General Forms And Documents
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ASSOCIATIONS
At Home
......The British Legion, Cardigan Lodge, Richmond Hill, Surrey, had branches in most parishes. Helping ex-servicemen with, Material Aid and Medical supplies, Removal Grants Training for the disabled. Working closely with Labour Exchanges, Local Pensions Committees.
......Toc ‘H’, 47, Francis Street, S.W.1, also had units in most parishes, their units were somewhat small, they undertook a Variety of jobs to relieve anxiety and loneliness, and to help those in distress.
......Officers: The Officers Association, 8, Eaton Square, London, S.W.1.; for ex-officers requiring jobs or continuation of their careers which was interrupted by their wartime commitments/call-up. Ministry of Labour Appointments, Department, Sardinia Street, Kingsway, W.C.2. Resettlement of ex-officers (other than Regulars). Ministry of Labour Appointments, Department, Services Section, Sardinia Street, Kingsway. W.C.2. LONDON.
OBTAINING INFORMATION
......Information rooms were in all the camps and information some of which may surprise you. The Butler Education Act, 1944, Careers, Community Centres, General Election 1945-Maps and Results, The Neighbourhood and their needs, The Hope of World Peace, "Peace" 1918-39, Newspapers, "Local Rag”, News Review, Release-The Drill, The Way Home and Postal Information.
NOTICE AND BULLETIN BOARDS
......As you have read by now, “Notice Boards” and weekly “Bulletin Boards” have played an integral part in all communication processes, constantly changing, especially the embarkation notice which had men running to as soon as it had been posted, some sullen faces could be seen walking away and others that were unable to contain their excitement.
......Other information they conveyed:-
......News regarding shipping.
......Sporting events.
......Cinemas
......Broadcast News in all Wings.
......Discussion Groups.
......Debates.
POINTS OF GENERAL INTEREST
......Duty free parcels were sent home up and to a maximum value of £12. in any one year was the allowance. Gift parcels however were allowed to contain a maximum weight limit of 5Ibs, in one year at a cost of £12. Clothing however came under the heading of personal effects and personnel were allowed 12 a year with a maximum weight of 22Ibs per parcel.
......Short leave was granted to BORs., by permission of their Wing Commanders applicants would need to state their reason for requiring leave. Should leave be granted service personnel who are going home by air must leave a note of their whereabouts at their Wing Office. Officers have been known to miss their plane by not doing so.
......Mess Charges were at the rate of Rupees. 3-8-0 per day plus 3 annas, a day for conservancy and 3 annas a day up to a limit of Rupees. 3 per month, for general mess expenses, cheques were not accepted. Well-trained table bearers were in short supply, personal bearers could be brought to the camp provided they carried passes and the rate of pay did not exceed 12 annas per day, over this was acceptable provided he was tending the needs of only one person, and should receive for their services 2 Rupee per day.
......Lodgings: Officer in transit did not pay lodging allowances. Officers Dhobies, cost 2 annas per large item, i.e. shirts, sheets, 1 anna for small items, i.e. socks, vests.
......Hairdressers: Were also available, officers however officers had
to pay for this service.
......Badminton-Tennis-Billiards: Courts were provided free of charge,
racquets and balls were also supplied free. Billiards however cost 4 annas
per ½ hour.
LEAVING HBTD
......The day prior to drafts moving off, all baggage other than troopdeck
baggage was taken over by the Depot Baggage Officer and loaded into “C” wagons
at the station.
......Service Personnel, were marched or transported to the station under
the watchful eyes of Draft Conducting Officers, this was done sometimes
carrying there packs, by now containing extra weight.
......D.C.Os would report to the O.C. Platform, service personnel would
find their draft deck baggage across from their carriages which they would
occupy.
......Confirming all service personnel have boarded the D.C.Os would again
report to the O.C. Platform.
......Officers baggage excluding bedding rolls and cabin baggage were loaded
into “C” wagons one to two days prior to departure, their cabin
baggage and bedding rolls, were loaded and transported prior to departure
to the station. Dedicated carriages were assigned to officers drafts. His
Cabin baggage was waiting at the platform and loaded, less bedding rolls,
which were loaded into the baggage van. Bedding rolls were then loaded
onto the ship under the watchful eye of the Train Baggage Officer.
GENERAL INFORMATION
......Baggage party personnel would have at all times stayed by the baggage
until their drafts arrive. D.C.Os would not move drafts on to the platform
unless they had reported to the O.C. Platform.
......The O.C. Train was handed a list of the times and duration that the
train would be halted for rest, refreshments and for the steam engine to
take on water and fuel. There was at most times cha-wallah’s at these
stops selling tea.
......No one could leave the train for any reason unless express permission
from the O.C. Train was obtained. Should they have felt unwell, they would
convey this, as soon as possible to the O.C. Train.
......Personnel going home by air were conducted in much the same as above with the exception that, Homeward Bound Staff guides would direct them to the right platforms where they would board the "Air Special" to Poona.
......Prior to leaving camp, Draft Conducting Officers would check the
following was in order, 7 copies of AFW-5169 for your draft, 7 additional
copies of the nominal roll of draft, personal documents of all men in the
draft.
......Ensure all men in the draft knew the order in which their names would
appear on the nominal roll. They would then embark in that order.
......Insuring that the men approached and proceeded in single file as
per the nominal roll, carrying their kit bags. At the foot of the gangway
they would announce in a loud and clear manner, the last four numbers of
their Army number, rank, initials and name. In the case of my father, Private.
Herbert Victor Sharman, Army Service No. 5337921.
5337921, Private, H V Sharman.
......Detrain and proceed to assembly area at the docks with their draft as instructed by the E.S.O. After refreshments check their draft has assembled in order shown on the nominal roll. At the embarkation point proceed to the ships gangway and amend all copies of AFW-5169 and the 7 copies of the nominal roll, to account for casualties should any have occurred en route to the port.
......Visit their draft on the troopdeck, handing over to O.C. Troops the personal documents of their draft. Draft Conducting Officers would exchange Indian currency of their drafts for sterling from the Field Cashier. To a maximum of £20 per head. Tea was provided at the quayside.
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