[Routine Order] APPENDIX "P" — Orders & Appendices

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2
APPENDIX "P"
87
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 12/44. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
By
LT. COL. A.C. JANDRELL, D.F.C.
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
22nd February, 1944.
Para. 51. CENSORING OF MAIL : DUTY OFFICERS.
The undermentioned Officers will report to the
Assistant Adjutant for the above duty at 14.00 hours on
the dates set out opposite their names.
Lieut. P.W. Frost. Tuesday 22. 2. 44.
Lieut. J.H. v.d. Merwe. " "
Lieut. O. Greder. Wednesday 23. 2. 44.
Lieut. C. van Schalkwyk. " "
Lieut. J.C. Harle. Thursday 24. 2. 44.
Lieut. W.S. Walters. " "
Lieut. N.S. Hewitt. Friday 25. 2. 44.
Lieut. J.K. du Preez. " "
Lieut. G.W. Hill. Saturday 26. 2. 44.
Lieut. C. Meltz. " "
Lieut. S.R. Hodges. Sunday 27. 2. 44.
Lieut. C. Strydom. " "
Should an Officer be unable to report owing to
operations, he will notify the Assistant Adjutant before
his tour of duty is to commence and hand in the name of a
substitute. It will be his responsibility to obtain, and
warn, the Officer who is taking his place.
Para. 52. VEHICLES.
Traffic is not to proceed further than the
entrance to the Camp. This applies to all vehicles with
the exception of the Water and Ration Truck.
Para. 53. CONTACT LETTER No. 15. (extract).
I have followed up with the C.G.S., Pretoria,
the protest which Mr. Harry Welsh, Chief Defence Force
Liason Officer, Johannesburg, recently lodged in the Union
regarding "plums" in the way of jobs being given to "stay-
at-homes" whilst men on active service are neglected and
I have pointed out that particularly civil servants and R
& H employees feel, rightly or wrongly, that they are being
penalised in the matter of promotions by being on active
service. The following signal regarding the position in
the Public Services has just been received from C.G.S. and
Commanding Officers are authorised to pass the information
on :-
FIELD MARSHAL SMUTS DIRECTS THAT YOU BE INFORMED THAT NO
PERMANENT APPOINTMENTS MADE IN UNION AND SUCH APPOINTMENTS
STAND ONLY TILL AFTER THE WAR FOR ALL TO HAVE EQUAL CHANCE.
(Contact Letter No. 15, para. 2. d.d. 31.1.44).
Para. 54. PHOTOGRAPHS AND FILMS TAKEN BY TROOPS.
There is apparently still some confusion in the
minds of many troops regarding the forwarding of photograp
and films to South Africa. The correct procedure is as
follows:-
If the photographs are intended for publication
in the Press, they should be submitted through Os.C. Units,
Para. 54/ continued Page 2.

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes:
* Political Morale (The "Stay-at-Home" Controversy):
* Context: Paragraph 53 addresses a burning grievance common among deployed troops: the fear that while they were fighting in the mud of Italy, "stay-at-homes" back in South Africa were taking all the good jobs ("plums") and promotions.
* Harry Welsh: The "Chief Defence Force Liaison Officer" who lodged the protest was advocating for the rights of the volunteers "Up North."
* Field Marshal Smuts' Directive: The response comes directly from Jan Smuts (Prime Minister and C-in-C). His directive freezing permanent appointments in the Civil Service and Railways & Harbours (R & H) until "after the war" was a major policy move designed to reassure the troops that they would have an "equal chance" upon their return. This "Contact Letter" was a vital tool for maintaining morale in a volunteer army.
* Camp Logistics (Biferno Mud):
* Vehicle Restrictions: The order in Para 52 strictly limiting traffic to the "entrance to the Camp" (except for essential Water and Ration trucks) is a direct response to the conditions at the new Biferno base. As noted in the War Diary entries for Feb 18-21, the camp was a "sea of mud." Allowing heavy trucks to drive through the tent lines would have turned the living area into an impassable quagmire.
* Personnel:
* Lieut. C. van Schalkwyk: Listed for duty on Feb 23rd. Just five days later (Feb 28th), he would be the Observer in Capt. van der Riet's aircraft during the fatal crash at Chieti, managing to bail out safely.
* Lieut. S.R. Hodges: Listed for duty on Sunday the 27th. This creates a minor discrepancy with the War Diary, which states he departed R.T.U. (Returned to Union) on Feb 25th. It is likely the roster was drawn up in advance before his travel orders were finalized, or he was pulled from the roster at the last minute.
* Abbreviations:
* C.G.S.: Chief of the General Staff.
* R & H: Railways and Harbours (a major state employer in SA).
* Os.C.: Officers Commanding (plural).
* d.d.: dated.

43
Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is the continuation page ("PAGE TWO") of Squadron Routine Order No. 12/44. The previous page (Appendix P) was dated 22nd February, 1944.