Document
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 15/43 No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. "O"
by
LIEUT. COL. C.S. COPPEN D.F.C.
------------------------------
Officer Commanding,
No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
Middle East.
12th March 1943.
Para.36: MOVEMENTS:
1. No Officer or Other Rank will leave camp, either B.L.G. or O.L.G. without
complying with the following orders:-
a. If on duty, he will obtain a route form at the Orderly Room.
b. If on leave, he will obtain a leave pass at the Orderly Room. In cases
where personnel desire to leave camp for less than 6 hours and to proceed
not more than 5 miles from camp, a leave pass may be dispensed with; but
permission will be obtained from the Flight or Section Commander concerned
prior to departure.
2. On returning to, or arriving at camp, B.L.G. or O.L.G., on a Route Form
or Leave Pass, all personnel will report in at the Orderly Room.
3. Officers will sign the movement book in the Adjutant's Van before leaving
camp, and will sign in again on their return to camp.
(R.O.49/42 dd.14/Oct/42)
Para.37: CAMP:
The Perimeter of the camp is marked out with bomb tails. All
vehicles will be taken outside the perimeter forthwith and only essential
services vehicles i.e. Hygiene, water and rations, may be driven inside the
camp. This instruction will be strictly adhered to by All Ranks.
Para.38: BATHING PARADES:
Two vehicles will leave camp daily at 14.30 hours for
the beach and return to camp by 17.30 hours. Officers in charge of sections
will make their own arrangements about allowing their personnel to attend
bathing parades. The vehicles will leave from "Q" Stores Tent. A vehicle
will also leave daily for Cape Corps personnel. These vehicles will not
leave until filled to capacity.
Para.39: OUT OF BOUNDS:
Owing to prevelance of typhus, the township of Zuara,
except for the main roads leading through it, is OUT OF BOUNDS to All Ranks.
Para.40: BARTERING:
Private bartering with the local inhabitants is strictly
prohibited on account of the danger of infection with typhus. All Ranks are
to assist in keeping them out of the camp.
Para.41: BLACK-OUT:
Black-out regulations are to be strictly observed by All
Ranks. "Don't leave the light burning in your tent when you go out" "See
that your tent flaps and windows are closed before you light your lamps"
"Examine your tent for any holes and gaps that will allow light to shine
through" "When you enter or leave your Messes close the doors behind you"
Para.41: HYGIENE AND SANITATION:
The following extracts from a circular by A.A.H.Q.W.D.
are published for careful attention by All Ranks:
"Dysentery and allied diseases, especially 'gyppo tummy' are entirely fly-
borne, therefore units should prevent fly attraction - i.e. do not leave patches
of water or urine on the desert, tea leaves and scraps of food, and above all
keep latrine buckets and swill tubs fly proof at all times. If you do not
'attract' the fly by dirty habits you cannot feed or breed him. The fly will
always in the desert, accompany the unit that encourages him by uncontrolled
refuse. Typhus is louse-borne. The louse thrives on dirt. Therefore pay
particular attention to the cleanliness of both body and clothes. Typhus
is very prevalent both in Tripolitania and Tunisia, and will spread more
quickly through an army than does plague."
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) Major.
Adjutant No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.