page 235

327
Letter from General Smith to General Freyberg

I understood you to say yesterday during your conversation with General Wavell that you were now prepared to leave your men with the Long Range Desert Group indefinitely. I would be grateful if you would confirm this and, if correct, whether you would maintain that number or whether you would allow them to waste away.

At the moment they form two complete patrols, and Bagnold is very keen to keep them as such, not only because there is plenty of work for them in the near future but because your men are particularly suited to the job. They have been doing splendid work recently.