Document
"IL" 53
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 29/43 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,
26th April 1943
Para. 71: S.R.O. No. 20/43 Para. 48 refers:
The undermentioned Officers are detailed to dine in the Airmens'
Mess on the evenings of the dates set out opposite their names.
The Mess is to be called to attention by the Senior N.C.O.
present and the Officer will then instruct the N.C.O. to call
'Any Complaints'. He will deal with such complaints as are of
a minor nature and will note any item with which he is unable
to deal with on the spot. Such items will be reported by him
to the Adjutant by not later than 11.00 hours on the following
day. Each Officer will advise his successor the date, time and
duties to be performed by the latter.
Lieut. Campbell D.B. 3/5/43 Lieut. Carr J.D. 6/5/43
" Christie J.W. 9/5/43 " Clutterbuck N.S. 12/5/43
" Demmer B. 15/5/43 " Dugmore C.F. 18/5/43
" Eaton T.W. 21/5/43 " Evans G.A. 24/5/43
" Forsyth S.S. 27/5/43 " Forsman B.L. 30/5/43
Para. 72: DELAYED ACTION BOMBS:
* Any case of a suspected delayed action bomb must be reported
to the Armament Officer immediately.
* The Armament Officer will thereupon take suitable steps to
have the danger area marked off and if necessary notices
posted. He will at the same time inform the Wing Armament
Officer.
Para. 73: FIRE DANGER TO PETROL VEHICLES:
* Cases have occurred recently where serious fires have been
caused by personnel removing petrol from the Petrol Tanks
of vehicles at night, with the aid of hurricane lamps as
illumination. Personnel are warned of the danger of bringing
naked or semi naked flames near petrol at any time.
* In future, reports of damage caused by fires are to be
investigated closely, with a view to disciplinary action being
taken against personnel found to be negligent in this regard.
(G.R.O. Para 806)
Para. 74: GENERAL SERVICE OATH:
* It has been decided that members of the U.D.F., of Womens'
Services and of the N.E.A.S. who subscribed to the General
Service Oath for service anywhere on Forms DD88BB (recruits)
or DD88BR (serving personnel) will have the suffix "V" placed
behind their regimental block number allotted.
* This suffix will serve as identification of personnel who have
subscribed to the New Oath.
* Steps will accordingly be taken to ensure that Block Numbers
on all personal documents of such personnel, Pay Books,
Identity Discs, etc. are suffixed with the letter "V" and that
in future correspondence or documents prepared in respect of
such personnel this indicatory is used.
(G.R.O. Para. 808)
Para. 75: SALVAGE - KNITTED WOOLLEN CLOTHING
* Owing to the present shortage of wool All Ranks are requested
to make every endeavour to salvage any type of knitted woollen
article of clothing no longer required worn or otherwise.
* O.C. S.A. Gifts & Comforts has made arrangements to collect all
such articles salvaged when visiting Units.
(G.R.O. Para. 843)
[Handwritten Signature]
2.
21 Sqdn. R.O. No. 29/43 (Contd)
Para. 76: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM H.M. THE KING:
The following message received from His Majesty The King is
repeated for information of All Ranks:-
"I send my best wishes to All Ranks of 1st and 8th Armies as
well as their American and French brothers in arms and their
comrades in the task which they are now undertaking. The
battle will be stern; but I am confident that their victory
will be as complete as it was at Alemein. May God bless you
all.
GEORGE R.I. "
(A.R.O. Para.123)
Para. 77: CUTTING OF TREES:
Members of the Wing have been observed cutting branches off
trees in the surrounding orchards. Under no circumstances are
trees in the neighbourhood to be cut or mutilated. All Ranks
contravening this order will be severely dealt with.
(3 Wing A.R.O. Para 39)
Para. 78: FIELD CENSORSHIP - POSTAL ADDRESSES:
Officers censoring letters are to pay particular attention to
addresses of senders on the outgoing mail of Non-European
personnel. The use of temporary addresses such as Hospital,
or leave camps leads to delay in delivery and should be avoided
unless the sender is certain that he will be at such institution
for some time. (3 Wing Unit Order Para. 13)
Para. 79: PRESS ARTICLES FROM TROOPS:
The U.D.F. Press censor has reported that the scheme under which
members of the Forces submit articles for publication through
this Headquarters (U.D.F. Admin. HQ. ME) has so far resulted in
a number of useful articles being published in the Union and
Overseas. A case in point is that of an N.C.O. of a Scottish
Battalion who wrote an article for publication in the 'Saturday
Evening Post'. This article was published in America, and it
was subsequently reported that the Editor considered it the
best "Worm's eye view" yet received about the war in North Africa.
It is desired that this scheme should be encouraged as much as
possible. (3 Wing Unit Order Para. 15)
Para. 80: CONFIRMATION OF INVESTMENTS IN UNION LOAN CERTIFICATES:
As a result of recent enquiries made, it was ascertained that
members were chary of making use of the facility provided for
the investment of surplus funds in Union Loan Certificates,
for the reason that they were under the impression that the
only tangible evidence available to them for all such investments
made, was the relative entry in their paybooks. They pointed out,
with some justification that this evidence would be lost to them
when their paybooks were withdrawn on completion or because they
had become mutilated, or were they to lose their paybooks.
It is now notified for the information of all concerned, that
the Postmaster General forwards to the home address, recorded
on the relative stop order, a receipt for all funds invested in
Union Loan Certificates by every serving member.
(3 Wing Unit Order Para. 20)
[Handwritten Signature]
........................ Major.
Adjutant No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.