Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound (1) acting as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff informed the Committee that the Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean (2) supplied sailing dates of the convoys which were to leave the Mediterranean destined for the Far East. He feared for a possible delay of the departure of the first convoy if an adequate escort was lacking. The armoured brigade was part of the convoy and the War Cabinet accepted the risks if the convoy left without escort as far as Ceylon [nowadays Sri Lanka]. However the Australian formations which were to transported with the later convoys were to have priority in the way of escorts. Pound was to inform the involved Commanders-in-Chief.
Notes
1. Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound (29 August 1877 Ventnor, Isle of Wight-21 October 1943 London, England), served between 1891-1943 in the Royal Navy. First Sea Lord 12 June 1939-15 October 1943. Between October 1940-March 1942 he was chairman of the Chiefs of Staff.
2. That must be admiral Sir Andrew Browne Cummingham 7 January 1883 Rathmines, Ireland-12 June 1963 London, England) who was in April 1942 replaced by admiral Sir Henry D. Pridham-Wippell. Cummingham served in the Royal Navy between 1897-1946 with as end rank Admiral of the Fleet. As Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean he hoisted his flag on 6 June 1939 on board of the battleship HMS Warspite after arriving the day before at Alexandria, Egypt. At that moment was his main issue to keep the convoys destined for Egypt and Malta safe.
Source
The National Archives. CAB 79-17-20. War Cabinet. Chiefs of Staff Committee. Minutes of meeting held on Monday 19 January 1942 10:30 a.m.
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