(The committee was composed of the following officers: Captain H.W.Longden, R.N., Fleet Paymaster H.W.E.Manisty, R.N., Commander J.S.Wilde, R.N., Lieutenant G.E.Burton, R.N., and Mr.N.A.Leslie, of the Ministry of Shipping.) This committee had before it the experience of an experimental convoy which arrived from Gibraltar shortly after the commencement of the committee's work, as well as the experience already gained in the Scandinavian and French coal trade convoys, and the evidence of officers such as Captain R.G.Henderson, R.N., who had made a close study of the convoy question.
On June 6 the report was completed.

This valuable report dealt with the whole organization needed for the institution of a complete system of convoy for homeward and outward trade in the Atlantic.

In anticipation of the report steps had already been taken to commence the system, the first homeward bound Atlantic convoy starting on May 24.

A necessary preliminary for the successful working of the convoys was a central organization at the Admiralty.

This organization--termed the Convoy Section of the Trade Division of the Naval Staff--worked directly under Rear-Admiral A.L.Duff, who had recently been placed on the Board of Admiralty with the title of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (A.C.N.S.), and who was in immediate control of the Anti-Submarine, Trade and Minesweeping Divisions of the Staff.