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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume I

188 — Letter from the Director of Military Operations and Plans, War Office, to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces

188
Letter from the Director of Military Operations and Plans, War Office, to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces

29 June 1940

Sir

In connection with the contingent of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force now in the United Kingdom, I am directed to forward you the following information:

At Appendix ‘A’ is a copy of a memorandum of 5 January 1940 from the Prime Minister of New Zealand defining the powers of the General Officer Commanding, 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force overseas.1 The New Zealand Government is arranging to confer on the Officer Commanding the New Zealand contingent in the United Kingdom such of the powers referred to in this memorandum as may be necessary in the existing circumstances.

His Majesty's Government has informed the New Zealand Government that, so far as possible, the New Zealand contingent in the United Kingdom will be given facilities for continuing its training with a view to its ultimate junction with the Middle East and third contingent to form the New Zealand Division.

The New Zealand Government has expressed its wish that the contingent should be employed as a separate formation and not as individual units or embodied in a British division. The New Zealand Government has also asked that the contingent should not page 133 be used unless it has been previously equipped with fighting equipment suitable for the employment in view, though the New Zealand Government recognises that less modern equipment only may be available.

In view of the above undertaking and the wishes of the New Zealand Government, the New Zealand contingent has been placed in War Office reserve.

In an emergency it would be released by the War Office and would come under the operational control of Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces.

I am …

[R. H. Dewing,

Major-General], Director of Military Operations and Plans