just before wavell left [[cairo]] to visit london for talks, reports of the size of the invasion force led him to order most of a field artillery regiment and two anti-tank guns of the [[4th infantry division (india)|4th indian infantry division]] to be sent from egypt to somaliland by special convoy. the indian army was asked to organise the first echelon of the [[5th infantry division (india)|5th indian infantry division]] for an infantry battalion, a field battery and a field company to be disembarked at berbera. anti-aircraft guns at port said were ordered to the colony but this decision was quietly countermanded two days later. major-general [[reade godwin-austen]] was appointed to command the enlarged force, with orders to defend the tug argan, defeat the italian invasion and plan secretly to evacuate the defenders if it became necessary. godwin-austen reached berbera on 11 july and took over command that evening; the reinforcements were too late and were diverted to sudan.