[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. No. 64/43. No. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. — Orders & Appendices

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SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. No. 64/43. No. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
by
LT. COL. J. F. BRITZ, D.F.C.
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Middle East.
4th September, 1943.
Para. 225. CONGRATULATION MESSAGE.: FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. "All of us are thrilled over the Sicilian campaign now successfully concluded in accordance with the timing and planning of the Allies. This is especially true when we realise that the enemy forces in Sicily amounted to 405,000 men. The events of the past thirty-eight days show what can be done by team work based on preparation, training, timing and above all on gallantry on land, on sea, and in the air. From the ancient Citadel of Quebec I send to you my warm congratulations, and to the Officers and men under your command, British, Canadian, French and American, my thanks and enthusiastic approbation. Tell them 'well done'." # Signed FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
Para. 226. JEWISH FESTIVALS. Will all Jewish Personnel kindly take note of the dates of the following Jewish Festivals:—
NEW YEAR... 30th Sept. & 1st Oct.
DAY OF ATONEMENT... 9th October.
Each Festival commences the previous evening at sunset. If it can possibly be arranged one of the Jewish Chaplains will hold Services in the Wing and Squadron during these Festivals. Due notice will be published through orders.
Para. 227. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THEFT. All service Personnel are warned that an increasing amount of material is being lost at railway stations. An appreciable amount of this is lost owing to the owners employing unauthorised porters, who undoubtedly have accomplices working with them. Authorised porters can easily be identified, as they are all in possession of a brass disc with the name of the railway and their own registered number clearly marked thereon.
(S.A.A.F. G.R.O. 65/1046.)
Para. 228. BOOT & SHOE REPAIRS. The failure on the part of all concerned, to ensure the immediate return of boots and shoes requiring repair, has resulted in over sixty per cent of such footwear being condemned as beyond repair.
Records show that the present rate of consumption is more than four pairs of shoes per man per year, which is extremely wasteful, and due entirely to carelessness on the part of all concerned.
In the interests of economy, unit commanders are to take immediate steps to ensure that footwear of personnel under their charge is inspected periodically and, where necessary, returned for repair without delay. Disciplinary action is to be taken against those who fail to take reasonable care of their footwear.
(RAF(ME) RO 648/43).
All unserviceable footwear can be handed in to "Q" Stores for repair.
Para. 229. EXCHANGES OF CURRENCY. A considerable amount of additional labour is caused to Accountant Officers throughout the Middle East Command in exchanging the various currencies with which personnel arrive at any particular place. All this currency has to be returned to its country of origin after counting and re-counting, and it is frequently necessary to burden flying personnel with the responsibility of carrying this currency back.
The pay book is a means by which travelling personnel can always obtain cash for their immediate requirements in

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes
* Military Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* D.F.C.: Distinguished Flying Cross.
* LT. COL.: Lieutenant Colonel.
* G.R.O.: General Routine Order.
* RAF(ME): Royal Air Force (Middle East).
* RO: Routine Order.
* "Q" Stores: Quartermaster Stores (responsible for equipment and supplies).
* Observations on Individuals:
* Lt. Col. J. F. Britz, D.F.C.: Jacobus "Jack" Frederik Britz was the Officer Commanding of No. 21 Squadron SAAF. He was a highly regarded leader who led the squadron through its service in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.
* Franklin D. Roosevelt: The 32nd President of the United States. His message (Para. 225) was sent from the Quebec Conference (QUADRANT), where Allied leaders met in August 1943 to plan the further invasion of Italy and the cross-channel invasion of France.
* Locations and Historical Context:
* Conquest of Sicily: The "thirty-eight days" mentioned by Roosevelt refer to Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, which began on July 10, 1943, and concluded with the fall of Messina on August 17, 1943.
* Middle East Command: At this date (Sept 4), the squadron was technically under Middle East Command for administrative purposes, though operational sorties were being flown in the Mediterranean theater.
* Jewish Festivals: The inclusion of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur dates (Para. 226) highlights the religious diversity within the Commonwealth forces and the administrative efforts to provide chaplaincy services in the field.
* Economic Discipline: The orders regarding boots (Para. 228) and currency (Para. 229) provide a window into the mundane but critical logistical struggles of the SAAF. "Four pairs of shoes per man per year" was considered an unsustainable rate of waste in a theater where supply lines stretched thousands of miles back to South Africa or Britain.
* Currency Exchanges: The difficulty of handling multiple currencies (Lira, Francs, Sterling, and B.M.A. notes) was a constant administrative headache as personnel moved between liberated territories and transit hubs across the Middle East.

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The target file 276-1_232.jpg does not contain a formal 'Date' column; however, the correct image is verified by the date 4th September, 1943 appearing in the text of the "Notice" section.