Post by Diarist on Sept 13, 2014 13:57:54 GMT 1
Today's Sunday and I now have time to update my diary. My new duties have been keeping me busy and 2nd Inf. Div. hasn't been wasting time either. They've assigned a Major in command of the Parachute Company and my Point of Contact,(POC), is CPT Michael Franklin, the Company XO. We have both discovered that there is a firm producing parachutes in Guildford/Woking, (they are moving to new premises), only 5 mins. drive from the Div. HQ. We've arranged to meet there on Wednesday.
I've also been making inquiries about the Sudan Defence Force, (SDF). There are a dozen former members in the UK at the moment who are also still serving in the British Army. I've given the details to General Gort for review. He suggested that we offer a MAJ Wingate a position in TRADOC. CPT Guy Simonds and I will visit him tomorrow. Both Guy and MAJ Wingate are Artillery officers.
Preliminary reports have indicated that the 10 Cruisers mentioned earlier are in fairly good condition. The armament has gone, so is most of the superstructure but the lower hulls have been well preserved. Apparently Navy reserve personnel have been working there on a regular basis. Plans are made to convert some of them to light aircraft carriers if funds/material/shipyard-capacity is available.
We have been briefed about the Foreign Secretary's recent extensive tour. The good news is that a Division of Indian troops will be shipped to Kenya in the next few months - they will be there by the end of August at the latest. No idea what we promised them in Exchange. Britain will have to send a lot of equipment and provide air cover, of course. This is not being made public.
I've also been informed to expect some U.S. personnel arriving soon and accomodation should be made available for them. There presence here has to be kept secret so they will be wearing Canadian uniforms. The U.S. War Department decided that, not us.
I've also been making inquiries about the Sudan Defence Force, (SDF). There are a dozen former members in the UK at the moment who are also still serving in the British Army. I've given the details to General Gort for review. He suggested that we offer a MAJ Wingate a position in TRADOC. CPT Guy Simonds and I will visit him tomorrow. Both Guy and MAJ Wingate are Artillery officers.
Preliminary reports have indicated that the 10 Cruisers mentioned earlier are in fairly good condition. The armament has gone, so is most of the superstructure but the lower hulls have been well preserved. Apparently Navy reserve personnel have been working there on a regular basis. Plans are made to convert some of them to light aircraft carriers if funds/material/shipyard-capacity is available.
We have been briefed about the Foreign Secretary's recent extensive tour. The good news is that a Division of Indian troops will be shipped to Kenya in the next few months - they will be there by the end of August at the latest. No idea what we promised them in Exchange. Britain will have to send a lot of equipment and provide air cover, of course. This is not being made public.
I've also been informed to expect some U.S. personnel arriving soon and accomodation should be made available for them. There presence here has to be kept secret so they will be wearing Canadian uniforms. The U.S. War Department decided that, not us.