Unveiling the Master of Deception: The Life and Legacy of Dudley Clarke
Discover the life and legacy of the British Army officer who revolutionized the art of war during World War II through his brilliant strategies of deception and propaganda
Dudley Clarke (1899–1974) was a British Army officer who served during World War I and II. He is perhaps best known for his contributions to the development of the British Army’s deception strategy during World War II, which played a significant role in several vital Allied victories.
Early Life and Military Career
Dudley Wrangel Clarke was born on April 27, 1899, in Johannesburg, South Africa, the son of a mining engineer.
He attended school in England and then returned to South Africa, where he worked briefly as a surveyor before enlisting in the Army in 1916 at the age of 17. The British Army sent him to the Western Front, where he served with the Royal Field Artillery and was wounded in action. He was commissioned as an officer and served in Egypt, Palestine, and Mesopotamia…
