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ANNEX A TO
DOP 535/70 (Draft)
Continued)
pesence will be on a tour of duty in Northern Ireland immediately
prior to moving to the Far East and would not be available to take over
from the second commande group (40 Cão Gp) in Singapore until late
Oct 71.
Withdrawal of 3 Cdo Bde Gp
8. No major problems are foreseen in the withdrawal of the first
commando group (42 Cdo Gp) and HQ 3 Cdo Bde Gp from April 71, as
proposed by CINCFE. However, as stated above, 40 Cdo Gp cannot be
relieved in Singapore until late Oct 71, and apart from this the
early return of the unit to the UK would present major administrative
difficulties as no accommodation will be available for it until
Nov/Dec 71.
Compromise Solution
9.
Taking into account CINCFE's proposals and the problems referred
to above, a compromise solution would be to withdraw 42 Cảo Gp, HQ 3
Cdo Bde Gp and A Sqn 14/20 H from 1 Apr 71 as suggested by CINCFE,
but to delay the withdrawal of 40 Cdo Gp until after the arrival in
Singapore in late Oct 71 of the relieving UK battalion group. The
withdrawal of the families of 40 Cdo Gp could in this case be
delayed until the first 2 weeks of Sep 71, which again would ease
the movement problem in Aug 71.
10.
Although CINCFE has recommended that the proposal (5) to cover
the Gulf withdrawal with one commando group from Singapore should
not be pursued, we consider that this commitment could best be met
by the Far East commando. From 1 Oct 71, 40 Cdo Gp in Singapore
could be at 12 days notice for the Gulf, embarking in an LPH on or
about 1 Nov 71 after relief by the incoming UK battalion group,
Note:
5. CINCFE 14/70 dated 11 May 70
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