APPENDIX "N" — Orders & Appendices

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APPENDIX "N"
CHRISTMAS IN THE FIELD.
1944.
AIRMENS' MESS, 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
On Christmas Eve, 1944 the Airmens' Mess of 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. assumed a festive appearance. During the afternoon the Committee had decorated the Mess with the aid of fur tree branches and toilet paper artistically coloured; the result being worthy of any peacetime setting.
Ample quantities of beer arrived in good time, and the evening was spent in a manner somewhat similar to Christmas Eves' of the past in "Sunny South Africa", although the setting formed a distinct contrast! One's thoughts were mostly of home, and the foremost toast was "To the next Christmas in the Union".
We had hopes of a "White Christmas", as there was a light fall of snow on the 23rd, but Christmas Day proved to be cold and sunny. "Business as usual" was the slogan this year as the Squadron carried out an operation during the morning. The loss of two aircrew members (W.O. Hamilton and F/Sgt. Evans) posted missing from this operation, cast a shadow on the later festivities. Our thoughts went out to all former members of the Squadron, no longer with us, when the toast "Absent Friends" was proposed early in the evening.
By judicious arrangement of the seating it was possible to accommodate the entire Mess at one sitting. The tables were tastefully decorated in advance; beer, champagne, fruit and nuts set out at every place. Following the traditional custom of the Air Force, the Officers were present to wait on us and displayed great skill in balancing plates and dixies, and their speed was an object lesson to professionals! Their efforts were greatly appreciated and contributed greatly towards the success of the Dinner.
The Repast was excellent and comprised soup, roast pork and turkey with several vegetables, Christmas Pudding and tinned fruit - all excellently prepared. Great credit is due to the cooks (A/Sgt. MacIntosh and A/Cpl. Brooks) for their fine efforts, and "well done, Mac and Arthur" was heard on all sides.
The meal over, all were busy signing menu cards, and the signatures will recall many memories of the Squadron in the days of peace to come.
The evening closed with Community Singing, Carols and alcoholic refreshment, and the unanimous opinion was that "Christmas in the Field, 1944" had been the best possible under the circumstances.

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* W.O.: Warrant Officer.
* F/Sgt.: Flight Sergeant.
* A/Sgt.: Acting Sergeant.
* A/Cpl.: Acting Corporal.
* Dixies: Large pots or kettles used in field kitchens (derived from the Urdu word degchi).
* The Union: The Union of South Africa.
* Observations about Individuals:
* W.O. Hamilton and F/Sgt. Evans: These two air gunners are the "shadow" over the festivities mentioned in the text. They were lost during Operational Report No. 888, a raid on the Treviso Engine Sheds. Their aircraft entered a spin; while the pilot regained control at a mere 800 feet, Hamilton and Evans had already followed the order to bale out over the freezing Adriatic and were never recovered.
* Cooks (MacIntosh and Brooks): "Mac" and "Arthur" are singled out for praise for preparing a complex multicourse meal, including roast pork and turkey, under field conditions—a significant logistical feat given the winter supply challenges.
* The Officers: The "traditional custom" mentioned refers to a longstanding RAF and Commonwealth practice where officers serve the airmen their Christmas dinner to show mutual respect and solidarity.
* Information about the Location:
* Iesi (Jesi) Landing Ground: The squadron's base in the Marche region of Italy.
* Modern Name: This historic landing ground is the present-day Ancona International Airport (Aeroporto di Ancona-Falconara).
* Environment: The contrast with "Sunny South Africa" was literal; the squadron was living in a "sea of mud" and freezing temperatures, with the airmen largely housed in tents and recently erected Nissen huts.
* Historical Theatre Context:
* The "Business as Usual" Raid: The operation carried out on Christmas morning was a major 12-aircraft strike against the Treviso Marshalling Yards in Northern Italy. The mission was part of the Allied effort to prevent German resupply before the 1945 spring offensive.
* Logistics of the Feast: The presence of champagne and turkey in the field highlights the Allied priority on morale. These items were likely sourced through the NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) or local foraging in the recently liberated countryside around Ancona.
* A Final Winter Christmas: For many of the men, this was their second or third Christmas away from home, having served through the North African campaigns. The focus on "the next Christmas in the Union" reflects the widespread (and accurate) belief that the war in Europe was entering its final phase.

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The target file 270-2_164.jpg contains a narrative titled "CHRISTMAS IN THE FIELD" rather than a columned table; the date written at the top of the memorandum is 1944.