[Routine Order] "F"

Thursday, 4 March 1943 Other pp. 124

Document

"F"

SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 14/43 No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
by

LIEUT. COL. C.S. COPPEN D.F.C.
------------------------------
Officer Commanding,
No 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
Middle East.
4th March 1943.

Para: 31: NEW OATH FORM DD88BR:
In terms of the resolution of Parliament, the revised form
/of Oath (Form DD88BR) for service anywhere has now been received, and all those
who desire to take the new oath, will be permitted to do so. As the new form
is to be administered under oath, all those who have already completed previous
forms, are required to do so again.
Personnel under the age of 21 years may also complete
the new oath, with the prior consent in writing of their parents or guardians.
As this consent must be in the possession of the Officer administering the
oath at the time of its completion, personnel under the age of 21 years, who
wish to take the new oath are therefore to obtain the consent of their parents
or guardians as soon as possible.
Forms are obtainable from the Orderly Room between
09.00 hours and 10.00 hours and between 14.00 hours and 15.00 hours daily.
Para. 32: FOUR-GALLON TINS MADE OF TERNEPLATE:
1. Owing to the shortage of tin plate, square four gallon tins as P.O.L.
containers, are now liable to be made from terneplate as well as from tin
plate. As terneplate, which is steel plate coated with lead, has poisonous
properties, any tin made of this material must on no account be used for
water or any kind of foodstuffs.
2. All tins made from terneplate will be embossed with the letter L. (L. for lead)
As some thousand, already in circulation, have not been embossed, every care
must be taken to differentiate between them and ordinary tin plate tins,
which may continue to be used as containers for water or foodstuffs. An
unpainted terneplate tin can easily be identified by its dull colour and by
the blackness which will appear on the fingers when rubbed on the tin.
A painted tin can easily be identified by rubbing the tin inside the aperture.
3. Used terneplate tins are to be destroyed. This can be done by punctureing
them, or by any other means to make them unfit as containers and then
returned to the nearest army salvage depot. To economise space on a vehicle
returning terneplate tins to the salvage, the tins can be collapsed when
possible. (M.E./36711/E.3.C. R.O. Para 128)
Para. 33: PARAFFIN SUBSTITUTE:
Attention is drawn to A.R.O. No. 69 dd. 13/Mar/42 which for the sake of convenience
is repeated below - Cases have occurred of fires being caused by mixture
containing aviation or M.T. Petrol being used in lamps and stoves as substitutes
for paraffin. This practice must cease and severe disciplinary action will
be taken if this order is infringed. (A.R.O. Para 88)
Para. 34: FIELD GENERAL COURTS MARTIAL
539322 A/Cl Perry B.J. of No. 59 R.S.U. was tried by Field General Court
Martial on 6/Jan/43 for the offences of improperly taking a service vehicle
for his own use and quitting the camp during the period of an enemy air raid
alarm while he was on duty as a fire watcher. He was found guilty of these
charges and sentenced to undergo Field Punishment for 90 days.
1417591 A/Cl O'Sullivan T. of Advanced Salvage Unit was tried by Field
General Court Martial on 8/Jan/43 for stealing 500 issue cigarettes, he was
found guilty and was sentenced to undergo Field Punishment for 90 days.
(A.R.O. Para 74)
Para. 35: PARADE:
A Squadron Gas kit, rifle and pistol inspection will be held at 10.00 hours
on Friday the 5th March 1943.
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) Major.
Adjutant No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes")
Glossary of Terms:
* No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force.
* LIEUT. COL. C.S. COPPEN D.F.C.: Lieutenant Colonel C.S. Coppen, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Officer Commanding (O.C.) of the squadron.
* NEW OATH FORM DD88BR: A revised enlistment oath for South African personnel, signifying a "service anywhere" commitment (unrestricted service outside the African continent), which became necessary as the SAAF transitioned to the Mediterranean theater.
* P.O.L.: Petrol, Oil, and Lubricants.
* terneplate: A lead-tin alloy coating for steel plate; hazardous if used for potable water or food storage.
* M.E./36711/E.3.C. R.O. Para 128: Middle East Command administrative reference and Routine Order paragraph.
* A.R.O. No. 69 / Para 88: Air Routine Order reference.
* M.T. Petrol: Mechanical Transport petrol.
* R.S.U.: Repair and Salvage Unit.
* Field General Court Martial: A simplified court martial convened in the field for the trial of personnel on active service.
Operational Context:
Squadron Routine Order No. 14/43, issued on 4 March 1943, reflects a critical phase of administrative and logistical discipline for No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. during the transition from the Libyan to the Tunisian theater. Strategically, the squadron was reorganizing at forward Landing Grounds in Tripolitania following the fall of Tripoli in late January. During this period, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were utilizing the Desert Air Force (D.A.F.) to build up strength for the definitive drive against the Afrika Korps entrenched in the Mareth Line.
The formalization of the "NEW OATH FORM DD88BR" indicates the legal shift required for South African units to operate across the Mediterranean, while the detailed instructions regarding "terneplate" tins and "paraffin substitutes" highlight the logistical hazards of desert life where resource shortages led to dangerous improvisation. The reporting of Courts Martial for theft and desertion of post during air raids (Para. 34) underscores the high standards of discipline enforced as the unit integrated into the broader Allied operational structure.
As the squadron prepared for the high-intensity nocturnal "road purification" missions against Axis supply lines, the "Gas kit, rifle and pistol inspection" ordered for 5 March 1943 ensured the immediate combat readiness of the unit's personnel. This document, archived as Folio 124 in the AIR 27/274 series, represents the unit's finalized internal alignment immediately prior to its full commitment to the Tunisian Campaign.

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Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check: 5 MAR 43.