[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 12/44 continued. 88

Tuesday, 22 February 1944 Other

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SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 12/44 continued. 88
PAGE TWO.
Para. 54. PHOTOGRAPHS AND FILMS TAKEN BY TROOPS. (continued)
to A.D.P.R., c/o G.O.A., U.D.F., M.E.F. Contributors
should, where possible, indicate the publication for which
the photographs are intended. If no indication is given,
A.D.P.R. will submit the photographs for publication at his
discretion.
Photographs which are sent in letters home or to
friends and which are NOT intended for publication, may be
censored by the Unit Censor Officer who normally has the
responsibility of censoring soldiers' mail.
Cine films (16 mm. or 8 mm.) in black and white
must be submitted for processing to Kodaks Ltd. in Egypt,
as unprocessed film is not allowed to be sent out of the
country.
Colour film, however, cannot be processed locally
and should be sent to A.D.P.R., who will undertake to send
such film to the Director of Military Intelligence, Pretoria
who will submit the film for processing in South Africa. In
each case the owner of the film should indicate to which
address he wishes the processed film to be forwarded.
No films should be sent out of Egypt unprocessed
other than as indicated in the paragraph dealing with colour
films.
In no case is postage required. Onward trans-
mission of all films is arranged by A.D.P.R.
(Contact Letter No. 15, para. 12, d.d. 31.1.44).
Para.55. RECORDING OF BLOCK NUMBERS. (B.O.A.F.).
Number. Rank. Name. Classif.
204017 Capt. Dieu G.M. G.D.P.
204049 2/Lt. Van de Putte E.A. Obs.
204009 Asp. Gonciar H.G. Arm.
204042 Asp. Plumerel V.E.F.G. W.O.M.
204046 Asp. Thielo F. W.O.M.
(Part 11 Orders Serial 13/44 para.510 d.d. 6.2.44.).
Para. 56. DONATION TO S.A.A.F. BENEVOLENT FUND.
The D.G.A.F. stated in his reply :-
"I would like it to be made known to those who
contributed to our fund how sincerely we apprec-
iate this generous gesture which will help to
assist some of the very distressing cases which
we are called upon to consider"
(Minute SAOA/PAY/MAAF/1602/16/3 d.d: 27.1.44.).
Para. 57. M.T. - CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS.
Passengers may stand in load carriers on journeys
up to five miles. Where the journey exceeds five miles,
seating accommodation is to be provided, due care being
taken to guard against the effects of sudden braking or
collision. Seats are not to be placed parallel to and immed-
iately in front of the tailboard. Sitting on the sides and
tailboards has led to many deaths and injuries and is strict-
ly forbidden. All doors and tailboards are to be properly
secured before a vehicle moves off. It is the duty of the
senior passenger or such person as may have been specificly
detailed to take charge of the party, to ensure that these
orders are carried out. If a driver becomes aware of any
infringement of these orders, he is to draw the attention of
such person to the infringement, and is not to proceed until
these orders have been fully complied with.
Riding on the carrier of a solo motor cycle is
forbidden. Where a sidecar combination is fitted with a
carrier seat, one pillion passenger may be carried provided
there is a minimum load of 56 lb. conveyed simultaneously
in the side car.
Para. 57/ continued Page 3.

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes:
* Security & Censorship (Photography):
* Strict Controls: The detailed regulations on film processing reveal the military's tight control over imagery. Soldiers couldn't simply mail film home.
* Cine Film (16mm/8mm): Black and white movie film had to be processed by "Kodaks Ltd. in Egypt" (a safe rear area), while Colour film (Kodachrome) had to be sent all the way to Pretoria (South Africa) via Military Intelligence. This explains why color footage from the SAAF in Italy is relatively rare—the logistical hurdles were immense.
* A.D.P.R.: Assistant Director of Public Relations.
* Personnel (The "Foreign" Contingent):
* Capt. Dieu & Crew: Para 55 lists "Block Numbers" for a specific group of personnel, all of whom have names indicating non-South African origins, likely Belgian or French volunteers integrated into the SAAF.
* Capt. Dieu G.M.: Often appears in flight logs (e.g., Appendix B, K, M).
* 2/Lt. Van de Putte E.A.: Dieu's regular Observer.
* Asp. (Aspirant): This rank title is unusual for the SAAF/RAF and is likely a French/Belgian rank (Aspirant) equivalent to Officer Cadet or Midshipman, further confirming their status as foreign volunteers.
* Gonciar, Plumerel, Thielo: Other members of this specific group.
* Safety Regulations (M.T. Passengers):
* "Sitting on the sides... led to many deaths": The strict rules about passengers in trucks (load carriers) reflect the high accident rate on Italian roads. Troops often sat on the tailgates or gunwales of trucks, leading to fatal falls on bumpy roads.
* Motorcycles: The rule about pillion passengers requiring "56 lb. conveyed simultaneously in the side car" is a physics-based safety measure to prevent the motorcycle combo from tipping over during a turn if the sidecar was empty.
* Abbreviations:
* G.O.A.: General Officer Administration.
* U.D.F.: Union Defence Force (South Africa).
* M.E.F.: Middle East Forces.
* B.O.A.F.: Likely "Belgian Operating Air Force" or similar designation for the attached Belgian flight? (Actually, usually refers to Block Official Air Force numbers or similar administrative grouping).
* G.D.P.: General Duties Pilot.
* W.O.M.: Wireless Operator Mechanic.
* Arm.: Armourer.
* D.G.A.F.: Director General Air Force.

44
Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is an "APPENDIX 'Q'" containing "Squadron Routine Orders No. 13/44". The date in the header is 25th February, 1944.