[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 53/44 continued. — Orders & Appendices

Document

SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 53/44 continued.
PAGE TWO.
316
Para. 207. SMALLPOX VACCINATION - PERSONNEL VISITING ALEXANDRIA.
In view of the prevalence of smallpox in Alexandria, personnel
proceeding to that area on duty or on leave, whether as units or
individuals, are to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated against smallpox
before proceeding, if they cannot produce evidence of vaccination or
re-vaccination not more than two years previously.
(G.R.O. Ser. No. 86.para. 181 d.d. 24.5.44.)
Para. 208. FIELD CENSORSHIP - CARRYING OF PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE BY HAND.
Field Censorship Regulations, M.E.F., 1942 Part 1, para. 8
(ii) is cancelled. This paragraph reads as follows:-
"It is forbidden to despatch or carry correspondence by the
hand of an officer, soldier, airman or civilian FROM any place TO any
place either within or outside the Command. A personal search may be
conducted at any point in transit, and correspondence being carried by
hand will be confiscated and destroyed. Disciplinary action will
follow against the carrier and writer."
Parcels and private correspondence (excluding green envelopes,
Army Form W3078, and R.A.F. privilege envelope F.1645) may now be
carried by hand to destinations within the Middle East Command provided:-
(i) each parcel or letter bears a full official address of the
sender and the name and full postal address of the addressee;
(ii) each letter or parcel has been submitted to unit censorship
and is franked and impressed with the unit censor stamp.
Photographs and undeveloped films are not to be included in
letters or parcels when they are carried by hand.
The carrier of a letter is responsible for ensuring that the
provisions of paragraph 2 (ii) herein have been complied with.
Personal search will continue to be made at points in transit,
and private correspondence not complying with the provisions of this
order will be confiscated. In such cases disciplinary action may be
taken against both writer and carrier.
This order is designed for the benefit of members of the
Middle East Forces. If abused it is liable to be withdrawn.
(G.R.O. Ser.No. 86.para.184. d.d.24.5.44.)
Para. 209. BOUNDS.
S.A.A.F. (M.E.F.) G. R. O. 134/44 is hereby cancelled.
The following institutions in Alexandria are out of bounds
to all ranks, European and Non-European w.e.f. this date:-
(i) House No. 2 known as "New Indian House" situate at
No. 80 Sister Street.
(ii) House No. 6 situate at No. 54 Rue Aliboy El Viber.
(iii) Premises known as "Pension 'Y'" situate at No. 5 Rue Maternite.
(iv) Premises known as "Mary's House" situate at No. 90 Rue de Palais.
(v) House No. 17 at El Alaaba Crusta.
(G.R.O. Ser.No.86.Para.185.d.d.25.5.44.)
(Signature illegible) LT. COL.
COMMANDING, 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes:
* Public Health Crisis (Smallpox in Alexandria):
* The Threat: The order highlights a specific medical threat: "prevalence of smallpox in Alexandria". Alexandria, Egypt, was a major leave center and logistical hub for troops in the Mediterranean theater.
* Mandatory Vaccination: The military response was swift and non-negotiable—mandatory vaccination for anyone traveling there unless they had proof of vaccination within the last two years. This illustrates the constant battle against disease that ran parallel to combat operations.
* Information Security (The "Green Envelope" System):
* Bypassing Censors: Paragraph 208 addresses a common breach of security: soldiers carrying letters by hand to avoid censorship.
* "Green Envelopes": The order mentions "green envelopes" and "privilege envelope F.1645." These were special envelopes that allowed soldiers to seal their letters (for privacy regarding family matters), pledging on their honor that the contents contained no military information. These were only spot-checked by base censors, unlike regular mail which was read by junior officers.
* Strict Enforcement: The threat of "Personal search" and confiscation shows how seriously High Command viewed the risk of operational leaks via private mail.
* Vice and Discipline (Alexandria "Bounds"):
* "Sister Street": The order places specific houses in Alexandria "out of bounds," including "No. 80 Sister Street" and "Mary's House." Sister Street was the most notorious red-light district in Alexandria. Placing these establishments off-limits was likely an attempt to curb the spread of venereal disease or to prevent brawls and "incidents" involving troops on leave.
* Segregation: The text "European and Non-European w.e.f. [with effect from] this date" reflects the racial segregation policies inherent in the South African military structure of the time.
* Abbreviations:
* G.R.O.: General Routine Orders.
* M.E.F.: Middle East Forces.
* w.e.f.: with effect from.
* d.d.: dated.
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.

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Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is dated 8th June, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 710) labeled 317 in the top right corner.