Post by Diarist on Jan 23, 2016 19:18:03 GMT 1
We left Khartoum early this morning with stops in Luxor and Cairo. CPT Franklin, Erwin and I reported in to the Combined Operations HQ and were greeted by Commander Mountbatten. We learned the latest news from East Africa. Everybody was satisfied with the situation there although it appears that the Italians are regrouping to retake Massawa. Allied forces need to prevent that force successfully regrouping. Their supply dumps and the roads to the coast are under constant air attack.
In Egypt the Italians are on the offensive and the 13th Infantry Brigade is fighting an excellent rear-guard action. All our forward units are motorized so they can easily disengage. The Italians have made little progress along the coast because of the naval-gunfire support but further inland they have advanced considerably despite being constantly under air attack. Erwin told us that the Italians are daytime soldiers. At night they form defence 'boxes'. Infiltrate between these boxes then attack them from the rear and front with artillery support. They'll either surrender or run. Defeat them at night and during the day they'll sit around licking their wounds. That got the planning guys busy.
The Siwa Oasis complex is also under attack but the 17th Infantry Brigade is holding its positions. I spent an hour reading reports from other theatres and was amazed at the extent of our victory over the Regia Marina - it has been devastated. That is one of the major goals of the campaign and we achieved it on Day 1!
Other news is that three more platoons of parachute infantry are on their way here and I shall soon be taking command of 'B' Company, 1st Battalion, The Royal Parachute Regiment. The majority of the RAF's air transportation is here so it's logical to send the ground component here, too. My first mission is to prepare a TO&E for the company then scrounge the necessary equipment. Only then can we look for a suitable target.
After dinner I'll write a letter to Sally before retiring.