 On 16 April , Wilson met Papagos at Lamia and informed him of his decision to withdraw to Thermopylae . Lieutenant @-@ General Thomas Blamey divided responsibility between generals Mackay and Freyberg during the leapfrogging move to Thermopylae . Mackay 's force was assigned the flanks of the New Zealand Division as far south as an east @-@ west line through Larissa and to oversee the withdrawal through Domokos to Thermopylae of the Savige and <unk> Forces and finally of Lee Force ; Brigadier Harold Charrington 's 1st Armoured Brigade was to cover the withdrawal of Savige Force to Larissa and thereafter the withdrawal of the 6th Division under whose command it would come ; overseeing the withdrawal of Allen Force which was to move along the same route as the New Zealand Division . The British Empire forces remained under attack throughout the withdrawal . 
