29 Oct 1935 - Ministry of Defence

[Diarist]

Edward arrived at the Annex just after 08:30 while I was in my MoD office. He joined me at the MoD and I told him that we have an appointment at the Air Ministry at 10:00. Then we are going to Hawker Aviation in the afternoon. I was busy putting the finishing touches on the organization chart for an Armoured Brigade Battlegroup.

HHC
Armour Bn (44 tanks + 8 SP AA)
Mot. Infantry Bn
Mot. Infantry Bn
Mot. Infantry Bn

SP Artillery Bn
Support Bn
    Tank Hunter Cpy (12 vehicles)
    ISV Cpy (12 vehicles)
    SP AA Cpy (12 vehicles)
    Recce Sqdn (14 Armd Cars)

One could take any Infantry Brigade, motorize it then add an Armoured Bn, an Artillery Bn and the Support Bn. Before we left I gave it to COL Thomson for Secretary Churchill.

[Diarist]

At the Annex it took me about an hour to type the memorandum. I was being constantly interrupted. I'd just about finished when COL Thomson called. Secretary Churchill has a few questions about the armoured brigade. "I'll be there in about five minutes, Colonel." Five minutes later I was there."
"I intended coming here anyway. I have another memorandum for Secretary Churchill."
"You can go in."
"Good evening, Mr. Secretary. Another memorandum for you. It's been a busy day."
"Do you know John Simon, He's the Deputy Foreign Secretary."
"We were never introduced but I saw you many times during the Italian crisis, Sir."
"I've seen you a few times as well. I understand that the fusion of Ogaden with the two Somalia's was your idea."
"Emperor Selassie asked me what I thought of the matter so I told him. I thought the idea had been discarded."
"Obviously Haile Selassie liked the idea, Major. Winston mentioned that the Foreign Office may be able to help your operation. What do you need?"
I told him of the info about the Germany economy which Malcolm Hewitt gives us when he receives a new report.
"It would be nice if we could also receive the new report as soon as it is available."
"Anything else?"
"Well, the two hot spots in our part of the world are Palestine and Spain. I would appreciate any information you could give us."
"I'll look into it, Major. Winston, I'll see you at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow afternoon. Good evening."
After he'd left Churchill asked me about Palestine and Spain. "I didn't know we had any problems there."
"The MoD doesn't, Sir. The SOE is interested."
"What is SOE again?"
"Special Operations Executive. We simply renamed Combined Operations HQ."
"I see. That brigade does look awfully large."
"It's an independent battlegroup, Sir. A brigade BG assigned to an Armoured Division would be smaller."
"Explain, please."
"The independent BG is formed by taking any Infantry Brigade, which has three battalions of infantry, motorizing it then adding the armoured, artillery and support battalions. A division would have an Armoured Brigade with three battalions of tanks, two Infantry Brigades each with three battalions of infantry, an Artillery Brigade with four battalions of artillery plus the Support Brigade. Similar to the support battalion of the Independent Brigade but with battalions instead of companies and without the self-propelled artillery because that would be in the Artillery Brigade. Clear as mud, Sir?"
"I understand now. This organization totally ignores the Heavy and Light Brigades of the Mobile Division."
"Pure armour brigades won't work on the battlefield. We're concentrating on the combined arms principle. Infantry, armour and artillery working together. Add on air support and logistics plus intelligence information and we have a potent force. Finally we need a commander who knows his trade."
"Lord Gort mentioned putting the three FTX brigade commanders and MG Wavell together to create a training manual for our Staff College."
"They are the most experienced commanders we have at the moment. One could use the FTX as part of the course."
"Indeed. One more thing, Bob. Spring of 1938 at the earliest. That has the top Generals asking questions."
"We have promised the CIGS a comprehensive document. All will be revealed. I was referring to an armoured division fully equipped with ALL the new designs. Some of the equipment won't be available in any numbers until 1938. We shall have armoured divisions in 1937 but with old designs equipping some of the battalions. Our goal is to have four armoured divisions fully equipped with new designs by the end of 1938."
"That sounds a lot better."
"Let's hope that Hitler can wait until '39 before starting his war. I don't like the idea of being dependent on Hitler."
"Me neither. The R-2600 radial engine. Why don't we order 30 per month starting now?"
"Between the two of us, Sir. John Mitchell is already negotiating that. They are planning to build even more under licence at the Allison Engine Company."
"Excellent. I also like the idea of the Americans building our designs under licence."
"Why reinvent the wheel, Sir? In the long run it is cheaper and quicker to buy designs off the shelf. We could negotiate an agreement with the US. We both look at each other's designs then we both produce the best one."
"I'll suggest it to Roosevelt the next time we talk."
"I've heard rumours that Britain is one of the nations requesting a change of venue for the 1936 Olympics. Can you confirm that, Sir?"
"Not officially."
"That would really peeve Adolf! The Nuremberg Laws from last month are reason enough."
"They are barbaric laws. What's happening in Germany? Are the Germans so gullible to this cheap Nazi rhetoric?"
"They are being professionally manipulated, Sir."
"Yes, I'm afraid so and we need to counter it."
"The best propaganda is the truth, Sir. That's why we need to get the BBC broadcasting in German."
"We are working on that, Bob. Time to go home. Anything planned this evening?"
"Prince Edward will be talking to us about the wedding party at Windsor."
"Will you be here tomorrow?"
"I'll be with the Armour group at the Annex for most of the day."
"Then until tomorrow, Bob."
"Good evening, Mr. Secretary."