Talk:Hester Leggatt#'Mincemeat' letters

{{Template:Did you know nominations/Hester Leggatt}}

We can't write this as a hard fact as it's disputed in the sources. We can write that a journalist has said it, but we need to also mention that the historian Denis Smyth identifies the author as Paddy Bennett, later Lady Ridsdale, as the author. - SchroCat (talk) 06:55, 19 May 2025 (UTC)

: I am agreed on this Eddie891 ^Talk _Work 09:39, 19 May 2025 (UTC)

:This is a good flag, thank you for raising! The upcoming research book may also add clarification to this, but that won't be out for another few weeks. To be added to this section of the article: something like "journalist Ben Macintyre said she wrote the letters based on interview testimony of other MI5 secretaries and additional research after the book was published supports this theory (the handwriting analysis and documentation in the NYT or The Times article about the research campaign for example). However, this has been disputed; scholar Denis Smyth claimed in an earlier book that the author of the letters was Paddy Bennett." I can add later this week if no one else has managed to edit by then (out of the country, no laptop, bad timing) but anyone who wants to please go ahead and make these changes! Unfortunate this issue didn't come up before it made the front page but c'est la vie. Engrigg22 (talk) 13:11, 19 May 2025 (UTC)

Hi @SchroCat, while I agree that generally Broadwayworld is unreliable, I don't think there's any reason this specific blog entry can't be used here. Indeed, to me it seems like a textbook instance where WP:ABOUTSELF applies: It's primarily sourcing that Edwards was involved in the Mincefluencers 'research' campaign. Why would we not trust her own statement on this? If it's not encyclopedic, it should be removed. I just don't think that tag applies here. Eddie891 ^Talk _Work 09:38, 19 May 2025 (UTC)

:Then it would be better to remove it. If it's not covered in a reliable secondary source then it's a sign it's not worth retaining, particularly as it's trivia when compared to Leggatt's life. Given it also refers to activities of individuals, it is also on shaky BLP grounds. - SchroCat (talk) 10:11, 19 May 2025 (UTC)

::It is perfectly acceptable to use someone's statement about themselves to cite something about that person. I'm not sure how that is {{tq|on shaky BLP grounds}}. Eddie891 ^Talk _Work 10:26, 19 May 2025 (UTC)