Hi Sean,Wadinga wrote: "Can you point out where the words Coast(s) /shores of France appears?"
the words "shores of France" don't come out in Churchill book, that does not specify the exact text anyway, and first appear in 1950 Tovey's still good (I hope for the RN, as he left his positions in 1946, we expect in full possession of his mental capabilities, as Roskill confirmed to Kennedy) memory.....
The same/similar words were repeated by Tovey in all his mails from 1950 till 1962 (I have posted them all,please see viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8246#p77068)
However, Churchill says clearly that the message was duly sent on May 26 (or latest on May 27 early night hours) by Pound....anyway before the dawn on May 27.
You have 2 choices:
- 1) Churchill was a "poor old PM" inventing things in 1950. Tovey was in some way "influenced" by WSC recollections and attributed the message to May 26 instead of 1137/27.
2) the message (or a similar one suggesting the chase should end up only within French home waters... ), from May 26 (or May 27 early night), that both WSC and Tovey remember correctly, has been "espounged" from the records (as Pound assured to Tovey during the phone call and Tovey wrote to Roskill in 1954)
Bye, Alberto