29th Mule Company, War Diary November 1942

1 November 1942

18:30 hours. FOCHABERS. Personnel attended broadcast. A summary of weekly news was given by Rissaldar JAHAN DAD M.B.E. RIASC. Weather cloudy but fine.

18:15 hours. NAIRN. 20 men as working party with Royal Engineers. Weather fine.

2 November 1942

18:30 hours. FOCHABERS. Major H N N FAWCETT RIASC and Captain NICHOLL R.E. visited the lines for rehearsal and demonstration to be shown on Tuesday 3rd.

W.O.1 WALLIS Education Officer, Indian Contingent visited the unit. Jemadar GHULAM HAIDER detailed to attend a central training course at Reinforcement Unit. Weather cold and cloudy.

18:15 hours. NAIRN. 20 men as working party with Royal Engineers. Weather fine.

3 November 1942

18:25 hours. FOCHABERS. General H M RICHIE G.o.C. Scottish Command accompanied by Col R W W HILLS O.B.E., M.C. Commanding Indian Contingent, Major H N N FAWCETT RIASC, Major A GREEN RIASC, Captain R KEDGE RIASC and Col STALKER D.A.D.V. & R.S. Scottish Command attended the demonstration held in unit regarding loading of animals in Motor Transport. Weather fine.

18:30 hours. NAIRN. 20 men in working party with Royal Engineers. Commander Indian Contingent Col R W W HILLS O.B.E., M.C. visited the Detachment. Weather fine.

4 November 1942

19:00 hours. FOCHABERS. Major A R McIVOR Education Officer HQ North Highland District visited the unit at Fochabers regarding education. Weather fine.

18:25 hours. NAIRN. 20 men as working party with Royal Engineers. Cinema show in canteen at 18:00 hours. Weather fine.

5 November 1942

18:35 hours. FOCHABERS. Weather fine and warm.

18:15 hours. NAIRN. Training film shown at 10:00 hours. weather fine.

6 November 1942

19:00 hours. FOCHABERS. 40 animals proceeded with 5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry on 14 hours Exercise. Fine day.

18:30 hours. NAIRN. Bath parade and swimming at local baths. Weather rain.

7 November 1942

19:10 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O. returned from leave and assumed command. Weather fine.

18:10 hours. NAIRN. Weather fine.

8 November 1942

18:35 hours. FOCHABERS. All personnel available attended broadcast. Lecture on current affairs was delivered. Special information was given to the battle in Lybia, maps and sketches were used. Warm day.

18:40 hours. NAIRN. Weather fine.

9 November 1942

18:45 hours. FOCHABERS. 50 animals proceeded with 5th Battalion HLI on 48 hours scheme. Jemadar MOHD ALAM, Daffadar SARDAR KHAN and Naik AMIR ZAMAN proceeded to Contingent School at Grantown for English Course. Naik HUKAM DAD proceeded to 47 Supply Depot for course on camouflage. Fine and sunny day.

18:20 hours. NAIRN. Normal routine. Jemadar SAID MOHD and Naik SYED BASHIR AHMED SHAH proceeded to Contingent School for English Course. Weather fine.

10 November 1942

18:50 hours. FOCHABERS. 20 NCOs reported for duty from 3, 7, 42 Mule Companies. C.O. proceeded to ROTHES area to inspect men and animals on scheme. Animals and men returned to unit lines at 19:00 hours. Very cold.

18:30 hours. NAIRN. Normal routine. Weather fine.

11 November 1942

18:55 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O. proceeded to NAIRN to inspect Detachment. 11 Remounts arrived at FOCHABERS and 16 at NAIRN. 20 NCOs proceeded on posting to 3, 7 and 42 Mule Companies. Very cold and frosty day.

19:00 hours. NAIRN. Normal routine. C.O. visited detachment. Weather fine.

12 November 1942

19:20 hours. FOCHABERS. No. 1 Sub-Division and Headquarters proceeded on route march in the direction of ELGIN at 09:30 hours. They were inspected on route by Commander 4 Pack Group, Major H N N FAWCETT at 12:00 hours. Fine day.

19:00 hours. NAIRN. Route march 20 miles. Weather fine.

13 November 1942

18:45 hours. FOCHABERS. Normal routine carried out. Fine day.

18:20 hours. NAIRN. Bath parade at local baths. Normal routine. Weather fine.

14 November 1942

18:35 hours. FOCHABERS. General Sir Henry ap RHYS PRICE K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. Colonel Commandant of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps accompanied by Commander Indian Contingent Col R W W HILLS O.B.E., M.C. visited the unit.

18:20 hours. NAIRN. General Sir Henry ap RHYS PRICE K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. Colonel Commandant of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps accompanied by Commander Indian Contingent Col R W W HILLS O.B.E., M.C. visited the Detachment. Weather fine.

15 November 1942

19:10 hours. FOCHABERS. All personnel available attended broadcast. A long lecture was given on the situation in North Africa, Lybia and Mediterranean. Fine day.

18:50 hours. NAIRN. Weather fine.

16 November 1942

18:40 hours. FOCHABERS. Routine carried out as per programme. Captain H E F MORRIS and Lieut H THOMAS proceeded to Reinforcement Unit, Indian Contingent Grantown-on-Spey to attend RIASC Officers’ elementary examination. Fine and sunny day.

18:10 hours. NAIRN. Rifle and foot drill. Weather fine.

17 November 1942

19:20 hours. FOCHABERS. Usual routine carried out. One mule provided for trial with new motor saddle to 5th Battalion HLI. Col BURNS D.S.O., M.C. Major STURRIDGE and Captain RONAYNE visited lines and tried out new medical loads. Lovely sunny day.

18:30 hours. NAIRN. Gas drill. Weather fine.

18 November 1942

19:20 hours. FOCHABERS. Lieut MOHD ASHRAF RIASC proceeded on posting to Reinforcement Unit and attached to Headquarters, Indian Contingent. Captain J T WILLS Assistant By-products Scottish Command visited unit regarding salvage. Veterinary Offficer proceeded to NAIRN to inspect animals in Detachment. Fine day.

18:30 hours. NAIRN. Organised games. Weather fine.

19 November 1942

19:30 hours. FOCHABERS. Route march carried out which was inspected by C.O. 4 Pack Group, Major H N N FAWCETT. 8 mules were supplied to practise loading into motor lorries. C.R.A.S.C. Col H T GILCHRIST O.B.E. was present. Fine day.

18:20 hours. NAIRN. Route march under load 18 miles. Weather fine.

20 November 1942

18:40 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O., Indian Adjutant and Medical Officer proceeded to NAIRN to inspect Detachment. Indian Adjutant and Medical Officer returned by ‘bus in the afternoon. C.O. visited DALCROSS Aerodrome regarding men attending small course of aircraft recognition. Fine.

19:00 hours. NAIRN. P.T. Bath parade at local baths. Weather fine.

21 November 1942

19:15 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O. returned from NAIRN. C.O.’s parade carried out in the afternoon. Major A GREEN visited unit regarding administration and training.

18:40 hours. NAIRN. Inspection by Officer Commanding Detachment in Field Service Marching Order. Weather fine.

22 November 1942

18:50 hours. FOCHABERS. All personnel available attended broadcast. Lecture on current affairs was delivered. Durbar held after broadcast. C.O. conversed with personnel regarding daily routine programme. Fine but cold.

19:30 hours. NAIRN. Weather fine.

23 November 1942

18:45 hours. FOCHABERS. Usual routine carried out. 2 NCOs of the RASC joined to undergo packing and loading courses for seven days. Major A GREEN Indian Contingent visited unit regarding training. Fine day.

19:25 hours. NAIRN. Col J F FLAWELL M.C., Chief Engineer North Highland District visited unit to enquire into bathing facilities. Fine day.

24 November 1942

18:35 hours. FOCHABERS. C.O., Veterinary Officer and Medical Officer proceeded to NAIRN to inspect Detachment. Officer Commanding Detachment Lieut H THOMAS, Rissaldar MALIK MOHD KHAN, Jemadar ILYAS ASGHAR SHAH, Jemadar MIRAN BUX and 20 Other Ranks proceeded to DALCROSS Aerodrome for lecture on aircraft recognition. On return journey C.O. visited C.F.C., White Mere, Forres regarding timber for windbreaks around stabling. Fine and warm day.

19:30 hours. NAIRN. 10 men to RAF Aerodrome for aircraft recognition course. S.A.T. Weather fine.

25 November 1942

18:50 hours. FOCHABERS. Cinema show at 10:00 hours. Training film on Gas. Col BURNS D.S.O., M.C. A.D.M.S. 52 Division and Major J STURRIDGE R.E.M.E. visited lines and tried out the new litter on two mules. In the afternoon organised games were held i.e. 100 yards, 200 yards and 3 miles races also Tent-pegging and Volleyball. Two animals were provided for 5th Battalion HLI to practise with new motor loads. 8 tons of timber slabbing fetched from C.F.C. Forres. Fine and warm day.

19:35 hours. NAIRN. Route march under load about 10 miles. Weather fine.

26 November 1942

18:55 hours. FOCHABERS. Route march of 18 miles carried out. NCOs practised in map reading. 20 Other Ranks proceeded to DALCROSS Aerodrome for lecture on aircraft recognition. Major General I C GRANT C.B.E., D.S.O. visited unit at FOCHABERS. Indian Adjutant proceeded to NAIRN to inspect Detachment. Warm and showery day.

18:35 hours. NAIRN. 10 men to RAF Aerodrome for aircraft recognition course. 60 pack horses to collect hay from Railway Station. Weather fine.

27 November 1942

19:35 hours. FOCHABERS. Usual routine carried out. Trade test of 2 B/Boys and 1 boot maker carried out. Fine cold day.

19:30 hours. NAIRN. Bathing parade and swimming at local baths. Weather showery.

28 November 1942

18:50 hours. FOCHABERS. 8 tons of slabbing fetched from C.F.C. Forres. C.O. No. 4 Pack Group, Major H N N FAWCETT RIASC visited lines regarding training etc. Cinema show given by Contingent Welfare Officer in the evening. Rissaldar JAHAN DAD M.B.E. and three Other Ranks proceeded to Edinburgh on 4 days’ leave. Jemadar GHULAM HAIDER returned from course held at Reinforcement Unit. Cold day.

18:00 hours. NAIRN. Saddlery cleaning. Weather cloudy and cold.

29 November 1942

18:40 hours. FOCHABERS. Little snow fell during the afternoon. All personnel available attended the broadcast. Cold day.

18:45 hours. NAIRN. Sports mounted and dismounted. Fine and cold.

30 November 1942

18:00 hours. FOCHABERS. Usual routine carried out, as per programme. Lt Col G W DENNING RAMC visited lines regarding scheme to be held on Wednesday next. Lieut P C KHANNA joined unit on posting. Trade test carried out of farriers in No. 1 Sub-Division.

19:00 hours. NAIRN. Gas and Rifle drill. Officer Commanding Detachment gave lecture to 157 Field Ambulance. 6 horses to 5th Battalion HLI for packing and loading drill. Weather fine and cold.

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