25th Mule Company, War Diary May 1942
1 May 1942
19:00 hours. A warm sunny day. Pack Transport Training with affiliated units continued. Pay for month of April 1942 drawn and disbursed.
2 May 1942
19:00 hours. A warm sunny day. Unit administration day and normal routine carried out.
3 May 1942
19:00 hours. A mild sunny day. SUNDAY. Personnel attended radio programme in the morning. Officer Commanding (Captain W JAMESON) attended a conference in connection with Brigade Exercise to be held on 4th, 5th and 6th May 1942.
4 – 6 May 1942
Unit (less sick and unfit animals and Camp maintenance Party) on Brigade Exercise.
7 May 1942
A warm sunny day. Normal routine carried out. The Welfare Officer, Indian Contingent (Captain CHANDRA) visited the Company. 150 men of unit attended a cinema performance in the evening.
29 Remounts (6 Riders and 23 Pack Horses) were received from No.2 Field Remount Depot, ASHBOURNE through 11 M.V.D.
8 May 1942
19:00 hours. A warm sunny day. Normal routine carried out. Commander North Wales District (Major General L H COX C.B.E., M.C.) visited the unit.
All British Officers of unit attended a Brigade conference on exercise which was held 4th, 5th and 6th May.
9 May 1942
19:00 hours. A warm sunny day. Normal routine carried out. Lieut H E F MORRIS proceeded on leave inclusive 9th inclusive 17th May 1942. Honorary Lieut MOHD ASHRAF I.C.M., I.D.S.M. visited the unit. Company attended a cinema show arranged by Welfare Officer (Captain CHANDRA).
10 May 1942
19:00 hours. SUNDAY. A cold windy day with rain later. Personnel attended Sunday morning radio programme.
11 May 1942
19:00 hours. A dull cold day. Officer Commanding Company (Captain W JAMESON) and Lieut A V COWELL attended HQ 70th Infantry Brigade Signal Section for instruction in Radio Telephony. Officer Commanding 47 S.D.S. (Captain G R CHARLTON) visited the unit. 150 men of unit attended an ENSA Concert.
12 May 1942
19:00 hours. A cold windy day. Normal routine carried out.
13 May 1942
19:00 hours. A sunny day with strong wind. Company under Lieut A V COWELL carried out a day route march.
14 May 1942
19:00 hours. Warm sunny day. Commanding Officer visited HQ Indian Contingent for conference at 11:00 hours.
15 May 1942
19:00 hours. Commanding Officer (Captain W JAMESON) proceeded on leave. 15 May until 16 May 1942. Lieut A V COWELL assumed temporary command of unit. Overcast and cloudy. Company carried out a day route march under Lt COWELL.
16 May 1942
19:00 hours. Normal routine carried out. Sunny day. Personnel attended cinema performance arranged by Captain CHANDRA. Officer Commanding (Captain W JAMESON) returned from leave.
17 May 1942
19:00 hours. A dull day which later turned to rain. Personnel attended the Sunday morning radio programme. The Commander, Indian Contingent (Col R W W HILLS O.B.E., M.C.) visited the unit. Company hockey team played a match with 32 Mule Company.
18 May 1942
19:00 hours. A very wet day. A unit Durbar was held. Lieut A V COWELL delivered a lecture on current affairs.
Major J P HEGARTY M.C., RAVC proceeded on leave on medical certificate.
19 May 1942
19:00 hours. A dull day with some rain. Normal routine carried out.
20 May 1942
20:00 hours. A mild day, cloudy at times.
Rissaldar MAKHAN KHAN proceeded on leave inclusive 20 inclusive 26 May 1942.
Company carried out a day route march. Officer Commanding Company (Captain W JAMESON) attended a conference held by Officer Commanding Troops in Area.
21 May 1942
16:50 hours. Commanding Officer (Captain W JAMESON) proceeded on leave inclusive 21 inclusive 28 May 1942. Lieut A V COWELL assumed temporary command of unit. Occasional showers. Normal routine carried out.
Captain I McLAREN RAVC 11 MVD visited unit.
22 May 1942
18:05 hours. Light showers. Normal duties carried out.
D.A.D.V. & R.S. Southern and Western Commands, Major H D LEWIS RAVC visited the unit. Jamadar MOHD JAMSHAD KHAN I.A.V.C. reported to 32 Mule Company in connection with Snow Warfare training Scheme.
23 May 1942
17:30 hours. Rainy day. Normal routine carried out. A unit Durbar was held. A lecture on current affairs was delivered by Lt H E F MORRIS.
24 May 1942
18:05 hours. Overcast and showery. Personnel attended Sunday morning radio programme – Lieut H E F MORRIS present.
25 May 1942
Incessant rain. Route March cancelled. Camp conditions very wet and muddy. Rissaldar NIZAM DIN I.D.S.M. proceeded to I.R.H. on duty.
26 May 1942
08:30 hours. Overcast with occasional heavy showers. Normal duties carried out under difficult Camp conditions. Education Officer W.O.1 F E BROWN visited unit and examined 15 Candidates for English 3rd Class Certificate of Education.
27 May 1942
17:50 hours. Coll and cloudy with occasional showers. Route March carried out under S.D.Cs 13 Chargers transferred to 1 Pack Company. Captain I M McLAREN RAVC 11 MVD visited unit. Major J P HEGARTY M.C., RAVC returned from leave.
28 May 1942
22:00 hours. A day of heavy rain. Normal routine carried out as far as weather conditions permitted. Lieut A V COWELL proceeded on leave inclusive 28 May and 6 June 1942. Lieut H E F MORRIS assumed temporary command of the unit. Unit M.O. carried out a medical inspection of “A” and “B” Troops. Captain W JAMESON returned from leave 21:30 hours.
29 May 1942
Captain W JAMESON reassumed command of the unit. A mild showery day.
Rissaldar NIZAM DIN I.D.S.M. rejoined 23:00 hours on 28 May 1942.
Jemadar ABDULLAH I.D.S.M. proceeded on leave inclusive 29 May to 4 June 1942.
Seven Drivers reported on arriving from REINFORCEMENT UNIT, Indian Contingent.
30 May 1942
19:00 hours. A warm sunny day on which normal routine was carried out. Medical inspection of HQ, “C” and “D” Troops was carried out. The D.A.D.V. & R.S. Southern and Western Command (Major H D LEWIS RAVC) visited the unit. The Adjutant, Indian Contingent (Captain T A SHERLOCK) also visited the unit.
31 May 1942
20:00 hours. SUNDAY. Personnel attended radio programme. A fine sunny day. A Table Tennis Tournament was played between A and B Sub-Divisions.
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