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Post by Diarist on Mar 14, 2016 9:41:40 GMT 1
Got up early, had my breakfast then grabbed a typewriter. The first report was my final draft of the Parachute Company TO&E. My main sticking point was organic transportation. I decided that it needed enough trucks to move the entire company plus basic load of supplies and ammunition. I'm not quite sure whether it is a motorized Parachute Company or an air-droppable Motorized Infantry Company. The higher headquarters can decide.
My next report was my thoughts on the future role of airborne units. Currently only air-droppable light infantry, they need to be heavier in the future with anti-tank capability and more firepower, i.e. machine-guns, light artillery and mortars. We also need airborne commandos to carry out special missions and the ability to extract them. We should also have 'foreign' units trained to operate in their home country if it is either an enemy or enemy-occupied country.
Finally I wrote an essay about how a measured mobilization now, primarily unemployed personnel, can produce troops which will work in factories producing the equipment they will need when they go to war. We can teach everyone a trade which will be useful in the armed forces as well as helping them find a job when demobilized after the war. We must avoid the devastating economic problems which occurred, and are still being felt, after the last war.
I've noticed that at war I have much more free time than during peacetime at TRADOC in England. I have time to get things done. I had just about finished when Commander Mountbatten found me to attend the briefing at 5th ID, HQ. We located Prince Edward and Erwin Rommel on the way. More later. |
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Post by Diarist on Mar 21, 2016 14:33:18 GMT 1
At the briefing we learned that the Italian army in Tripoli had surrendered to the French forces also that the Green Howards had captured the airfield north of Giarabub. 15th Infantry Brigade has captured El Adem south of Tobruk and has reached the coast west of the city. Meanwhile 13th Infantry Brigade has reached the outskirts of Tobruk from the south and east. The 15th has sent a battalion-sized battlegroup further west to At-Tamimi. The Royal Navy is currently systematically destroying every Italian defensive position in front of the advancing British units while the RAF is supporting the advancing battlegroup looking for targets of opportunity.
Today's priority is the capture or surrender of Tobruk, preferably the latter to put an end to the fighting in North Africa. Brigadier Priestman, who commands the 13th Brigade, recognized me and remembered that I speak Italian so I have been temporarily assigned to his command staff. On the way to Tobruk I confided that my Italian wasn't very good but maybe my Arabic could be of use. So I'm on my way to see the Royal Navy in action.
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Post by Diarist on Mar 23, 2016 11:39:55 GMT 1
We arrived at a forward post overlooking Tobruk, destruction and smoke everywhere - I've never seen anything like it. A 15 inch shell landed scarcely a mile away with a deafening blast that left nothing but a huge crater. An hour later a temporary ceasefire had been arranged and I was with a Lieutenant-Colonel in a Bren carrier heading towards no man's land armed with a white flag. I admit that I didn't feel very comfortable in that situation. We met a CCNN Colonel accompanied by a Libyan Captain(?) driving a CV33.
The Italian Colonel spoke fluent English so while the two senior officers were talking I spoke to the Libyan in Arabic. He was surprised to hear my Arabic, (apparently very few Italians bothered to learn the language), and freely answered my questions when I asked how many serving Libyan military are in Tobruk. I explained what had happened in Tripoli and that I'm pretty certain that the British commanders have the same intentions. I further added that I'm not a politician but I've heard rumours of Libya becoming a Protectorate, not a colony, until a viable independent Libya could be organized. All lies, of course, but it sounded convincing. The CCNN Colonel wasn't too happy about me speaking to the Captain and said so. I replied in Italian that I don't take orders from him and that my current commander is a full Admiral, (Keyes), and he gets his orders directly from Winston Churchill. The Blackshirt was the only one not smiling.
LTC Johnson, my companion, continued to press his adversary to accept a permanent cessation of hostilities and surrender the port and garrison before dark in order to prevent anymore senseless casualties. He then agreed to accompany the Colonel to his HQ to discuss terms with his commander. I audibly gulped! We drove into Tobruk then entered an underground bunker. We weren't even blindfolded. A good sign? We were introduced to Lt. Gen. Guido Scandolara, the commander of the 7th CCNN Division, and members of his staff. I didn't take part in the negotiations but the Italians were offered an honourable capitulation. Officers could keep their revolvers but without ammunition, etc....
After an hour there was agreement and I would be accepting temporary command of Libyan forces until further arrangements were made. I gulped again then asked the Captain, first in Arabic then in Italian for the General, to introduce me the senior Libyan officer and sergeant-major. General Scandolara nodded approval and I was led to a separate bunker. The senior surviving officer was Major Al-Khouri who attentively listened to what I had to say and his Captain added what I had told him earlier. Major Al-Khouri then offered me his Luger and holster, which I accepted, then gave him my service revolver plus holster after removing the ammunition. He accepted my offer to be my deputy commander. When we went to discuss the next arrangements with General Scandolara I discovered that my LTC and his driver had already left to report to our HQ. I was on my own....
There were only ca. 700 unwounded Libyans in uniform and they were ordered to turn in their weapons and get their uniforms cleaned up to look like soldiers. Within an hour I had four company commanders, the Captain I first met was my XO, who was busy collecting weapons and securing them. My Sergeant-Major was a jovial guy. He inquired about my maroon beret, which I was now wearing. I told him that I'm a parachutist. His answer was, "El-Grein?". I nodded and he smiled. I also visited the 'hospital' and insured that the Libyans and civilians were receiving the same medical support as the Italians. At 1845, 15 minutes before the designated surrender, I ordered a formation and I must admit they had made an effort to look good. Major Al-Khouri and I reported in to General Scandolara who even came to inspect the troops. He'd also found time to put on a fine uniform complete with medals and a ceremonial sword.
At 1900 a Royal Navy light-cruiser and six destroyers approached the harbour and I was relieved that all guns remained silent. The ships took turns to disembark a couple of hundred Royal Marines. A launch arrived from the cruiser carrying not only the commander of 5th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Howard, but also my boss Admiral Keyes. When they arrived at my unit I smiled and told Admiral Keyes that my time as a battalion commander will probably be shorter than my time as a company commander. I then introduced him to the officers and sergeant-major of the 1st Libyan Infantry Bn. (Provisional).
The Italian troops were ordered out of Tobruk to a POW camp north of El Adem while my Libyan battalion was allowed to occupy a now vacant garrison area. All the weapons have been removed and a British LTC now took over command. I said farewell to my fellow Libyan officers then joined Admiral Keyes at the new HQ, a hotel near to the port. They had already liberated some Grappa which tastes great when drunk warm. I learned that General Scandolara had talked to senior commanders in Benghazi and surrender negotiations we underway. A battalion from the 3rd Infantry Division floating reserve was on its way. I was told that Secretary Churchill and LG Gort were on HMS Phaeton and they will be coming to Tobruk tomorrow instead of Bardia.
There was also bad news - CPT Mike Franklin had fallen during the flanking attack at Giarabub. He was a good man and we had become friends during the last months. I shall make time to visit his widow and son who I had met during my numerous visits to Aldershot. |
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