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

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APPENDIX "H"
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. 114/44 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
By
LT. COL. D. ORD, D.F.C.
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
27th December, 1944.
Para. 406. RETENTION OF UNIFORM, NECESSARIES AND EQUIPMENT ON DISCHARGE.
It is the accepted policy of the Union Government that volunteer members will retain all items of Uniform clothing and necessaries which may be legitimately in their possession when being discharged. In addition they will retain two blankets, haversack plus brace and pack plus straps supporting. If these are withdrawn or, for some reason or other, have not been issued prior to date of discharge, an issue will be made by the Dispersal Depot on the date of discharge.
(G.M.O. No. 107, para. 514 d.d. 9.12.44).
Para. 407. REPORTING OF GRAVES OF ALLIED TROOPS.
There are considerable numbers of ex-prisoners of War and missing personnel about whose fate little or nothing is known, and whose graves lie in isolated and remote places in enemy territory which has subsequently been liberated.
It is of the utmost importance that every effort be made to trace and record these graves.
All ranks, therefore, finding any unregistered Allied graves will report such information through the usual channels to Adv. S.A.A.F. H.Q., C.M.F., where possible, the following particulars :-
(a) Location of grave.
(b) Number, rank, name and unit of the deceased.
(G.M.O. No. 107, para. 515 d.d. 9.12.44).
Para. 408. SOLDIERS' AND CIVIL SERVANTS' ACT 1944.
S.A.A.F. personnel who are interested in the above act, are to report to the Orderly Room where they can read a precis.
(A.A./P. 1025/10/P.1. d.d. 14.12.44).
Para. 408. UNOFFICIAL AND AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY.
The following are additions to the list of approved photo finishers which appeared in O.R.O. serial 25 :-
TOWN NAME ADDRESS.
JIESI SCHIAVONI, L. Viale Furio Fabi 2.
JESI ALZANI, GIOVANNI Via Mazzario Sauro 10.
JESI BARONI, IGINO Via Campolongo 53.
RECONATO (S. VINC.) FANAGO, FRANCESCO Via Roma 17.
MACERATA MATTIOLI AURELIO Piazza Vittorio Veneto 16
MACERATA MAGGIO ADRIANO Via Vittorio Emanuele 27
MACERATA GRIECO GIOVANNI Via Santa Maria della Porta
(O.R.O. 70, para. 20 d.d. 9.12.44). 20.
Para. 409. CORRESPONDENCE WITH BELGIUM.
Personnel may now send non-illustrated postcards to civil addresses in Belgium.
(O.R.O. 70, para. 22 d.d. 9.12.44).
Para. 410. AFRICA SERVICE MEDAL.
Personnel who are entitled to the above medal and who have not completed the claim form (D.D. 852) must report to the Orderly Room IMMEDIATELY.
(Signature) LT. COL.
COMMANDING, 21 SQUADRON. S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* LT. COL.: Lieutenant Colonel.
* D.F.C.: Distinguished Flying Cross.
* G.M.O.: General Military Order.
* d.d.: Dated.
* Adv. S.A.A.F. H.Q.: Advanced South African Air Force Headquarters.
* C.M.F.: Central Mediterranean Force.
* O.R.O.: Officer's Records Office (or Operational Routine Order).
* D.D.: Department of Defence (South Africa).
* Observations about Individuals:
* Lieutenant Colonel D. Ord, D.F.C.: The Commanding Officer (C.O.) of 21 Squadron. Ord had just led the squadron back into combat operations on December 21st after a 20-day forced stand-down. These routine orders reflect his dual responsibility: maintaining the fighting efficiency of a medium bomber unit while managing the complex personnel administration of a volunteer force nearing the end of their service.
* Information about the Locations:
* Jesi (spelled "Jiesi" in the order): The location of the squadron's airfield in the Marche region.
* Modern Name: This historic landing ground is the present-day Ancona International Airport (Aeroporto di Ancona-Falconara).
* Local Logistics: Para. 408 provides a fascinating glimpse into the local Italian economy and its interaction with Allied forces. The listing of specific businesses in Jesi, Recanati (S. Vincenzo), and Macerata—all cities in Central Italy near the squadron's base—illustrates how Allied troops utilized local civilians for services like photography.
* Historical Theatre Context:
* The Transition to Peace: Para. 406 regarding discharge clothing and Para. 408 regarding the Soldiers' and Civil Servants' Act of 1944 indicate that by late December, the "Union" (South African) government was heavily focused on demobilization and the reintegration of volunteers into civilian life.
* Casualty Recovery: Para. 407 highlights a somber reality of the Italian campaign. As Allied forces liberated territory previously held by the Germans, they frequently discovered the makeshift graves of aircrews who had been shot down or prisoners of war who had died in captivity. This order aimed to ensure that the remains of those missing in action were formally identified and moved to military cemeteries.
* Africa Service Medal: Para. 410 deals with the medal established specifically for South African personnel who served at home or abroad during the war. This was a point of pride for the veteran crews of 21 Squadron, many of whom had been on continuous operations since the North African campaigns began in 1941.
* The Winter Offensive: Despite the administrative focus of these orders, the squadron was simultaneously flying high-intensity missions in Martin B-26 Marauder III bombers. On the very day this order was signed, the squadron was launching a major strike against the Zidani Most railway bridge in Yugoslavia to sever German supply lines.

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The target file 270-2_156.jpg is a continuation page of the Routine Orders issued on 27th December, 1944, as indicated by the reference to "O.R. No. 114/44" at the top, which matches the date on the preceding page.