link up with the United States Fifth Army when the latter ran into trouble at Salerno. Robertson succeeded Miller as Alexander's Chief Administrative Officer on 12 October 1943. He also became Gale's deputy. AFHQ Advanced Administrative Echelon headquarters, known as FLAMBO, opened in Naples on 24 October. The first serious problem he had to deal with was a shortage of 25-pounder ammunition, caused by heavier than expected fighting. Usage was rationed, and additional stocks were found in Sicily, the Middle East and North Africa. An air raid on Bari on the night of 2/3 December sank 28 ships. There were over a thousand casualties, of cargo was lost, and the port was out of action for several weeks. One of the ships was carrying poison gas. Robertson complained to Gale that such ships should not be sent to Bari, but should be unloaded at a smaller port like Barletta. That month, Montgomery left to take over the 21st Army Group in the UK, and there were rumours that Robertson would join him, and Major General Cecil Miller from GHQ Middle East would replace him at 15th Army Group. This did not occur, and Robertson remained in Italy, working on Operation Shingle, the landing at Anzio in January 1944. Eisenhower and Gale departed for SHAEF, however, and were replaced at AFHQ by General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson and Major General George Clark respectively. On 28 January 1944, Robertson was promoted to the temporary rank of major-general, with the war-substantive rank of colonel. On 26 February, FLAMBO was absorbed into the HQ of 15th Army Group. Robertson was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by King George VI on 20 July 1944, during the latter's visit to Italy. Alexander succeeded Wilson at AFHQ on 12 December, and Robertson succeeded Miller as the Chief Administrative Officer at AFHQ on 16 November, with the acting rank of lieutenant-general (effective 16 December). The ammunition shortage that occurred in October 1943 recurred in October 1944 as a result of the Gothic Line battles. Robertson flew to London to confer with the War Office about the problem, but received no satisfaction. The theatre's allotment was insufficient, and the War Office stated that it could not make up the deficiencies. Rationing was introduced, and further offensive operations had to be postponed until 1945. The same battles also created a manpower crisis, mainly in the infantry.