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General Freyberg to the Minister of Defence

We are due to move back to the line about 26 November to take part in an attack with Canadian and British forces. The policy is to take advantage of whatever good weather remains and maintain pressure so that the German divisions committed here cannot be transferred to other fronts.

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The Division has benefited greatly from the rest period. Units have been billetted in towns and villages in the mountains. There has been time for a good clean-up and some useful training. Football has aroused the usual keen interest and a unit competition is now in progress.

A short-term policy of reorganisation has been carried out for the forthcoming operations. Both infantry brigades have been increased to four-battalion brigades by adding the 22nd (Motor) Battalion to the 5th Brigade and the Divisional Cavalry, now an infantry battalion, to the 6th Brigade. This will be a great help.

General Barrowclough has arrived and we have already had useful discussions to settle details about officers we can absorb from the 3rd Division.¹ When we go into the line General Barrowclough will come forward and see the conditions we are facing here. Brigadier Park is due today on a liaison visit from England.

All goes well.