30 Sep 1935 - Ministry of Defence

[Diarist]

On the way to London I showed General Gort what our presentation for the Air Ministry would include. A couple of the items were new to him because I haven't had time to report my conversations with John Keynes or John Mitchell last week. John Mitchell will be present as well as Henry Tizard who heads the RADAR research team. AVM Freeman will be the chief presenter.

"I  think our guests would prefer to hear our sales pitch from someone wearing RAF uniform."

At the annex I showed him around, there were only a few people in the second floor and a lot of the furniture was still missing. In the admin area he noticed the Navy section was still empty.

"I've asked for CDR Mountbatten but he works for ADM Keyes so Secretary Churchill has asked to meet the Admiral and him at the Army and Navy Club on Friday evening. I don't know if CDR Mountbatten will also be there. Brigadier Adam and AVM Freeman head the Army and Air Force sections. The final section is there to collect information from various sources so that we can prepare reports or provide ideas to the other sections. It'll be also be a statistics section so that we can give Secretary Churchill, and others, reliable reports."

While the General was chatting with BG Adam I handed COL Wilkins a note. "It's a Finnish SMG. Could you try to locate a couple?"

"I'll see what I can do. Congratulations - Sally."

"Thanks. I see that the conference room looks good."

"We are prepared."

General Gort, AVM Freeman and I walked to the MoD, I checked my in-tray and informed the adjutant that General Gort is also here. In the corridor Henry Tizard was waiting for me.

"My office and it's only 30m from Winston Churchill's office."

"Bob, you'll soon wish it's 30 miles away like mine is." General Gort answered.

John Mitchell arrived, "At the annex they told me you were here."

"Great. You three need to agree on the agenda. General Gort and I are observers."

Now COL Thomson was at the door. "General Gort, Secretary Churchill has requested you have lunch with him in five minutes. You too, Major." He left without saying where.

"You three gentlemen need to think about lunch too. There's no knowing how long the meeting may last."

We walked to Churchill's area and I asked General Gort if he knows the owners of the other in-trays with mine. They're the top brass in the MoD. "Then I need to learn these names, correct?"

Churchill was approaching.

[Diarist]

On the way to the restaurant Churchill asked me how my wedding was. "It went like we planned it, sir. Quiet. We stayed a couple of nights at a cottage hotel with a self-service dining room. I've never seen that before."

"You are not going on a honeymoon?" Thomson asked.

"We had our honeymoon in NW Italy last month and while we were there we took hundreds of photos along the planned invasion routes, bought local maps and more photos of beaches where landings were planned. I was also looking for any signs that they were aware of our plan, but I saw no preparations. Luigi has confirmed that they were taken completely by surprise."

"Who's Luigi?" Churchill asked.

General Gort explained.

He than asked how the FTX is coming along. "Nice try, Mr. Secretary, but you don't have the necessary security clearance for that information." I answered.

General Gort said that he doesn't even know what the plan is.

"We are still in the preparation phase, still selecting units for Blue forces and studying the lay of the land. Never let the enemy choose the battle so we are deciding where we fight and which troops are required."

General Gort continued, "Last week we went shopping for troops and Bob was telling the commanders not to say anything to anybody that they are part of Blue forces. Even if it's Winston Churchill. He'll be testing you and if you tell him he'll punish you for betraying the plan! When they gave their instructions to COL van Voorhis last week, he's the forward HQ commander, he asked how long the exercise is planned to last and Bob answered that it begins at midnight on the 24th so we should have defeated them in time for tea that evening. The colonel and I thought it was hilarious."

"George Patton and I said, "We're serious! While shaking our heads."

It was now just past two o'clock so we had to leave. "Any change in plans for Friday evening, sir?"

"No. Admiral Keyes and Commander Mountbatten will both be there."

Next stop the annex again. Our first presentation.