25th Mule Company, War Diary October 1942

1 October 1942 Training Camp.

A cold day with periods of sunshine. 170 animals employed in drawing rations from Supply Depot. Remainder of Company carried out normal routine. Pay for September 1942 drawn and disbursed.

2 October 1942

10:00 hours. A cold dull day. Lt NARAIN SINGH with one Officer and one NCO attended a demonstration of captured AFV’s. 80 animals employed in drawing rations from Supply Depot – remainder of Company carried out normal routine.

3 October 1942

08:30 hours. A cold dull day with some rain. Normal routine carried out. Major J P HEGARTY M.C. RAVC reported departure on transfer from unit.

Lance Naik FAZAND ALI SHAH reported arrival on joing from Course at M & S S.W.T.C. Commander Indian Contingent (Col R W W HILLS O.B.E., M.C.) visited unit and addressed Officers. Officer Commanding (Captain W JAMESON) attended a conference held by Commander 4 Pack Group at which arrangements for forthcoming move of unit were discussed and details settled.

4 October 1942

19:30 hours. A mild dry day. Personnel attended radio programme. 50 personnel attended a show of Training Films on Bren Gun. Commander Indian Contingent (Col R W W HILLS O.B.E., M.C.) was present. Personnel not otherwise employed were packing up and loading baggage in preparation for move of unit.

5 October 1942

20:30 hours. A cold day with intermittent showers. Unit employed in packing up and preparations for move to new location.

6 October 1942

19:00 hours. A dry cold day. Unit carried out first stage of march to new location and arrived at bivouac site at 16:15 hours. A good camp site with ample watering facilities for animals.

As unit was approaching camp site a GS wagon bolted down a hill, resulting in injuries to one man which led to his admission to hospital. Unit was practicing march discipline on this day.

7 October 1942

19:45 hours. A cold dry day. Unit carried out second stage of route march to new location and arrived at bivouac site at 14:30 hours.  ?? ?? was practised during this day’s march. Commander Indian Contingent (Col R W W HILLS O.B.E., M.C.) inspected unit on the march and was accompanied by Rissaldar Major and Honorary Lieutenant MOHD ASHRAF I.O.M., I.D.S.M. An uneventful day. Unit occupied a good bivouac with ample watering facilities for animals.

8 October 1942

21:15 hours. A cold day with intermittent heavy showers. Unit carried out third stage of route march to new locations and in march practised evacuation of casualties and replacement by spares combined with evasive action against enemy air attack. An uneventful day – unit arriving in Bivouac area at 15:45 hours. Bivouac site not as good as in previous stages and watering facilities for animals difficult. One horse was badly kicked by another and had to be destroyed.

9 October 1942

18:30 hours. A cold wet day. Unit carried out fourth stage of march to new locations. March passed off without incident and unit arrived at bivouac area at 14:30 hours. A good site with ample watering facilities. Troops were practised in marching under NCOs with Officers and NCOs practising preparing road reports. Unit refilled with supplies for men and animals on this day.

10 October 1942

19:15 hours. A cold wet day. Unit carried out fifth stage of march to new locations and arrived at bivouac areaat 15:45 hours. A good site with ample watering facilities for animals. An uneventful day.

11 October 1942 Line of March.

21:00 hours. A cold day with intermittent showers. Unit carried out sixth and last stage of march to new locations and arrived in location at 13:15 hours and found that accommodation for personnel had not been completely vacated by previous occupants and that animal stabling had not been completed also latrines and cookhouses for personnel were not ready.

Col J V FAVIELL i/c Administration North Highland District accompanied by Staff Captain, D.C.R.E., C.R.E., A.Q.C. visited the unit and discussed the question of accommodation in relation to availability and works still to be carried out or completed.

12 October 1942 Lairg.

18:30 hours. A cold wet day which was observed as a holiday due to the celebration of “Id”.

13 October 1942

20:30 hours. A dry day, bright but cold. Personnel occupied in moving into their accommodation which had been vacated by previous unit.

Jemadar ABDULLAH I.D.S.M. with two Other Ranks proceeded to RHYL in connection with Indian Gala Night. Senior Medical Officer, Indian Contingent (Major PARSONS M.B.E.I.M.S.) visited the unit and carried out a detailed inspection of accommodation. S.M.O. was accompanied by Staff Captain North Highland District and Commander 4 Pack Group (Major H N N FAWCETT) visited the unit.

14 October 1942

19:00 hours. A cold dry day. Normal routine carried out. D.C.R.E. (Major RHODES) visited unit and carried out an inspection of stabling etc under construction and decided on the layout of latrines and adaptation of cookhouses for Indian Troops. Officer Commanding Indian Contingent (Captain G B URQUHART M.B.E., I.A.O.C.) visited the unit and discussed ordnance questions. A.Q.C. North Highland District (Captain MACRAE) visited the unit and discussed the question of accommodation.

15 October 1942

20:15 hours. A cold wet day in which normal routine was carried out as far as possible.

16 October 1942

19:00 hours. A cold wet day on which normal routine was carried out as far as possible. LAIRG Cattle Fair was held and all personnel wishing to do so were given permission to attend. A.Q.C. (Captain MACRAE) visited the unit and discussed accommodation questions.

17 October 1942

A cold day with continuous rain. Normal routine carried out as far as possible.

18 October 1942

A cold day with continuous rain. SUNDAY. Personnel attended radio programme. D.C.R.E. (Major RHODES) visited unit and discussed the question of unit labour to assist in construction of stabling – agreed that he should have 32 men from unit daily. Commander Sutherland Sub-Area (Col I K THOMPSON O.B.E.) visited the unit accompanied by the Brigade Major (Major D J GRANT M.C.).

19 October 1942

A day of heavy rain. Normal routine carried out as far as possible. Officer Commanding Company (Captain W JAMESON) proceeded to EDINBURGH on duty in connection with Civil Court Case and Lt BRADFIELD assumed temporary command of unit. Jemadar ABDULLAH I.D.S.M.and two Other Ranks rejoined from RHYL. Captain SMART – Transport Officer North Highland District visited the unit.

20 October 1942

11:30 hours. A rainy day with bright intervals. Normal routine carried out as far as possible. Commander 4 Pack Group (Major H N N FAWCETT) visited the unit.

21 October 1942

08:45 hours. A day of heavy rain. Normal routine carried out as far as possible.

22 October 1942

10:30 hours. A day of wind and rain. Normal routine carried out as far as possible. Major GARRETT RASC 2nd in command C.S.D. visited the unit to discuss the question of rations.

23 October 1942

11:15 hours. A fine day which later turned to heavy rain. Normal routine carried out as far as possible. Captain W JAMESON rejoined from EDINBURGH and reassumed command of unit.

24 October 1942

10:50 hours. A bright morning which later turned to rain. Normal routine carried out as far as possible. The D.A.D.V. & R.S. SCOTTISH COMMAND (Lieut Col R H STALKER RAVC) visited the unit and carried out a veterinary inspection of animals and was accompanied by Commander 4 Pack Froup (Major H N N FAWCETT).

No. 179464 Driver FIRIT SHAH (Absentee) rejoined under escort from Police custody.

Lieut J C G BRADFIELD proceeded on leave incl 14 incl 25 October 1942.

25 October 1942

11:00 hours. SUNDAY. A bright frosty day. Personnel attended radio programme after which a verbatim report of General Wavell’s speech to British and American correspondents was read out.

26 October 1942

19:00 hours. A day of uncertain weather mainly rainy. Lieut J C G BRADFIELD rejoined from leave. Lt WATKINSON R.E. i/c R.E. works under construction visited unit to discuss these works and the provision of unit labour to assist; agreed that unit would provide 50 Other Ranks daily as long as required. Normal routine continued to be carried out as far as possible.

27 October 1942

Heavy rain in morning, weather cleared towards afternoon. Normal routine continued to be carried out as far as possible. Welfare Officer Indian Contingent (Captain CHANDRA) visited the unit.

28 October 1942

A day of very heavy rain which interfered with work in the unit and also with R.E. works under construction. In the evening personnel attended a cinema show arranged by Welfare Officer, Indian Contingent (Captain CHANDRA).

29 October 1942

A dry day cold and dull. Normal routine carried out. Lieut E.M.E. WALTHER reported arrival on posting from HQ 5 Pack Group.

30 October 1942

12:05 hours. A cold day of uncertain weather. Jemadar WALI MOHD proceeded on leave incl 30 Oct incl 7 November 1942. Bulk of unit employed on drawing stores from the Railway Station, balance employed in assisting in construction of stables.

31 October 1942

10:30 hours. A bright cold day after a night of heavy frost. Bulk of unit employed in drawing stores from Railway Station, balance employed in assisting with construction of stables.

As far as could be ascertained, there was no record of any War Diary in the original file at The National Archives beyond October 1942.

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