29th Mule Company, War Diary July 1942
1 July 1942 NANTMOR VALLEY.
21:30 hours. C.O. held a conference in the Company Office and discussed some points concerning move of the unit. Weather bright and clear all day.
2 July 1942
22:00 hours. C.O. visited the Detachment. Weather bright and clear all day.
3 July 1942
21:30 hours. Preparations for the move of Advance Party were made. Weather cloudy and raining at intervals.
4 July 1942
22:00 hours. Nothing special to report. Weather uncertain raining at intervals.
5 July 1942
21:00 hours. Advance Party under command of Lieut H THOMAS RIASC proceeded to AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND. Weather uncertain raining at intervals.
6 July 1942
21:30 hours. 66 men were selected for repatriation to INDIA by draw. Weather uncertain raining at intervals.
7 July 1942
22:00 hours. C.O. visited the Detachment. Weather cloudy raining at intervals.
8 July 1942
21:30 hours. Col. C B STEPHENSON Officer i/c Administration North Wales District visited the unit and had a conference with C.O. regarding the move of the unit. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals. Heavy wind all day.
9 July 1942
22:00 hours. Captain A C LIVINGSTONE-LEARMOUTH A.Q.C. CUMBRIA AREA visited the unit and had a conference with the C.O. Weather uncertain sun shining at intervals.
10 July 1942
22:00 hours. Nothing special to report. Weather uncertain sun shining at intervals.
11 July 1942
Major H D LEWIS RAVC D.A.D.V. & R.S. Southern and Western Commands visited the unit and inspected all animals. Weather uncertain sun shining at intervals.
12 July 1942
22:00 hours. A short lecture was delivered by Jemadar ILYAS ASGHAR SHAH I.M.D. on “CURRENT AFFAIRS”. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
13 July 1942
21:30 hours. All Company was concentrated at the Camp of Detachment 29 Mule Company RIASC. Weather cloudy and heavy rain all day.
14 July 1942
21:00 hours. Major H N N FAWCETT RIASC Commander 4 Pack Group accompanied by Captain A GREEN RIASC, Adjutant Indian Contingent arrived in the Camp and hekd a conference for all Mule Company Commanders.
Repatriation party of 68 personnel proceeded to Reinforcement Unit, Indian Contingent. Weather uncertain little rain in the evening.
15 July 1942
22:30 hours. All heavy stores and loads were conveyed to Railway Station at PORTMADOC. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
16 July 1942
21:30 hours. Rest of heavy stores and kit were conveyed to Railway Station at PORTMADOC and were loaded into railway wagons. Weather cloudy and raining at intervals. Operation Order ST/x issued and copy attached as Appendix “A” (for details see below).
17 July 1942 PORTMADOC Railway Station.
22:00 hours. Unit moved out of Camp and entrained at PORTMADOC Railway Station in three parties at 09:20, 14:30 and 23:00 hours respectively. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
18 July 1942 DALWHINNIE, SCOTLAND.
21:30 hours. Unit detrained at DALWHINNIE Railway Station and bivouacked there for the night. Welfare Officer Indian Contingent met the unit in the Camp. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
19 July 1942 NEWTONMORE, SCOTLAND.
22:00 hours. Unit moved out of DALWHINNIE Camp at 07:00 hours and arrived at NEWTONMORE Camp at 11:45 hours and stayed there for the night. Commander Indian Contingent inspected the unit both on the march as well as in the Camp. Weather clear and bright all day.
20 July 1942 AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND.
21:30 hours. Unit moved out of NEWTONMORE Camp and arrived at its destination at AVIEMORE Camp “A” at 13:30 hours. A cinema show was given to the personnel by Welfare Officer, Indian Contingent. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
21 July 1942
22:00 hours. Reinforcements in replacements of Repatriation Party arrived from Reinforcement Unit, Indian Contingent. Major D A GILMORE RAVC D.A.D.V. & R.S. Scottish Command visited the unit and inspected all animals. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
22 July 1942
21:30 hours. Major H N N FAWCETT RIASC Commanding 4 Pack Group accompanied by Adjutant 4 Pack Group visited the unit. Weather uncertain and cloudy all day.
23 July 1942
22:00 hours. Captain G R CHARLTON RIASC Officer Commanding 47 S.D.S. visited the unit and discussed some points re: supplies with C.O. Ordnance Officer, Indian Contingent visited the unit and discussed some points with C.O. re: Ordnance stores. Weather uncertain, raining and sun shining at intervals.
24 July 1942
21:30 hours. Major H N N FAWCETT RIASC Commanding 4 Pack Group visited the unit and had a conference with C.O. re: Brigade Training. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals with heavy wind.
25 July 1942
23:00 hours. C.O. attended a conference held by Commander 4 Pack Group, Commander Indian Contingent was also present there. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
26 July 1942
22:00 hours. A short lecture was delivered by Jemadar MALIK MOHD KHAN I.A.V.C. on “News of the World”. Weather cloudy and raining at intervals.
27 July 1942
21:30 hours. Unit establishment paid out. Weather uncertain and sun shining at intervals.
28 July 1942
21:30 hours. Acting Captain H E F MORRIS RIASC from 25 Mule Company RIASC took over the command of this unit from Major R B Le-CORNU M.C. RIASC - being transferred to Reinforcement Unit, Indian Contingent. Commander Indian Contingent accompanied by Rissaldar Major and Honorary Lieutenant MOHD ASHRAF I.O.M, I.D.S.M. RIASC visited the unit. Weather cloudy and dark all day.
29 July 1942
22:00 hours. Lieut A F ESTLICK RIASC proceeded on embarkation leave until the date of Embarkation. Adjutant 4 Pack Group visited the unit. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
30 July 1942
21:30 hours. Unit Durbar held at 11:00 hours. A cinema show was given to the personnel by a representative of Welfare Officer, Indian Contingent. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
31 July 1942
21:30 hours. Major R B Le-CORNU M.C. RIASC proceeded to Reinforcement Unit, Indian Contingent to take over the command. Weather uncertain, sun shining at intervals.
Appendices attached to the July 1942 War Diary of the 29 Mule Company, RIASC.
Appendix “A” – Operation Order ST/x – Movement Instruction for move to AVIEMORE.
This single page summarised the actions to be taken to move 29 Mule Company to its new location – at which it would be training with 52 (Lowland ) Division.
The Company was divided into three parties, plus Advance Party and Rear Party. Three days dry rations together with seven days grain and forage were to be taken – of which three days were to be consumed on the journey with four days taken direct to AVIEMORE. The three trains were to be commanded by the Company Commander, Lieut A F ESTLICK and the Indian Adjutant. Lt THOMAS would command the Rear Party.
APPENDICES “B” to “D” detailing the March Table, Membership of each of the three parties and the Rear Party respectively were not attached to the War Diary.
This is unfortunate, as that would have allowed the identification of more of the men serving with the Company at the time.
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