Supplement 35305 — Gort’s France and Belgium despatch

17 OCTOBER, 1941 4. On landing the fighting troops were passed The towns of Le Mans and- Laval were rapidly through transit camps and their vehicles fifty miles apart, and the base ports were on an were cleared at once to Vehicle Marshalling average one hundred and fifty miles from the Parks, whence they were despatched in convoys, assembly area. Helpful though the French while troops left by rail on the same day as authorities were, the unfamiliar conditions made they landed. telephone communication difficult, apart from Since the troops and their vehicles were the danger of breach of security which it entailed.…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 5903 the weight of modern aircraft, has made it neces- requisite selective censorship on the abnormally sary to construct concrete runways, often of large number of letters now despatched daily. considerable extent, on the principal aero- Extremely useful reports on the outlook of the dromes in use. A number of special units of British Expeditionary Force as a whole and on the Royal Engineers had consequently to be its relations with the local French inhabitants raised, and a large amount of plant, grass seed are produced periodically. These are based and materials had to be provided. largely on…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 5931 SOME LESSONS OF THE CAMPAIGN Our anti-tank armament was more ample than that of the French, but did not extend further The importance oj equipment; the time factor; back than the division. No guns were available liaison; dejence in depth; the employment for the defence of Corps or rearward areas or for of air forces; river crossing and demolitions ; the three " Pioneer " divisions, except by with- signal communications; traffic control; drawing weapons from the formations to which security; supply and transport; the behaviour they had been allotted in War Establishments. of the troops. These…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 5933 creation of a road control organisation under APPRECIATIONS the Quarter-Master-General, on the linos of that The Royal Navy; the Royal Air Force; in use in the French Army, had already been Commanders and Staffs submitted, but unfortunately too late for more than preliminary results to be achieved. The Royal Navy. 70. I have already referred to the embarkation Security. of the Force from Dunkirk and its transport to 67. Akin to the foregoing problem is that of England which evoked the wholehearted admira- security/ Until loth May the work of the tion of the Army. The operation was carried ou…