His father, also retired, was a division chief for operations research analysis at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Whether through accident or design, Chilcot noted that "by mid May, the perception the UK might provide an armoured division for military operations had already gained currency in the US".
At the time of Mead's death, the Pacific Section was being recalled to New Zealand for reorganisation into a division for offensive operations in the South Pacific.
In the landing grounds used by the division for their operations, dozens of poles similar to those in Normandy were erected, with engineering units then timed on how fast they could demolish the obstacles.
A large number of support, logistics and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) units were assigned to the division for the operations at Brunei Bay, taking its strength to over 29,000 men (including 1,097 in United States and British units).
The division's three parachute brigades were each given one quarter of the city to cordon and search while the fourth quarter was the responsibility of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, attached to the division for the operation.
Near the end of June the division received orders for Operation Agatha, the arrest of Jewish leaders "suspected of condoning" or being involved in sabotage or murder of civil and military personnel.
The capture of those northern cities still needs to be consolidated by the arrival of more American troops -- possibly those of the Fourth Infantry Division, which is getting ready for operations in Iraq.
