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W.G. 3/2/80.

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ANNEX

II.

CYPHER TELEGRAM.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

To the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Sent 15.30 hrs. 4th October, 1940.

No.382 Most Secret.

178

Your telegram of 24th September No.500. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have learnt with gratification of decision of His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia to send the Seventh Australian Division direct to Middle East to continue its training there and on completion of training and equipping to join 6th Australian Division to form Australian Corps. During period of training they would be available as a reinforcement for internal security duties or alternatively to deal with parachutists or air-borne attack and in emergency to assist in the defence to the Northern Frontier of Palestine.

We are satisfied that so far as can be foreseen there is no great risk of Division being called upon to fight until its training and equipment have been completed, while its presence in that area will of course be of immediate assistance as indicated in my telegram of 18th September No. 346 The importance attached by the Commonwealth Government to the early provision of the Australian forces with modern equipment is fully appreciated and all possible steps are being taken to ensure that this is done, having regard to needs elsewhere. The matter is already the subject of communications between the War Office and Army Headquarters Melbourne. The Commander in Chief Middle East is being informed by the War Office of the numbers of 25-pdrs and Brens that will be available in the Middle East by the end of the year, and he is being asked to inform Army Headquarters Melbourne by what date he considers that the 7th Australian Division will be equipped to full war scale.

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