found his request to lead it problematic. While he had military experience of Flanders from his service as a staff officer during the Flanders campaign, he was only a junior captain in the Royal Navy, aged thirty-six. It was felt that if he was given command of such a large operation over the heads of many more senior officers it would do more harm than good. In order to force the Admiralty's hand in appointing him, Popham spoke to Grey and had him back his appointment; with this support Popham was give charge of the operation. This was the first of several delays that the operation went through. For the operation Popham was given a squadron of twenty-seven warships, of which five had been converted into troopships. The Admiralty had initially promised that this force would be prepared and brought together for Popham before the end of April, within ten days of the plan being finalised, but this was not actually completed until four weeks later on 13 May. The landing force for the expedition was provided by the army, and was commanded by Major-General Eyre Coote. The general brought with him around 1,400 troops, which group consisted of light companies from the First, Coldstream, and Third Guards, light and grenadier companies from the 23rd and 49th Regiment of Foot, the entirety of the 11th Regiment of Foot, and small contingents of the Royal Artillery and 17th Light Dragoons. A separate group of warships was initially planned to go to Dunkirk to ensure that no enemy ships could escape there to defend Ostend once the attack was underway, but this was later abandoned. Popham was fully aware that the expedition was dangerous and might fail, and that his part in it was very unpopular with many members of the military. He sent a letter to the First Lord of the Admiralty Lord Spencer requesting that if he was unsuccessful that Spencer would ensure Popham's subsequent trial would be fair and unbalanced. The force was ready to set sail on 14 May. Expedition Landings Popham only revealed his plans, which had been kept highly secret, to his men once the ships were at sea. Intending to make a quick crossing of the English Channel, the ships were initially halted in this action by a violent gale off the coast of Kent, and only reached their destination on 16 May. Popham set