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General Freyberg (Cairo) to the Minister of Defence

I am pleased to report that I have met the Third Echelon who arrived safely at Suez this morning. The troops are well and appear

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fit, and their journey was without incident. The 6th Field Ambulance and the reinforcements are still at Bombay but join us in the course of a fortnight.¹ Disembarkation of the Third Echelon will proceed on Monday and Tuesday, then they will commence training at Maadi. Equipment on a training scale is coming to hand and I hope in the course of a few days to have 50 per cent Brens, 100 per cent anti-tank rifles, two 2-pounder anti-tank guns, and 50 per cent of our 18-pounders. Other equipment is on an adequate training scale. I am glad to report that the First Echelon are now in process of being issued with sixteen 25-pounders.