Post by Diarist on Jan 16, 2017 15:37:12 GMT 1
Before going to the Friday Defence Council meeting at the MoD I informed our Rhineland team, (the France, Belgium and Holland group), to include an extra division for each of the Wehrkreise on the other side of the border. That means a Dutch division to VI Infantry Corps, a Belgium division to XII Infantry Corps and a French division to V Infantry Corps. If the Dutch don't accept our invitation then Belgians go to the VI while French divisions go to the XII and V Corps. Louis had already warned them yesterday so I didn't need to say too much.
When I entered Winston's office Stanley Baldwin, Anthony Eden and the CIGS were already present. Winston had told them of my European Confederation proposal so I gave each of them an improved version of my draft. (I didn't go to the hotel yesterday evening). "And this Code 13 plan?" The PM asked.
"That's still work in progress, Sir. We didn't get the mission until yesterday afternoon. The impossible we take care of immediately but miracles require a couple of days. In fact we do have a plan which is being incorporated into the existing Rhineland plan, we are just working on the details, contacting the various units reserving transport capacity."
"So we are talking about a miracle?"
"One which will only be implemented if an opportunity arises. See page 8 for details on that situation."
"It looks like a straight forward decision to me. We are making a very good offer," the PM commented.
"Sir, it's the Peace Treaty that's the stumbling block. They have to concede defeat and give up territory again. Then there may be something going on in the East. And to cap it all, Winston wants me to head the British delegation. There's too much at stake here, Winston."
"Do you want to be replaced? I thought you would want to push your proposal, which I fully support."
"Then let us both go! Sending a junior minister is an insult. Moreover, in their eyes you are the British bulldog, the Warmonger. With you there they'll know that we mean business and you want me there because I have all the information in my head."
"Bob does have a point, Winston."
"Good. That's settled. Can we ask the others in now?"
"We have an SOE meeting across the road this afternoon, Code 13, Duff will need to be there and you too, Field Marshall."
"Why me?"
"We need to select which units are to be earmarked for the operation."
"I'll be there. Which units are you requesting?" I passed him a sheet of paper. "Quite a shopping list. You do have a provisional plan?"
"Yes, Sir. We need your approval in order to proceed."
"Good."
The others came in including Edward. "Did I miss anything?" He asked.
"Not if you have time for an SOE meeting at 14:00. Any good news from the home front?"
"Unchanged."
Winston asked me to report on the Merlin issue. "I talked to their chief engineer yesterday and in the evening they should have received copies of the report. He promised to call me this morning. He talked about replacing the cam-heads, whatever they are, with an up-scaled version of what they use on the Kestrel. Maybe our RAF colleagues could explain what that means."
"The Kestrel is a reliable V12 engine. I believe that they intended doing that eventually. It's a good decision."
"Ernest told me that it would delay the Merlin by a month at the most."
"Any other RAF news?"
Edward told them that he'd talked with most of the manufacturers yesterday and most of the designs are at an advanced stage. "Merlin 'E's have been received by all who need them."
"I called them too to inform them of the Merlin hitch," I added.
"Gloster has received another 30 engines from the USA and are wondering what they should do with them."
"Do they really want us to reply to that? I'll handle it through Vickers. If the Franconia didn't hit an iceberg my brother John Mitchell should have arrived in New York yesterday. He has a series of important meetings scheduled. The R-2600 is a priority topic."
"Bob, you need a replacement for COL O'Connor. May I suggest Alan Brooke? He's here at the MoD and you could invite him for lunch."
"I'll do that, Winston. We do need somebody do you agree, Ron?" Brigadier Ronald Adam is the current section leader and was looking forward to the extra pair of hands.
"General Brooke is a good officer. I know him."
"That brings me to Tuesday at Colchester. Who are you taking with you, Bob?"
"Ron and SSG Hargreaves. He was an armourer in his young days. I'm not driving back to London though, so..."
"You can drop me off at the railway station."
"How about the station in Saffron Walden? We can chat on the way there and inhale a beer or two at our club."
"That's fine."
The telephone rang and Winston pointed to me. "For you, Bob. A Mr. Hives from Rolls-Royce."
"Good morning, Ernest." I listened and he confirmed what he had told me yesterday. "The Air Ministry likes the Kestrel idea. What shall we do with 'E's which have already been distributed?" They'd be swapped on a one-for-one basis hopefully before the end of the month. "I'll let the MoD know. Thank you for calling." I put the telephone back on its cradle. "Everything is fine, gentlemen. Merlin 'F's will be delivered by the end of the month if all goes well."
"What's going on in Colchester?" Edward asked.
"Vickers are demonstrating a new SMG to replace the Thompson." Winston coughed.
"What am I missing?"
"Bob has a firm that designed it and they sold the rights to Vickers."
"And I'm not making a penny out of it. If you have nothing better to discuss I have a lunch date I need to organize. Request permission to be dismissed."
"Permission granted."
When I entered Winston's office Stanley Baldwin, Anthony Eden and the CIGS were already present. Winston had told them of my European Confederation proposal so I gave each of them an improved version of my draft. (I didn't go to the hotel yesterday evening). "And this Code 13 plan?" The PM asked.
"That's still work in progress, Sir. We didn't get the mission until yesterday afternoon. The impossible we take care of immediately but miracles require a couple of days. In fact we do have a plan which is being incorporated into the existing Rhineland plan, we are just working on the details, contacting the various units reserving transport capacity."
"So we are talking about a miracle?"
"One which will only be implemented if an opportunity arises. See page 8 for details on that situation."
"It looks like a straight forward decision to me. We are making a very good offer," the PM commented.
"Sir, it's the Peace Treaty that's the stumbling block. They have to concede defeat and give up territory again. Then there may be something going on in the East. And to cap it all, Winston wants me to head the British delegation. There's too much at stake here, Winston."
"Do you want to be replaced? I thought you would want to push your proposal, which I fully support."
"Then let us both go! Sending a junior minister is an insult. Moreover, in their eyes you are the British bulldog, the Warmonger. With you there they'll know that we mean business and you want me there because I have all the information in my head."
"Bob does have a point, Winston."
"Good. That's settled. Can we ask the others in now?"
"We have an SOE meeting across the road this afternoon, Code 13, Duff will need to be there and you too, Field Marshall."
"Why me?"
"We need to select which units are to be earmarked for the operation."
"I'll be there. Which units are you requesting?" I passed him a sheet of paper. "Quite a shopping list. You do have a provisional plan?"
"Yes, Sir. We need your approval in order to proceed."
"Good."
The others came in including Edward. "Did I miss anything?" He asked.
"Not if you have time for an SOE meeting at 14:00. Any good news from the home front?"
"Unchanged."
Winston asked me to report on the Merlin issue. "I talked to their chief engineer yesterday and in the evening they should have received copies of the report. He promised to call me this morning. He talked about replacing the cam-heads, whatever they are, with an up-scaled version of what they use on the Kestrel. Maybe our RAF colleagues could explain what that means."
"The Kestrel is a reliable V12 engine. I believe that they intended doing that eventually. It's a good decision."
"Ernest told me that it would delay the Merlin by a month at the most."
"Any other RAF news?"
Edward told them that he'd talked with most of the manufacturers yesterday and most of the designs are at an advanced stage. "Merlin 'E's have been received by all who need them."
"I called them too to inform them of the Merlin hitch," I added.
"Gloster has received another 30 engines from the USA and are wondering what they should do with them."
"Do they really want us to reply to that? I'll handle it through Vickers. If the Franconia didn't hit an iceberg my brother John Mitchell should have arrived in New York yesterday. He has a series of important meetings scheduled. The R-2600 is a priority topic."
"Bob, you need a replacement for COL O'Connor. May I suggest Alan Brooke? He's here at the MoD and you could invite him for lunch."
"I'll do that, Winston. We do need somebody do you agree, Ron?" Brigadier Ronald Adam is the current section leader and was looking forward to the extra pair of hands.
"General Brooke is a good officer. I know him."
"That brings me to Tuesday at Colchester. Who are you taking with you, Bob?"
"Ron and SSG Hargreaves. He was an armourer in his young days. I'm not driving back to London though, so..."
"You can drop me off at the railway station."
"How about the station in Saffron Walden? We can chat on the way there and inhale a beer or two at our club."
"That's fine."
The telephone rang and Winston pointed to me. "For you, Bob. A Mr. Hives from Rolls-Royce."
"Good morning, Ernest." I listened and he confirmed what he had told me yesterday. "The Air Ministry likes the Kestrel idea. What shall we do with 'E's which have already been distributed?" They'd be swapped on a one-for-one basis hopefully before the end of the month. "I'll let the MoD know. Thank you for calling." I put the telephone back on its cradle. "Everything is fine, gentlemen. Merlin 'F's will be delivered by the end of the month if all goes well."
"What's going on in Colchester?" Edward asked.
"Vickers are demonstrating a new SMG to replace the Thompson." Winston coughed.
"What am I missing?"
"Bob has a firm that designed it and they sold the rights to Vickers."
"And I'm not making a penny out of it. If you have nothing better to discuss I have a lunch date I need to organize. Request permission to be dismissed."
"Permission granted."