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Homeward Bound Trooping Depot Deolali
Webmasters Personal Collection.
Letter Of Introduction
View Letter Of Introduction
......Upon arrival at the HBTD Deolali, the Forces personnel would collect or had been handed a booklet explaining, what was expected of them, and what goes on inside and outside of the camp, also what to expect from the authorities during their stay.
......The letter of welcome was also a brief introduction and lastly at the foot of the letter a form requesting volunteers. Attached to the back binder, a detailed map of the camp.
......Part I: Covered the staff shortages and the need for volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the facilities, among the job titles for voluntary duties were, GUARDS, CAMP MAINTENANCE, DRAFT CONDUCTING OFFICERS, COURTS OF INQUIRY. (OFFICERS AND WARRANT OFFICERS), TRAIN ADJUTANTS, and Medical Staff. (M.O.S. and R.A.M.C. personnel), on a lighter note, conductors to give classes, organizers of sporting events and any talented person who was willing to put themselves forward in an effort to pass the time, where amusements were limited.
......Arrival at the station was either by a regular service train or
troop train this only differed slightly. Depot staff personnel meet all
trains, and were recognized from the red and grey flashes worn on their
shoulders, speakers and signboards placed at intervals on the platform
directed troops to the Report Centre, which was sometimes a tented area
and their they would remain until all baggage was accounted for.
......Sorted into groups, Python, Release, Air Trooping, etc. Then from
here they would be dispatched to the camps, some marched, some transported,
but all baggage was transported.
......Troop Train: Personnel were requested not to detrain until they were
told to do so and did not go to the Report Centre.
CAMP
Arrival
......Upon arrival the group or individual would have "book in", shown or directed to their accommodation where later arrangements were made for them to, have their documents checked, medical by an M.O., attend to money matters then sort out their baggage, this could take anything between 48 hours for Python personnel and up to five days in cases of Release personnel.
......Examples of the troops expected stay at Deolali was varied, 2 days, 7 to 14, and 6 weeks, depending on the circumstances as they put it, outside of their control, quoting, shipping availability of aircraft and the more needy, P.O.Ws and wounded.
CAMP FORMALITIES
Officers
......Formalities had to be observed to insure the smooth and efficient running of the camp, arrival forms were filled at the Reception Office. Documents such as their IDENTITY CARD, AFH-H57, AB-439, RELEASE BOOK, MOVEMENT ORDER, EMBARKATION AUTHORITY and AFW-3149, any other document they may have been issued, and the (M.D.U.) MILITARY DISPERSAL UNIT they wished to be discharged from. “A” Release officers traveling by AIR would report to the Air Trooping Officer.
......Medical: Certificates of VACCINATION, INOCULATION etc were presented to the M.O. Those traveling by air had to obtain a certificate of fitness to travel, which had to be renewed every 72 hours.
- Pay: A visit to the Pay Advice Bureau was required.
- Arms: All arms, that included trophies must be handed over.
- A.E.C. Officers: Education Officers were to report to HBTD, Munro Camp.
- Medical Officers: Were to report to the Senior Medical Officer, HBTD, Munro Camp.
- Baggage: All heavy baggage was taken to the Baggage Room and obtain/completion of the required certificates obtained through the Baggage Officer.
......Notice Boards: The camp run around notice boards and it was the individuals responsibility to check these daily, the main one being the shipping list, the identifying "ship's letter" had to be placed on all their baggage. [View diagrams]
B.O.Rs.
......Arrival: After having been booked in at the Wing office, they were
placed into drafts under the W.O’s., command and issued quarters.
......Documents: Embarkation and movement orders were checked. "A" Release
Personnel were to report to the Documentation Centre taking with them their
Release Book, if they did not have one, one was issued, also the (M.D.U.)
MILITARY DISPERSAL UNIT they wished to be discharged from.
......Medical: Their AB-64 Part 1 was inspected for confirmation of their
medical inspection, vaccination and inoculation on AFW-3149. The day before
leaving they would have attended another medical inspection.
......Clothing & Equipment: Their kit would have to be made up to scale
by the Quartermaster and form AFH-1157 completed.
......Lectures: These were given; time permitting, on Release and Resettlement
matters.
......Arms and Ammunition: All arms, ammunition and trophies to be handed
in to the Armory.
......All the above was carried out by drafts and staggered and was placed
on the notice board.
......Re-drafting: This was carried out according to their M.D.U., in the
case of "B" Release and Python, according to their corps/regiment.
......Baggage: B.O.Rs. were informed of their “Ships Letter” and
it was their responsibility to insure all their baggage was marked with
this letter, light baggage accompanied them and it was important it contained
the kit to hand at the Military Disembarkation Camp Unit (M.D.C.U.).
......Air Trooping: This differed slightly and was conveyed to them by
their Wing Commander.
PYTHON
Leave
......Troops going home on Python leave would have required the following documents. Movement order, A.F.W. 5133 Embarkation Certificate Parts 1 and 2, stamped and signed by the unit C.O., A.F.B. 122, A.F.H. 1157 or 957, A.B. 64 Parts 1 and 2, A.I.F.S. 1524, I.A.S.M. 1240. F.F.I. Certificate lastly I.A.S.M. 1260.
P 1 :: P
2 :: P 3 :: P
4 :: P 5 :: P
6 :: P 7
Research
Letter of introduction
Baggage diagram
Baggage diagram