Document
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 24/43 No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
by
LIEUT. COL. C. E. COPPEN D. F. C.
Officer Commanding,
No. 21 Squadron S. A. A. F.
Middle East,
13th April 1943.
Para. 64: TUNISIAN CURRENCY:
Official currencies for the payment of British and Allied Forces in TUNISIA
are FRENCH NORTH AFRICAN francs and FRENCH METROPOLITAN francs, the latter
not exceeding fifty franc denomination.
FRENCH NORTH AFRICAN francs consist of:-
* Notes of Banque de l'Algerie,
* Notes of Banque de l'Algerie overprinted "TUNISIE"
* Notes of Banque d'Etat du Maroc.
FRENCH METROPOLITAN francs consist of:-
* Notes of Banque de France
* Coins of Republique Francaise.
Currencies other than francs as above will not under any circumstances be
tendered for payment to civilians in TUNISIA. BRITISH MILITARY AUTHORITY
currency is not to be used in Tunisia with civilians similarly francs current
in Tunisia are not to be tendered to civilians in TRIPOLITANIA.
All ranks are forbidden to engage in any currency transaction for profit or
as a speculation.
The rate of exchange for all these francs is 200 Francs equals £1 Sterling.
(Note. South Africa's £1. is the same as £1. Sterling). Personnel proceeding
back to the Middle East Command are, as far as possible, to dispose of all
francs.
The Official Currency for Free French Africa consists of notes bearing on
the face:-
(a) the words "Afrique Francaise Libre"
(b) a small French flag printed in the top right hand corner.
Notes of the French West African Bank (Banque de L'Afrique Occidentale) are
not to be accepted.
Para. 65: NON RECORDABLE SERVICE LEAVE (N/R S.L.)
* (a) Irrespective of the length of their service in the theatre of operations
all S.A.A.F. and W.A.A.F. personnel posted to formations or units in
the North, unless for temporary duty, become entitled to N/R S L on
return to the Union, provided that this principle will apply only to
members who returned to the Union on or after 15/Oct/41.
(b) Personnel who proceed North on temporary duty upon the completion of
which they return to the Union, are not eligible for N/R S L. Such
service will, however, continue to count for normal leave accruals.
(c) N/R S L should, except in special cases which will be submitted to
D.A.P. & Org. be taken immediately upon disembarkation in the Union or
upon final disposal by medical authority, otherwise such leave will be
forfeited.
(d) Authority for the grant of N/R S L except as provided in sub-paragraph
(c) hereof will be M.A.F.D. or O.C. Hospital concerned.
(e) M.A.F.D. or O.C. Hospital granting N/R S.L. will endorse in the pay book
of the detail concerned the period granted.
(f) Should a detail claim not to have received his N/R S.L. non-entry of
that leave in the member's pay book will not be regarded as authority
as authority for the grant of such leave. Application therefore should
be submitted to D.A.P. & Org. in terms of (c) above.
(g) Members returned to the Union on temporary duty will NOT be eligible for
N/R S L but any period of leave taken by them on return to the Union will
be recordable against the vacation leave credit accruable to such members
in any one service year.
(h) (i) All personnel ex North for discharge on medical grounds are eligible
for N/R S.L. after any period of sick leave granted to them.
(ii) If released indefinitely or discharged prior to the four months
qualification period in the Union they will remain eligible for
vacation leave standing to their credit in service year in which
discharged or released.
(iii) The period of N.R.S.L. granted to them will in no circumstances
be set off against the annual leave accrual.
Handwritten note top right: 30
21 Sqdn. SAAF order No. 24/43 (Contd)
(iv) If any members have been released indefinitely or discharged after
the introduction of the post-dated discharge procedure other than
in terms of this ruling, the necessary adjustment should be made
forthwith.
* VACATION LEAVE:
(a) All members ex North will NOT be entitled to the normal vacation leave
privileges applicable to members serving within the UNION until they
have served a qualification period of four months in the Union.
(b) The free rail privileges prescribed for members serving within the
Union will only become operative after completion of a qualification
period of -
(i) Twelve months within the Union if posted to a Headquarters
Command or Troops or D.H.Q. in an administrative or clerical
capacity, or
(ii) Four months if posted to a Unit undergoing active training for
service in a theatre of operations.
* LIMITS OF N/R S.L. ENTITLEMENTS:
(a) All members on return will in terms of this Order be entitled to
30 days Non Recordable Service Leave which will be the limit of leave
granted to any member within the Union until he has served the
qualifying period herein contemplated.
(b) With effect from 22/Jan/43 N/R S.L. will not include any days
necessarily spent in travel between the camp and destination or on
the return journey.
* SICK LEAVE:
Application for leave, Form DD350 is not required in respect of periods
of sick leave granted on periods of hospitalisation.
O.C. M.A.F.D. will accept as his authority for the grant of sick leave,
copy of DD(Med)24 and of DD215A for the purpose of recording ration
allowance, and taking the necessary record action as herein contemplated.
* FREE RAIL PRIVILEGES:
(a) One free rail warrant from M.A.F.D. or M.A.F. Sub Depots to home town
hence to M.A.F.D. to which the member will report on the conclusion
of his N/R S.L. will be granted to each member on arrival in the
Union or on conclusion of any period of sick leave granted to him on
final disposal by medical authority if hospitalised.
(b) In the case of an Officer where the N/R S.L. will run on at the
conclusion of any period of sick leave granted to him in terms of
Sub Para (a) hereof free rail privileges herein prescribed may be
granted to him for the overall period.
(c) In the case of an Other Rank he may elect to take the free rail
privileges authorised in this order in respect of any period of sick
leave granted to him requiring his readmission or reexamination at
any hospital prior to the grant of N/R S.L. provided, however, that
it is made clear to such member that he will not be entitled to any
further free rail privileges until the expiry of four months from the
date of his return to the Union or issue of previous rail warrant.
Where N/R S.L. will run on at the conclusion of sick leave granted
to him he may take the free rail privileges herein in respect of the
overall period.
(d) Officers will be entitled to one free rail warrant only on return to
the Union and this may be granted only as prescribed in Sub.para (b)
of this Paragraph or in respect to a period of N/R S.L. granted to
him if not hospitalised.
(e) In addition all members on return to the Union will be entitled to the
issue of sufficient meal and bedding warrants to cover -
i. The journey from M.A.F.D. or M.A.F. Sub Depots to the member's home
town and from his home town to M.A.F.D.
ii. During the period spent in travelling covered by the issue of
these privileges the member will not be entitled to the payment
of cash in lieu of ration allowances.
(f) Members whose homes are in Rhodesia will be entitled only to Free
Rail privileges in terms of this Para. to Mafeking and from Mafeking
to M.A.F.D. They will be required to defray the cost of transportation
etc. on the Rhodesian Railways.
(g) Members resident in the Protectorate will be entitled only to free
rail privileges to the railway station within the Union nearest to the
border of the protectorate. Members will be required to defray rail
costs on the Protectorate Railways at their own expense.
Handwritten marginalia: 31
21 Sqdn. SAAF Order No. 24/43 (Contd)
(h) Free Rail Warrants granted to details will extend also to Transpor-
tation upon S.A.R. & H. Road Motor Services.
(L.D.O. 7/56/17, Feb. 43 G.R.O. Para. 760)
Para. 66: CHANGE OF ADDRESS - NEXT OF KIN:
* Failure by members of the force to notify changes of address of the Next
of Kin to their Unit Commanders or failure by Units to publish such changes
in Part 11. orders immediately is a frequent cause of unnecessary
correspondence and sometimes of suffering by the Next of Kin.
* In addition this failure cause delay in notification of battle casualties
or dangerous illness and leads not infrequently to delay in respect of
soldiers and dependants allowances with resultant reaction upon civilian
morale.
* All Ranks are thus required to notify the Orderly Room immediately the
address of their Next of Kin is changed.
(G.R.O. Para 761)
Para. 67: TRADING IN CURRENCY AND FOOD.
It has come to notice that certain airmen have been selling food, tea, sugar
etc. purchased from Unit canteens, to the local population. This practice
must cease forthwith. The selling of any articles obtained from service
sources either public or non public is forbidden.
All Ranks are reminded that B.M.A. currency is not legal tender in Tunisia.
B.M.A. Currency is not to be tendered in payment of purchases made with the
Civilian Population and trading in currency is strictly forbidden. Severe
disciplinary action will be taken against any person contravening this order.
(A.R.O. Para. 117)
Para. 68: DISPOSAL OF R.A.F. PETROL TO NON-SERVICE SOURCES:
A report has been received from the Military Police, indicating that Air Force
personnel crossing by the ferry from Adjim to Djerba island have not only
paid a fare of 100 francs demanded by the ferryman, but also have provided
him with petrol from Service Sources.
To part with any form of equipment for purposes other than service use,
constitutes a serious offence and leaves those responsible open to a charge
of fradulent misapplication.
In other areas, Court Martial proceedings have been instituted against persons
guilty of giving away service petrol and very heavy penalities have been
imposed.
The Corps of Military Police have been instructed to report any further
instances such as that mentioned above and sever disciplinary action will be
taken against offenders.
(A.R.O. Para. 135)
Para. 69: FIELD GENERAL COURT MARTIAL:
P93427 Sgt Crist B.V. of No. 450 Sqdn. was convicted by Field General Court
Martial on the 19/Feb/43 of improperly and without authority driving a
service M.T. Vehicle. He was awarded a Reprimand.
The sentence has been duly confirmed.
(A.R.O. Para. 136)
[Handwritten Signature]
......................Major.
Adjutant No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
Handwritten marginalia: 32