[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 58/43 No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. — Orders & Appendices

Document

SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 58/43 No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
by
LIEUT. COL. C.S. COPPEN D.F.C.
Commanding Officer,
No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
Middle East.
22nd July 1943.
Para. 180: M.T. SPEED CHECK POSTS:
Owing to the number of accidents occurring to vehicles in Tunisia, certain M.T. Check Posts have been instituted in the area, one of which is located on the Kairouan-Msaken road.
All drivers of Group M.T. vehicles are advised of the existence of these Check Posts and speed limits must be properly observed.
(825/2 Vol. III Serial 7)
Para. 181: DISCIPLINE M.T. DAMAGE TO RAILWAYS:
Road vehicles are not to be driven over railway tracks or sidings or at railheads, except at level crossings provided. There have been several derailments recently due to damage to the permanent way caused by driving M.T. vehicles across tracks particularly at switches. If additional level crossings are required in order to facilitate road traffic, application should be made through movement control, Headquarters, Kairouan area.
(A.R.O. Para. 147)
Para. 182: DRESS:
It is notified that Officers may, if they so wish, wear a shirt and tie with bush shirts.
(G.R.O. Para. 985)
Para. 183: TARIFF CHARGES FOR ACCOMMODATION:
In view of reports of over charging for accommodation in Cairo the following information is brought to the notice of all personnel:-
a. Pensions; A price list, approved by the controller of the Bureau de Tourisme Cairo, should be displayed in all pensions. It is illegal for these prices to be exceeded.
b. Leave Hostels; Prices in all leave accommodation Hostels for Other Ranks are fixed by Headquarters, No. 17 Area (Army). Price list must be displayed. Cases where authorised prices are exceeded should be reported immediately in writing to the Assistant Provost Marshal, Royal Air Force, Cairo.
(G.R.O. Para. 986)
Para. 184: DISCIPLINE - VEHICLES:
The driver is primarily responsible for the security of the vehicle in his charge, except:-
a. Within Unit Lines. Unit Commanders are responsible for making provisions for the general security of the vehicles under their charge.
b. Vehicles in Convoy. The Convoy Commander will be responsible for security measures.
No vehicle, mobile or immobile, will be left unattended in a place where it would be possible for unauthorised persons (soldiers or civilians) to remove or damage it.
Civilians, unless Car Park Wardens paid by the war department, are not proper persons to guard military vehicles. (G.R.O. Para. 995)
Para. 185: U.D.F. OFFICERS - ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS OUTSIDE THE UNION:
Proclamation No. 34 dated 19th Feb. 1943 reads as follows:-
Any person who is an Officer of the U.D.F. of the Rank of Captain or of higher rank shall, during his tenure of such rank or while he is acting lawfully is such rank, be a Commissioner of Oaths for the purpose of attesting any sworn or solemn declaration at any place outside the Union and any such declaration which purports to have been so attested, shall be valid for all purposes in the Union and at any place where the U.D.F. may be on duty in connection with the present war in which the said forces are engaged or at any place where such declaration is required for any purpose under the South Africa Defence Act, No. 13 of 1912, as amended, or any regulation thereunder and for any purpose under the Union military discipline code.
(G.R.O. Para. 996)
2/...........
2.
S.O. No. 58/43 (Contd)
Para. 186: ATTENDANCE AT COURTS MARTIAL - DRESS:
The attention of all Officers Commanding is directed to the importance of ensuring that Airmen attending Courts Martial as witnesses, escorts or orderlies, or any other capacity, are dressed in accordance with dress regulations or such orders as may be issued by the Unit promulgating the assembly of such Court, and that every attention is paid to their appearance. Slovenliness in dress or appearance must not be permitted.
(M.E.R.O. Para. 635)
Para. 187: PRIVATE TELEGRAMS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM:
* The attention of all personnel is drawn to the fact that facilities exist for the despatch of one telegram each month, transmitted over service W.T. channels, at the special rate of one penny per word. This scheme has been introduced in order to enable personnel to make urgent communication with the United Kingdom as and when cases of distress arises. In this connection, Unit Commanders are given discretionary powers to allow the limit of ONE private telegram per month to be exceeded only should it appear that hardship is being caused by such restrictions.
* All such private telegrams are therefore:-
a. to relate to essential business of an urgent nature only, e.g. death, serious and/or dangerous illness, bankruptcy, mental distress, lack of funds;
b. to contain no reference to service matters whatsoever;
c. to contain no phrases of endearment, congratulations or greetings, for which type of message other facilities exist.
* Censorship: It is to be borne in mind that all such messages may be intercepted by the enemy when transmitted by service W.T. channels, and Unit Commanders are to ensure that:-
a. Private telegrams are carefully censored and approved by an Officer for transmission in plain language;
b. The name of the Unit of the sender is NOT included in the text of the message;
c. The nature of the message conforms to the requirements laid down in Para. 2, sub. para. a, b & c hereto;
d. Private telegrams are stamped with the Unit Censor Stamp.
* Outgoing Private Telegrams: The Private telegram bureau, HQ RAF ME controls, records and distributes outgoing and incoming private telegrams addressed to or from the United Kingdom of RAF WT channels. Private telegrams for onward transmission to the United Kingdom are received by Mail or Air Mail or by hand from Army and RAF Personnel serving within the Middle East Command, and are passed to the private telegram bureau or onward transmission.
* The following details are to be carefully noted:-
a. Private telegrams are only applicable to addressees in the United Kingdom.
b. The text is not to exceed twelve words, including signature if the latter is to be telegraphed.
c. The address is to be as short as possible.
d. Private telegrams are to be written on service message forms (Form 6) in TRIPLICATE, showing on the reverse side the following endorsements in BLOCK letters :- "NUMBER, RANK, NAME, UNIT,".
* Charges: Private telegrams are to be assessed by the Unit signals Officer, and charges are as follows:-
a. One Penny per word in text of the message.
b. Charge for the address is to be one penny per word.
If the address exceeds five words, no charge is to be made for the necessary extra words. The maximum charge for any address will thus be 5d.
* Payment: Payment is to be in local currency by the sender to the Unit Accountant officer or imprest holder who is to:-
a. Endorse each copy of the message to the effect that the charge has been paid;
b. Keep a record of the Names of all addressees, and the sum paid;
c. Credit to Public Funds all monies received through the public cash or imprest account;
d. Retain one copy of each telegram as a voucher in support of the entry in his public cash imprest account.
3/.........
3.
S.O. No. 58/43 (Contd)
8. Despatch: All private telegrams to the United Kingdom are to be enclosed in ONE envelope, which is to bear the endorsement "URGENT-PRIVATE TELEGRAM-OUT" and be forwarded in duplicate to HQ RAF ME by Normal Official Mail Service for onward transmission.
9. Incoming Private Telegrams: Private telegrams received after transmission over RAF W.T. channels from the United Kingdom are distributed by the private telegram bureau HQ RAF ME via normal official mail service to personnel, both army and RAF, serving in the Middle East Command. (M.E.R.O. Para 640)
(Signature: J. S. Besson) Major.
Adjutant No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force
* LIEUT. COL.: Lieutenant Colonel
* D.F.C.: Distinguished Flying Cross
* M.T.: Motor Transport
* A.R.O.: Administrative Routine Order
* G.R.O.: General Routine Order
* U.D.F.: Union Defence Force (South Africa)
* Observations about Individuals:
* Lieutenant Colonel C.S. Coppen, D.F.C.: The Commanding Officer (C.O.) of 21 Squadron at this time. His orders focus heavily on maintaining discipline and infrastructure during the transition from North Africa to the next phase of the Mediterranean campaign.
* Assistant Provost Marshal, Cairo: Mentioned as the authority for reporting price gouging in Egypt, reflecting the administrative reach of the RAF headquarters even as frontline units moved west.
* Information about the Location:
* Kairouan and Msaken, Tunisia: The squadron was operating in this area following the Axis surrender in North Africa.
* Modern Name: These remain major cities in modern-day Tunisia. Kairouan is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was a significant logistical hub for Allied air and ground forces in 1943.
* Cairo, Egypt: Referenced as a major leave destination where personnel were facing exploitation by local hospitality businesses.
* Historical Theatre Context:
* The Post-Tunisian Transition: On July 22, 1943, the North African campaign was over, and the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) was already twelve days old. 21 Squadron, still part of the Middle East command, was providing support while managing the complex logistics of occupied Tunisia.
* Infrastructure Discipline: Para. 181 regarding damage to railways highlights a significant tactical problem: Allied Motor Transport (M.T.) was inadvertently sabotaging the rail lines needed to bring supplies forward to the ports for the Sicilian invasion.
* The Article XV Squadron: 21 Squadron was a South African unit serving within the RAF structure. Para. 185 clarifies the legal powers of South African officers abroad, ensuring that official Union business (like the South Africa Defence Act) could be conducted in the field.
* Aircraft Context: During this period, 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. was flying the Martin Baltimore, a light-medium bomber that was the backbone of the Desert Air Force's tactical strikes.
* The "Bush Shirt" Protocol: Para. 182 illustrates the constant negotiation between military formality and the practicalities of the desert/tropical climate, allowing officers a small measure of personal choice in their uniform while on duty in the Middle East.

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The document in target file 276-1_4.jpg is the second page of Squadron Routine Order No. 58/43; while this specific page does not have a 'Date' column, the first page of this order (Appendix "B", page 3) establishes the date as 22nd July 1943.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.O.: Squadron Order.
* M.E.R.O.: Middle East Routine Order.
* W.T. / WT: Wireless Telegraphy (radio transmission).
* HQ RAF ME: Headquarters Royal Air Force Middle East.
* Observations about Individuals:
* Officers Commanding: Tasked with the strict enforcement of military bearing, even for those airmen not directly on trial but serving as witnesses or escorts.
* Unit Censor / Unit Signals Officer: These individuals acted as the gatekeepers for personal communications, ensuring that "distress" messages did not inadvertently reveal the location of 21 Squadron to the enemy.
* Information about the Location:
* Tunisia: As established on the previous page of this order, the squadron was operating in the Kairouan-Msaken area during late July 1943.
* HQ RAF ME (Cairo): The central administrative hub for the Private Telegram Bureau, managing the flow of communications between the frontlines in North Africa and the United Kingdom.
* Historical Theatre Context:
* Communication Security: Para. 187 highlights the extreme vulnerability of Wireless Telegraphy (W.T.). Because radio signals could be easily intercepted by Axis listening posts, personal messages were stripped of all warmth and "endearment" to keep them as short and technically "plain" as possible.
* The Cost of Distance: While the rate of "one penny per word" was intended as a benefit for personnel in cases of "distress," the strict twelve-word limit (including address and signature) forced airmen to compress profound personal news—such as a death in the family or financial ruin—into the most clinical terms imaginable.
* Discipline in the Wake of Victory: The insistence on proper dress at Courts Martial (Para. 186) reflects a command effort to prevent "slovenliness" during the transitional period between the end of the Tunisian campaign and the full-scale invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky).
* The Martin Baltimore: During this period, the men of 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. were primarily ground and aircrews for the Martin Baltimore light-medium bomber, which was utilized for tactical strikes against retreating Axis forces and port facilities.

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The document in target file 276-1_5.jpg is the third and final page of Squadron Routine Order No. 58/43; while this specific page does not have a 'Date' column, the first page of this sequence (Appendix "B", page 3) establishes the date as 22nd July 1943.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.O.: Squadron Order.
* HQ RAF ME: Headquarters Royal Air Force Middle East.
* RAF W.T.: Royal Air Force Wireless Telegraphy.
* M.E.R.O.: Middle East Routine Order.
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* Observations about Individuals:
* Major J. S. Besson: Serving as the Adjutant for 21 Squadron S.A.A.F., Besson was the senior administrative officer responsible for the unit's daily routine, personnel records, and official correspondence. While his signature appears on many of the squadron's intelligence reports as a Captain, this administrative role at the rank of Major reflects the heavy clerical burden of managing a combat squadron in the field.
* Information about the Location:
* Tunisia: As established in the first paragraph of this specific routine order, the squadron was operating in the Kairouan-Msaken area during the latter half of July 1943.
* Modern Name: These locations remain prominent cities in Tunisia. Kairouan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, served as a vital crossroads and logistical hub for Allied air forces after the Axis surrender in North Africa.
* Cairo, Egypt: The location of HQ RAF ME, which functioned as the central clearinghouse for the "Private Telegram Bureau" mentioned in this order.
* Historical Theatre Context:
* Post-North African Campaign Logistics: By July 22, 1943, the Allies had already invaded Sicily (Operation Husky), which began on July 10. 21 Squadron remained based in Tunisia, providing essential support and maintaining its administrative baseline while preparing for the eventual move to Italian soil.
* The Communication Lifeline: Para. 8 and 9 detail the "last mile" of the telegram service. Because frontline radio (W.T.) was strictly for military use, personal messages were physically mailed as official documents to and from the central hub in Cairo, highlighting the slow and cumbersome nature of personal communication for soldiers in the pre-digital era.
* The Martin Baltimore: During this transitional period, 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. was flying the Martin Baltimore, a light-medium bomber that was the mainstay of the Desert Air Force's light bomber wings during the Sicilian campaign.
* Administrative Continuity: The transition of J. S. Besson from Intelligence (S.I.O.) to Adjutant duties illustrates the multi-functional roles officers often played in "Article XV" squadrons, ensuring that legal, medical, and personal welfare services remained operational even as the unit shifted between combat theaters.

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The date written in the 'Date' line of the casualty return is 1st July 1943.