29th Mule Company, War Diary December 1942
1 December 1942
17:50 hours. FOCHABERS. Normal routine carried out. Jemadar MIRAN BUX and 9 Other Ranks proceeded to DALCROSS Aerodrome for Aircraft Recognition. Lieut P C KHANNA proceeded to GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY to attend ordnance course for two days. Very cold day and little snow.
18:00 hours. NAIRN. 10 Other Ranks went to attend Aircraft Recognition course. Weather fine and cold.
2 December 1942
17:45 hours. FOCHABERS. 60 animals proceeded with 155 Field Ambulance on scheme from 10:30 – 16:00 hours. Lieut P C KHANNA rejoined unit. Very cold day.
17:30 hours. NAIRN. Organised games held in the afternoon. Weather fine and dry.
3 December 1942
17:10 hours. FOCHABERS. Viscountess GOUGH, Area Supervisor for the YMCA accompanied by Dr CHANDRA. D.S. GOONERATNE visited the unit regarding YMCA stores and equipment. Jemadar MIRAN BUX and 9 Other Ranks proceeded to DALCROSS for Aircraft Recognition. Usual routine carried out. Cold day.
17:50 hours. NAIRN. Route march of about 14 miles carried out. Weather fine and cold.
4 December 1942
18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. Usual routine carried out. Started building wind breaks around stables. C.O. visited D.C.R.E. ELGIN regarding timber and nails for windbreaks. Cold Day.
17:30 hours. NAIRN. Disinfection of blankets carried out. Captain W J WATSON North Highland District visited the unit. Very cold.
5 December 1942
18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. 10 Other Ranks and 1 Cook proceeded to WOKING on week’s leave. C.O., Veterinary Officer and Medical Officer proceeded to NAIRN to inspect Detachment and to carry out trade tests of farriers. Indian Adjutant and 3 Other Ranks returned from EDINBURGH. Rained all day.
17:40 hours. NAIRN. C.O., Veterinary Officer and Medical Officer visited the Detachment. Trade test – Farriers – carried out. Weather fine.
6 December 1942
17:55 hours. FOCHABERS. All personnel available attended broadcast. Lecture on current affairs was delivered by Jemadar ILYAS ASGHAR SHAH I.M. Fine day.
17:30 hours. NAIRN. Broadcast attended by all personnel. Snowing and windy day.
7 December 1942
17:40 hours. FOCHABERS. Most of the day was spent drawing forage from Railway Station. Unit telephone was put into operation. Rainy day.
17:30 hours. NAIRN. Usual routine carried out. Heavy rain.
8 December 1942
18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O., Veterinary Officer, Indian Adjutant and Medical Officer visited No. 2 Sub-Division at NAIRN. C.O., Indian Adjutant and Jemadar MIRAN BUX with 20 Other Ranks proceeded to DALCROSS Aerodrome for Aircraft Recognition. Usual routine carried out. Rainy day.
17:30 hours. NAIRN. 10 Other Ranks went to DALCROSS Aerodrome for Aircraft Recognition. Cold day.
9 December 1942
18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. Morning spent drawing forage from station. Organised games in afternoon i.e. 100 yards race, 200 yards, 3-legged race and mounted potato race for B.O., V.C.O.s and Daffadars. Dull and warm day.
17:50 hours. NAIRN. Organised games held in the afternoon. Weather fine.
10 December 1942
17:40 hours. FOCHABERS. 30 animals collecting forage from station, remainder on route march. Col J PETRIE Commanding 1st Battalion M.S.A. and Major F C T LOFTING Home Guard visited unit HQ with regards to local defence. Cinema show at 18:00 hours given by Welfare Officer Indian Contingent. Showery and dull day.
17:00 hours. NAIRN. Route march about 14 miles carried out. 10 Other Ranks went to DALCROSS Aerodrome for Aircraft Recognition. Weather dull.
11 December 1942
17:50 hours. FOCHABERS. Usual routine carried out. C.O. 4 Pack Group Major H N N FAWCETT visited the unit regarding training. Fine day.
17:40 hours. NAIRN. Cinema show given by Chief Welfare Officer, Indian Contingent from 7 to 9.30 pm. Bath parades held. Weather fine.
12 December 1942
18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. Kit inspection held in afternoon. 4 Other Ranks proceeded to EDINBURGH on a four days leave. Medical Officer proceeded to No. 2 Sub-Division at NAIRN to inspect personnel and to deliver a lecture on SNOW WARFARE. Fine day.
17:30 hours. NAIRN. Jemadar ILYAS ASGHAR SHAH I.M.D. gave a lecture on SNOW WARFARE. Fine and cold.
13 December 1942
17:50 hours. FOCHABERS. All personnel available attended broadcast. C.O. attended a conference with Major F C T LOFTING Commanding C Company 1st Battalion M.S.A. and other members of the Home Guard at 19:00 hours at BURNSIDE of DIPPLE HOUSE regarding local defence scheme. Fine day.
19:00 hours. NAIRN. Nothing special to report. Sunny and fine.
14 December 1942
18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. Usual routine carried out. 3 G.S. Wagons collecting coal from station. C.O. accompanied Lt A M CURLE C Company 1st Battalion M.S.A. Home Guard on inspection around local defence posts. Fine day.
17:10 hours. NAIRN. Usual routine carried out. Foggy.
15 December 1942
17:40 hours. FOCHABERS. 60 animals collecting hay from station. C.O. and Indian Adjutant proceeded to NAIRN to inspect Detachment. Lieut C N CHAPPEL RAVC and Jemadar MANZUR ALAM I.A.V.C. proceeded to GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY to inspect animals at HQ Indian Contingent and Reinforcement Unit and also sheep at 47 S.D.S.. Jemadar ILYAS ASGHAR KHAN I.M.D. reported sick to GRAYS Hospital ELGIN. Rainy day.
17:30 hours. NAIRN. 10 men went to DOLCROSS Aerodrome for Aircraft Recognition. Weather fine and cold.
16 December 1942
17:55 hours. FOCHABERS. Usual routine carried out, no games owing to bad weather. Lieut C N CHAPPEL RAVC and Jemadar MANZUR ALAM I.A.V.C. returned from GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY. Rain and strong wind.
18:00 hours. NAIRN. C.O. inspected the Detachment. Heavy rain.
17 December 1942
16:55 hours. FOCHABERS. Major R B Le-CORNU officer Commanding Indian Contingent inspected the unit at FOCHABERS and NAIRN. C.O. and Indian Adjutant accompanied Major R B Le-CORNU on his inspection at NAIRN and stayed there for the night 17/18. Whilst at NAIRN Major R B Le-CORNU, Captain H E F MORRIS, Indian Adjutant, all VCOs and Other Ranks from the Detachment attend an entertainment given by the NAIRN TOWNSWOMENS’ GUILD. Fine day.
17:00 hours. NAIRN. Route march over 14 miles carried out. Bright day.
18 December 1942
17:50 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O. and Indian Adjutant returned from NAIRN. 50 animals spent morning collecting hay from station. Educational Officer, Indian Contingent visited unit and held 3rd Class English Examination. Fine day.
18:00 hours. NAIRN. Usual routine carried out. Heavy rain.
19 December 1942
17:55 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O. proceeded to NAIRN to attend a conference held by C.O. No. 4 Pack Group, Major H N N FAWCETT with reference to re-constitution of Nos. 4 and 5 Pack Groups. Officers commanding Nos. 7, 25, 32 and 42 Mule Companies were also present. Personnel of the Company celebrated their day of ID-UL-ZAHA. Fine day.
18:00 hours. NAIRN. Nothing special to report. Weather fine.
20 December 1942
17:45 hours. FOCHABERS. All personnel available attended broadcast. Lecture on current affairs given by Rissaldar JAHAN DAD. Pack Group re-constitution explained to personnel after lecture. Fine and warm day.
17:40 hours. NAIRN. Usual routine carried out. Fine and cold.
21 December 1942
17:15 hours. FOCHABERS. Animals collecting hay and bran from station. Lieut P C KHANNA proceeded on 10 days’ leave. Fine warm day.
18:00 hours. NAIRN. Usual routine carried out. Weather fine and cold.
22 December 1942
18:30 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O., Indian Adjutant and 25 Other Ranks proceeded to Spey Bridge at FOCHABERS to contact Lieut A M CURLE to inspect positions to be taken up by this unit in case of invasion. Wet and cold day.
17:30 hours. NAIRN. Nothing special to report. Rain and cloudy day.
23 December 1942
19:30 hours. FOCHABERS. In the morning animals collecting hay and straw from station. In the afternoon organised games were held and prizes given i.e. 220 yards, 2 miles, sack race, 3-legged race, wheelbarrow race and tent pegging. Cinema show in evening given by Contingent Welfare Officer. Fine day but lot of wind.
17:55 hours. NAIRN. Organised games held. Cloudy day.
24 December 1942
17:30 hours. FOCHABERS. No route march owing to a large number of animals collecting hay, straw and bran from station. Also foot and mouth disease in district. C.O. and Indian Adjutant visited Medical Officer of unit Dr ILYAS ASCHER SHAH in Grays Hospital ELGIN. Fine day.
17:50 hours. NAIRN. Usual routine carried out. Weather fine.
25 December 1942
18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. Xmas Day. Usual routine carried out. Major J T MAY M.C. 2i/c 5th Battalion HLI visited lines to comply programme for two courses on packing and loading for B.O.s N.C.O.s to be held next month. Fine and warm.
17:40 hours. NAIRN. Usual routine carried out. Weather fine.
26 December 1942
17:35 hours. FOCHABERS. Few animals collecting forage from station. Jemadar GUL BAHADUR reported on posting for duty from 47 S.D.S.. Fine day.
17:00 hours. NAIRN. Cinema show given by Contingent Welfare Officer. Weather fine.
27 December 1942
18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. All personnel available attended broadcast. Cool and fine day.
17:15 hours. NAIRN. Usual routine carried out. Weather fine.
28 December 1942
18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. Jemadar MANZUR ALAM I.A.V.C. proceeded to 32 Mule Company RIASC on posting. Rissaldar PATEH KHAN reported for duty on posting from 7 Mule Company RIASC. C.O. and 50 Other Ranks proceeded to Home Guard at FOCHABERS and spent the day field firing on 100 yards and 200 yards ranges. Wet cold day.
17:50 hours. NAIRN. Personnel spent the day field firing on 100 yards and 200 yards ranges. Weather fine/
29 December 1942
18:30 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O., Veterinary Officer, Indian Adjutant and Quartermaster proceeded to NAIRN to inspect Detachment. C.O. and Indian Adjutant stayed at NAIRN for the night 29/30, Veterinary Officer and Quartermaster returned to FOCHABERS the same evening. Very cold day and strong wind – some snow.
17:30 hours. NAIRN. An Indian film shown by Contingent Welfare Officer at 10:30 hours. Little snow.
30 December 1942
17:55 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O. and Indian Adjutant returned from NAIRN. Few animals collecting forage from station. Usual routine carried out. Lieut H THOMAS proceeded to No. 4 Pack Group on posting. Very cold and snow.
18:00 hours. NAIRN. C.O. and Indian Adjutant visited the Detachment. Lieut H THOMAS posted to 4 Pack Group.
31 December 1942
17:45 hours. FOCHABERS. No route march carried out owing to foot and mouth disease in district. Fatigue parties provided to collect stabling poles from FORRES and NAIRN. Very cold and wet.
18:00 hours. NAIRN. No route march. Animals collecting forage from station. Snow and cold.
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