25th Mule Company, War Diary January 1942

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1 January 1942 Llangattock Park, Crickhowell.

19:00 hours. A cold day with thick fog.

2 January 1942

19:00 hours. A signal squad from HQ S. Wales District carried out trials with a charging set on Company pack animals. Pay for December 1941 disbursed to the Company. 25 Pack animals carried rations from 47 S.D.S. A dull, warmer, damp day.

3 January 1942

19:00 hours. Transport Course 1 (a) dispersed. C.S.O. Western Command (Brigadier J B Henderson D.S.O.) saw a trial carrying a 550 watt charging set on Company pack animals. Ten Indian Other Ranks returned from leave at WOKING. Lieutenant (A.C.) W Jameson visited patients in Section Indian General Hospital. A dull, mild, damp day.

4 January 1942

19:00 hours. Sunday. 2/Lieutenant I A Cornish and 200 Viceroy’s Commissioned Officers and Indian Other Ranks attended a concert performance at CRICKHOWELL. A mild, damp day.

5 January 1942

19:00 hours. Ten Indian Other Ranks proceeded on leave to WOKING. Two Daffadars and two drivers joined the HQ Indian Contingent English Courses. Officer Commanding the Company (Major H N N Fawcett) held a conference of all Officers to discuss the Test Mobilisation parade ordered for 14 January 41. A fine but cold day.

6 January 1942

19:00 hours. Officer Commanding and Veterinary Officer in charge (Major C.O.K. Porter RAVC) held an annual inspection of the whole Company. A fine but very cold and frosty day.

7 January 1942

19:00 hours. Both Sub-Divisions and Company HQ carried out independent route marches (15 miles) under load. A fine but cold day with a hard frost.

8 January 1942

19:00 hours. 2/Lieutenant I A Cornish proceeded to DONCASTER to attend a demonstration by 2 Pack Transport Company RASC on 9 January 1942. Personnel from ICELAND ( C) Force assembled for Pack Transport Course 2 (a). A fine sunny but frosty day.

9 January 1942

19:00 hours. Personnel for Transport Course 2 (a) continued to assemble. Pack animals carried rations from 47 S.D.S. A fine sunny day with a wind.

10 January 1942

14:00 hours. Transport Course 2 (a) commenced. Ten Indian Other Ranks returned from leave at Woking. Lt Jameson delivered a lecture on current affairs. Company hockey team played a match against HQ S Wales District. Lt Cornish returned from Doncaster. A fine but cold day.

11 January 1942

19:00 hours. Officer Commanding held a Durbar. SUNDAY. A fine but very cold day with a very severe frost. A guard of one Naik, two Lance-Naiks and ten Drivers mounted at HQ Indian Contingent.

12 January 1942

19:00 hours. Officer Commanding inspected Company HQ and left Sub-Division separately, preparatory to the Test Mobilisation to be held on 14 January 1942. A very cold day with hard frost and some snow.

13 January 1942

19:00 hours. Guard mounted at HQ Indian Contingent on 11 January relieved to take part in Test Mobilisation on 14 January 1942. (Next sentence unreadable – this page is a triplicate copy of the original). A milder, damp day with frost later.

14 January 1942

11:00 hours. Commandant Indian Contingent (Col R W W Hills) inspected the Company on a Test Mobilisation Parade. A cold dull day with a frost.

15 January 1942

19:00 hours. Education Officer, Indian Contingent, (W.O.1 J E Brown A.E.C.) visited the Company. Guard relieved on 13 January 1942 remounted at HQ Indian Contingent. A very cold, dull day with severe frost.

16 January 1942

19:00 hours. Forty two pack animals proceeded to 47 S.D.S. to draw rations. Quartermaster (Jemadar KHADAM HUSSAIN) attended a salvage demonstration at C.S.D. Brecon (sheet 90. 4950). A very cold windy day with a heavy snow fall.

17 January 1942

19:00 hours. Lieut (A.C.) W JAMESON proceeded on eight days’ leave. A very cold day with frost and snow.

18 January 1942

19:00 hours. SUNDAY. A party of VCOs and English-speaking NCOs attended a showing of instructional films at CRICKHOWELL with the local Home Guard unit. 2/Lieutenant I A Cornish and 200 Indian Other Ranks attended a civilian performance at CRICKHOWELL. A heavy snow fall.

19 January 1942

19:00 hours. Fifteen Indian Other Ranks proceeded on leave to WOKING. Indian Adjutant (Rissaldar NIZAM DIN I.D.S.M.) visited HQ Indian Contingent for instructions for his fortnightly broadcast on 22 January 1942. Guard at HQ Indian Contingent dismounted. Heavy snow and fog. Personnel attended a conjuring performance in the YMCA Hut.

20 January 1942

19:00 hours. All ranks attended a lecture by Rissaldar INAYAT SHAH on winter warfare. Deep snow and very cold and cloudy.

21 January 1942

Rissaldar Nizam Din I.D.S.M. returned from EVESHAM. Adjutant, Indian Contingent (Major S L Lowman) visited the Company to discuss certain loading trials, future Transport Courses and future training. Experiments carried out on Company animals with snow shoes. Very severe frosty cold and heavy snow.

23 January 1942

19:00 hours. A very fast thaw with heavy rain and a strong wind throughout the day.

24 January 1942

19:00 hours. Fifteen Indian Other Ranks returned from leave at WOKING. 90 pack animals proceeded to 47 S.D.S. to draw rations. Officer Commanding delivered a lecture on current affairs. Lieutenant (A.C.) W JAMESON returned from leave. A dull, damp, mild day.

25 January 1942

19:00 hours. SUNDAY. A fine day with a cold wind.

26 January 1942

19:00 hours. Fifteen Indian Other Ranks proceeded on leave to WOKING. Jamadar MAKHAN KHAN and one Indian Other Rank proceeded to 32 Mule Company (PONTYPOOL – sheet 92 – 7321) to visit a factory at NEWPORT (sheet 92 – 7509) on 27 January 1942. Admin. Officer Indian Contingent (Major J Finlay M.B.E.) visited the Company to discuss fuel supplies. A fine day.

27 January 1942

19:00 hours. Officer Commanding held a Durbar. All personnel not on duty attended a demonstration of instructional films at CRICKHOWELL Cinema. The Company carried out night loading practice and exchanging loads. A cold day with some snow early turning to heavy rain later.

28 January 1942

19:00 hours. 140 pack animals proceeded to 47 S.D.S. to draw rations. Remainder of Company carried out a route march. Officer Commanding visited patients in Section Indian General Hospital. Jemadar MAKHAN KHAN and one Indian Other Rank returned from 32 Mule Company. A cold windy day with some heavy rain showers.

29 January 1942

19:00 hours. Adjutant Indian Contingent (Major S L Lowman) visited the Company to see trials with slinging gear for animals. Officer Commanding inspected a party to go to RHYMNEY Warship Week Parade on 31 January 1942. Personnel attended a juggling and cinema performance at the YMCA Hut. A cold, dull, wet day.

30 January 1942

19:00 hours. Thirty two pack animals proceeded to 47 S.D.S. to draw rations. "A" troop carried out a bivouac demonstration for Transport Course 2 (a). D.A.D.V. and R.S. S and W Commands (Major H D Lewis RAVC) visited the Company to see remounts recently received. A very cold, dull day with heavy rain.

31 January 1942

19:00 hours. Rissaldar NIZAM DIN I.D.S.M. and twenty four Indian Other Ranks took part in a Warship Week Parade at RHYMNEY (sheet 102 – 5629). Fifteen Indian Other Ranks returned from leave at WOKING. A dull cold day with some rain.


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