Post by Diarist on Oct 23, 2015 23:35:52 GMT 1
This morning I attended a meeting of AEF personnel who knew that the real mission would be in NW Italy, not East Africa. Most of the faces were familiar, I had met them on HMS Rodney a couple of months ago. I only said a few words, I was more interested in their progress. I did mention that I'm going to be in NW Italy for the next couple of weeks and shall be looking for any kind of war preparations. I didn't elaborate and no one asked.
After the meeting General Smith, Commander Mountbatten and I went to an early lunch in Patton's private quarters. I told them about the security issues but there doesn't appear to be any problems. My trip in Italy begins with us driving down the coast as far as Genoa. Then from Genoa to the Mont Blanc tunnel entrance via Turin and Aosta. Then via Turin to the Modane tunnel entrance at Bussoleno. Finally via Cuneo to the Italian Riviera then back to France. I shall also be visiting Admiral Keyes' secret army in Turin. I have his permission.
I then talked about the planned airborne operation in Eritrea. I shall be flying to Egypt at the beginning of September and will make a stop here in France before flying to Malta. The reinforced parachute platoon will travel by destroyer and are planned to arrive in Alexandria shortly before I do. WO1 Shaw is arranging to have a squadron of Vickers Type 264 Valentias transferred to Khartoum. Four Valentias will be required for the initial assault with the remainder transporting an advanced guard from the 51st Highland Division. There might be a coordinated attack involving Major Wingate's irregulars.
They told me that all the British ground forces are already in Egypt and East Africa, more RAF squadrons are due to arrive during August. A naval exercise is planned in the Western Mediterranean at the end of August. The French are planning to transfer another FT-17 tank force to Tunisia as well as an artillery regiment. Then we wait for Mussolini to make his move, but until then we need to keep our troops busy.
We arranged to meet for dinner. Tomorrow night we shall be sleeping in Ventimiglia, Italy.
After the meeting General Smith, Commander Mountbatten and I went to an early lunch in Patton's private quarters. I told them about the security issues but there doesn't appear to be any problems. My trip in Italy begins with us driving down the coast as far as Genoa. Then from Genoa to the Mont Blanc tunnel entrance via Turin and Aosta. Then via Turin to the Modane tunnel entrance at Bussoleno. Finally via Cuneo to the Italian Riviera then back to France. I shall also be visiting Admiral Keyes' secret army in Turin. I have his permission.
I then talked about the planned airborne operation in Eritrea. I shall be flying to Egypt at the beginning of September and will make a stop here in France before flying to Malta. The reinforced parachute platoon will travel by destroyer and are planned to arrive in Alexandria shortly before I do. WO1 Shaw is arranging to have a squadron of Vickers Type 264 Valentias transferred to Khartoum. Four Valentias will be required for the initial assault with the remainder transporting an advanced guard from the 51st Highland Division. There might be a coordinated attack involving Major Wingate's irregulars.
They told me that all the British ground forces are already in Egypt and East Africa, more RAF squadrons are due to arrive during August. A naval exercise is planned in the Western Mediterranean at the end of August. The French are planning to transfer another FT-17 tank force to Tunisia as well as an artillery regiment. Then we wait for Mussolini to make his move, but until then we need to keep our troops busy.
We arranged to meet for dinner. Tomorrow night we shall be sleeping in Ventimiglia, Italy.