359 — General Freyberg to the Prime Minister

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359
General Freyberg to the Prime Minister

10 April 1941

If the present emergency so requires1, I suggest it would be most helpful to offer General Wavell liberty of action to use our troops in Egypt. He would work in consultation with Brigadiers Falla2 and Inglis3, who would ensure that the New Zealanders in Egypt

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were used to the best advantage in this difficult moment. I have confidence in Brigadier Inglis as Commander in the field. We have left first-class officers and NCOs at Maadi and, if the necessity arose, they could form an infantry brigade in Egypt.

1 This was the first appearance of German troops in action in North Africa. British forces had evacuated Benghazi on 3 Apr, the seige of Tobruk had begun, and Bardia was to fall on the 13th.

2 Commandant 2nd NZEF Base, Maadi Camp.

3 Commanding 9th New Zealand Infantry Brigade, Maadi.

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About this page...

Title: Documents Relating to New Zealand’s Participation in the Second World War 1939―45: Volume 1

Publication details: Historical Publications Branch, 1949, Wellington

Part of: The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945

This text is the subject of: ‘Something of Them Is Here Recorded’: Official History in New Zealand

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