Post by Diarist on Jun 21, 2016 21:11:04 GMT 1
Just after sunrise Erwin joined me on the forward deck of the cruiser. The sea was much calmer now and the sun was shining. We were still a couple of hours away from Portsmouth and we were again part of the fleet which was now returning from Gibraltar. On the port side one could see the massive Nelson-class battleship. I'm not sure whether it was the Nelson or Rodney but the class is easy to recognize.
"Manfred isn't all that enthusiastic about going to England, is he?"
"No. He has his friends at school and will miss them."
"He'll find new friends in England."
"What plans do you have for me?"
"There are no plans at the moment because weren't expecting you. We'll try to keep you in TRADOC but there is no guarantee. George Patton and I are taking part in an exercise in a couple of weeks. It's TRADOC versus 2nd Infantry Division and General Gort has delegated the planning to the two of us. Maybe I can get you assigned to our team, but again, no promises. You won't be allowed to walk around in British Army uniform like you did in Africa."
General Gort joined us and told Erwin that his family are in the mess looking for him. Rommel left so I asked, "Can he stay with us at TRADOC?"
"I don't know, Bob. I'll talk with Churchill when we arrive in London."
"If he can stay with us, can he join our FTX team?"
"I have no objections but it's too early to say."
A few hours later we were ashore and since we had over an hour to wait for the express train we decided to have a late breakfast. Manfred wanted fish and chips so fish and chips it was. Erwin commented that there are more warships at Portsmouth than in the entire German Navy. I replied that this is just small naval port. The Home Fleet at Scapa Flow is ten times larger. At Paddington Station Sally and a Sergeant were waiting for us were waiting for us. I introduced Sally to Lucie, Gertrud and Manfred. I asked her to show them around London for a couple of hours and that we'll meet at the Dorchester later this evening. I explained that we men were going to visit Churchill at his home in Chartwell.
"Manfred isn't all that enthusiastic about going to England, is he?"
"No. He has his friends at school and will miss them."
"He'll find new friends in England."
"What plans do you have for me?"
"There are no plans at the moment because weren't expecting you. We'll try to keep you in TRADOC but there is no guarantee. George Patton and I are taking part in an exercise in a couple of weeks. It's TRADOC versus 2nd Infantry Division and General Gort has delegated the planning to the two of us. Maybe I can get you assigned to our team, but again, no promises. You won't be allowed to walk around in British Army uniform like you did in Africa."
General Gort joined us and told Erwin that his family are in the mess looking for him. Rommel left so I asked, "Can he stay with us at TRADOC?"
"I don't know, Bob. I'll talk with Churchill when we arrive in London."
"If he can stay with us, can he join our FTX team?"
"I have no objections but it's too early to say."
A few hours later we were ashore and since we had over an hour to wait for the express train we decided to have a late breakfast. Manfred wanted fish and chips so fish and chips it was. Erwin commented that there are more warships at Portsmouth than in the entire German Navy. I replied that this is just small naval port. The Home Fleet at Scapa Flow is ten times larger. At Paddington Station Sally and a Sergeant were waiting for us were waiting for us. I introduced Sally to Lucie, Gertrud and Manfred. I asked her to show them around London for a couple of hours and that we'll meet at the Dorchester later this evening. I explained that we men were going to visit Churchill at his home in Chartwell.