included is an agreement between Jack Nissenthall and Leasor and a draft introduction. The manuscript was subsequently rewritten.

Michael Klinger acquired the film rights and was expected to start shooting in 1976.

Additional papers include articles and reviews, and printed publicity papers; a 33 page transcript of a meeting between James Leasor and Lord Mountbatten; facsimile of an official 'War Diary from South Saskatchewan Regiment', August 1942; and photographs of Nissen in Canada, Leasor in Dieppe, and with CP at a book promotion.