12/3/41 - NoU», OFFICIAL ADMWLTZ COMMUNIQUE The Cornnander-in-Chief Mediterranean reports that. one of our submarines has torpedoed and sunk a heavily laden Italian troop transport of the Sicilia class of 9 646 tons. AJMERALTI, S.W.I. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN N 0,3245. 12,3.41 - No, 3. Air Ministry News Service, BRITAIN’S ODDEST AIR SQUADRON Britain’s oldest squadron N0.3. unit of the R.A.F. aeroplane now - - a has recently been in action again after quiet period since Fighter Command, a its return from France last spring. Although the squadron has in this -war shot down 62 enemy aircraft and two of its victims have been in the defence of Britain, damaged many more, only All the others were destroyed in eleven days of intense air fighting while the squadron based in Fiance last was May. The pilots tackled the enemy with such good effect that 28 German machines fell to their guns in two days. The squadron actually formed the day in 1912, No.l was on same May, as Squadron, which, in France last year, accounted for over 100 enemy machines* But, N 0.3 Squadron substantiates its claim as the oldest squadron by the fact that it was immediately equipped with heavier-than-air machines, its rivals retaining lighter-than-air equipment for more than two years. Flying to France a week after the declaration of war in 1914, the squadron shared with another unit the distinction of making the first air reconnaissance in the field. It used the first effective aerial camera in February., 1915, and in preparation for the battle of Neuve Chapelle, photographed "the ground in front of the First to depths varying from 700 to 1,500 yards. Some of the Army aircraft were fitted with radio and did valuable work in co-operation with the artillery during the battle. Later in the war the squadron took delivery of the famous Sopwith '‘Camels” and went into action as a fighter squadron, doing low bombing attacks and “ground straffing" of troops and aerodromes as well as offensive patrols. In one attack on an enemy aerodrome the squadron dropped 68 25 lb, bombs and fired 8,100 rounds of ammunition, destroying 17 enemy aeroplanes and six hangars. In all, the shot down German machines France in the last squadion 59 over war. Last year the pilots just beat their 1914~1918 record when they got their 6oth confirmed victory. After being three times disbanded in the the squadron post-war period, was finally reformed in April, 1924. In the thick of the air fighting during the German advance last Blay, Britain’s oldest squadron showed that it had taken on a new and vigorous lease of life. Back in England the has had little to do the last few squadron during months, but stands ready for action. Its shot down Heinkel now any pilots a bomber last July land recently accounted for another Heinkel and more probably destroyed a Dornier 215* The second Heinkel crashed on an island and the three out of the five members of the who survived the taken crew Hurricanes’ attack, were prisoner. ia/3/M - no., U. NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE THE MORNING PAPERS OF MARCH 13th, 1 9UI t OR BROADCAST BEFORE 7 atm, ON THAT DATE. YOUTH .SERVICE CORPS. Let Youth Run Its Own Affairs. The Board, of Education issued today (Wednesday) a circular about ’’Youth Corps”, which, if it is an activity, Service over- organised, will die a natural death - and that very quickly. Young people do not want io be organised: they want to be trusted and encouraged* The Board are alive to the modern youth* and their circular takes the form of drawing the attention of Local Education Authorities generally and their Youth Committees to what is happening in some areas where youth has been given its head. The Board’s advise to older people in regard to the Youth Service Corps is:- (a) Trust youth and be unobtrusive when offering young people guidance. (b) Encourage young people to serve the country now; and don’t pla ue them to prepare to serve at some future, less critical time. •' ' ' • The young people of East Suffolk were the first in the field. Encouraged, but not regimented, by the Local Education Authority, they got to work in July last. Now there are IU2 squads with a membership of about 1500, more than half of girls; The squads them do not conform to any pattern; they are spontaneous developments arising out of local conditions and sentiments. A brief description of the activities of Youth Service Squads in Liverpool, Hertfordshire, Bradford and Bolton is given in the Board’s circular. In Hertfordshire, the squads choose their own work and determine their own form of administration. In Bradford, the idea of mental and bodily fitness as a qualification is insisted upon and every recruit on enrolment agrees to:- attend at least one practice weekly in the subject chosen, A.R.P., First Aid, Fire Fighting etc., attend a physical training class and take periodic tests in the subject chosen. The Bolton recruitment emphasises the close systeiR9pf connection between the/Youth Centres and the Youth Service On enrolment at centre each applicant is asked to Corps. a state to which service he or she would like to be attached. In Liverpool, the local Defence Cadets are the only Youth Service Corps not initiated under the local Youth Committee. Emphasis is made on training in A.R.P,,. and drill and physical training form part of their programme. What do the Youth Squads do? The circular gives a list of some eighty tasks which being performed by young people. are now These range from filling sandbags for the Home Guard to collecting music for. the Royal Navy; from keeping first aid posts clean and tidy to filling in bomb craters; from running errands and collecting blackberries for jam to mending, sewing and washing for hospitals and collecting kitchen waste for pigs and poultry. . Some young people respond quietly but none the less effectively to any appeal for their service. Others pride themselves on being ’’tough guys”, which often that means though they have the initiative and the stamina for any job which is worth won’t ’’butt while, they in” where they are not wanted. They wanted this are on occasion; and it is the business of older while people, trusting and encouraging young people, to stand aside if necessary and let youth, ’’tough guys” and all. get to work. BOARD OF BDTTGATION A.MeBULLETIN NO a 3231 0 »• araa - -•« •«.-.» «w■ «■■ ■■ ■—» Ai?._J'pW_mßn3 NO., 177, King has oeen graciously pleased, to the __ approve I°llo w awards ing recognition of gallantry in displayed, in flying operations against the enemy? Awarded the DisLin^3isheci i'lying Cross o Wing Commander Georßeginaild .Alexander ELSMIE -No.e 114 At dusk "one day in February,l94l,”this officer led a section of 3 aircraft on an attack on an objective at Den Holder As the target area was small, the attack o was carried out from a very low level and, in spite of adverse weather and poor visibility, the main objective was succiessfully bombed, while two searchlights were extinguished by machine gun fires Texel aerodrome was afterwards machine-gunned from a height of only 300 feet; a ship off Texel was also machine gunnedo Wing Commander Elsmie's careful preparation for the flight, and his courage and determination through- out contributed largely to the complete success of the operation* Acting Squa drop. Leader Edward Dor don_ JONFS BO. 9-P.P _ In February,l94l ? 'Ghis officer was the loader of a formation of 27 aircraft which encountered an enemy force of 19 heavy bombers escorted by at least 30 fighters, in the neighbourhood of Himara, Squadron Loader Jones deployed his formation with great skill and, in the ensuing engagement, at least 27 of the enemy’s force wore shot down* He has led his squadron with groat skill and success on most of the patrols carried out over the Greek front, displaying courage and determina- tion throughout o He has personally destroyed six enemy aircraft o Flight Lieutcniant__Richai > d Nigel CULIEN No o Bo Squadron,, In February,l94l7, this officer was pilot of one of a formation, of aircraft which attacked a large force of enemy bombers escorted by at least 30 fighters* Displaying remarkable skill, Flight Lieutenant Cullen shot down five 5 of the enemy s aircraft in the ensuing action,. He has now destroyed 11 enemy aircraft and has consistently shown great resource and courage Flying Officer " Np.e 50 Squadron., One George Ernest. night in Fly 7ng ~offleer Weston was detailed Feb rilary ,"19417 to attack an enemy vessel 1 ring in the dock at Brest-o Owing to extreme darkness and exceptional searchlight and anti- aircraft opposition, great difficulty was encountered in locating the target* Although his starboard engine failed, Flying Officer Weston persisted in his search and, in the face of an increasingly heavy and accurate barrage, eventually located his target and pressed homo his attack with a full load of bombso On ■rturn journey, while over the English Channel his engine picked up ly’-. again failed* By skilful handling of his aircraft, however, he succeeded in reaching his base where he landed safely* He displayed outstanding gallantry, skill and determination throughout* ln February, ' 'Pilot,. Officer Jamps 194T, this officer was the roar iuunor of ar aircraft engaged, in a bombing operation over enemy occupied territory ♦ Whilst over the aerodrome at Moriaix, a Messerschmitt 110 was encountered, and Pilot Officer Mills skilfully directed his pilot into an attacking posit:on. end then* with great coolness and skill? shot down the- enemy aircraft* Since September?l939? this officer has par' -icipatcd in numerous operations and has displayed determination and gallantry on all. ocaasionso NO 71 iS _ON_ S§ * .Koid-i-t:. born at Simla in 1909« His father lives at Haling.* He was educated, at Boxgrove School ?Guildford ? and Wellington Collogue Hu was commissioned in the from Oranwell in 1929 and served on flying and flying instructor’s duties* He was promoted Flight Lieutenant in 1935 and in 1937 was seconded for service as HoDoCo to the Governor of Kenya* In the following year he was promoted Squadron Leader and in 1939 went to the -Air Ministry* In December ? l94o he was appointed to command No o ll. Squadron., He- was promoted Wing Commander the same montho Squadron .Leader Jones was born at Widnes in 1914 and was educated, st Wade Deacon Grammar School? Widnes? and Liverpool University* Ho was commissioned in 1935 and promoted Flight Lieutenant in 1939* Ho was appointed to command No y Bo Squadron in December 1940 p boing promoted ? .Acting Squadron Leador* Flight Lieutenant Oullan was born at Newcastle? New South Wales? in 1917* He was educated at Sherborne School and the College of .Aero Engineering; Chelsea* He was commissioned in 1937? and in the followilig year served at Calshot and later in the Mediterranean flying duties* on He was promoted Flight Lieutenant in Doc-ember ,1940* His father lives at Putney« Weston was born at Peterborough in 1919 and was educated in New Zealand at Laurence District High School* His father lives at .Lawrence,. He was commissioned in npr.il 1939 and promoted Flying Officer in October 01940* Pilot Officer Mills was born at Uxbridge in 1908 and enlisted in the R. O /uF? in 1928* Ho became an instrument maker and air and was commissioned in January 1940 as an air gunner* Directorate of Publlc Rclattons ; -Air Ministry? King Charles St.?? Whitehall? SJvV»l* 12th ML.Lfjli. URGENT NI.T.7S, iUMsBUI ROYAL .AIR FORCE AWARDS; NO a l7B o the The King has been graciously pleased to approve following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed against the enemy:- in flying operations Awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying. Cross, Fly IngOf fi c0r.... Jani e.s_ jlo sp_ph J) J MEA Rd ? „ * This officer ’has performed excellent work as a fighter pilot in the and varied missions which have been allotted to many him* On a recent occasion he led on offensive operation which extended as far as Holland, and in which troops and a gun-post armed ship also atfacked 6 Plying were machine-gunned; an was Officer O*Meara has now destroyed at least eleven enemy aircraft* He has set an excellent example* Awarded the Distinguished Flying Gross* 0 gnudr on Beader JajlP^,.H2aywarep IT o 0 219 Squadr o n« This officer has commanded the squadron since May ? l940 o He has carried out numerous operational flights by night, and on one occasion he succeeded in shooting down a Dornier 17* His excellent leadership has contributed materially to the operational efficiency of the Flying Officer John i7ADDINGHAM No? 141 Squadron* - Awarded^.the Dist i ngu.l s hed Flying Mgda 1 * 746780 Sergeant Alfred Bernard OUIIBERS - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,. Nq i; 141 S_qua^?qn a Flyihg Officer Waddingham and Sergeant Oumbers have been employed as pilot and air gunner respectively on numerous operational sorties at night 0 One night they destroyed a Heinkel 111 and another is believed to have been shot down into the sea* This officer and airman have displayed great courage and devotion to duty at all times, often under most adverse weather conditions* NOTESON pAREERS * F lying off _i cer O' .Meara was born at Barnsley in 1919 and was educated at Panton College, Lincs? He was commissioned in 1938* His home is in Norwich- When he was awarded the D O F«C 6 in September,l94o if was stated that he had displayed a very high degree of skill, and devotion to duty in all operations against the enemy and had destroyed at least six enemy aircraft, His example and keenness had been outstanding? Squadron Leader Little was born at New Orleans, U,SoA 9 in 1912* His father lives""at'Hoylake, Cheshire-, He was educated at Trinity College,Cambridge and was commissioned in No*6ol (County of London) Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force in 1934* He was promoted Flight Lieutenant in 1939 and Squadron Leader in 1940, Flying offi c e r_ Waddingham * was born at Barton on Humber in 1919, He was educated at Hymerls College, Hull and was commissioned in 1938„ His father lives at Barrow on Humber o Sergeant. Cumber s was born in 1908 at Southend,where his wife now lives* He was a refrigeration engineer before enlisting in the R,A*FoVoR 9 in as an air observer under training a He is now an air gunner? Directorate of Public Relations, Air Ministry, King Charles St M Whi teha 1l x J 3, W, l x * A-21 J£aVcJiTl94j ; o Wednesday March 12, 1941° MISISTRY OP INFOR H A T I 0 N NE V S BUL L E T I_N NO., JI 2. _ SOCIAL SERVICE IN NEV ZEALAND. Free services to out-patients at public hospitals became available in New Zealand March 1 last under the terms of the Social on Security Act. All hospitai Boards have been requested by the Government to refrain from making charges. The benefits include all general medical and surgical services, as veil as consultations, treatment, and specialist services where these are already provided. The only services not subject to free treatment are (1) dental treatment; (2) drugs, medicines and appliances, including dressings to take away application by for out-patients; (j) X-ray diagnostic services as distinct from treatment; (4) laboratory services. The Minister of Health, the Rev. Nordmeyer, states that it has not been deemed wise to incluse these benefits at present, but that it is the intention of the Government to bring them in later, as supplementary free benefits. A general practitioner service is also due to be mad.e available, but the British Medical Association representatives still decline to have anything to do with the scheme. - Dominions Office Press Section. M. 0.1. J. CYPRUS CONTRIBUTES TO GREEK RELIEF FUND. £l,OOO from the public fund of has been sent the Colony Cyprus by as a contribution to the Lord of London : Greek Relief Fund. -Deminions Office Press Mayor s Section. M. 0.1. 2. INTEREST-FREE LOANS FROM NORTHERN RHODESIA. £5,250 has been received from Northern Rhodesia in the form of loans, free of interest for the duration of the war and three months afterwards. Of this sum, £4,250 has been contributed from the Luanshya African Canteen Fund and £l,OOO from the Ndola African Canteen Fund. The Luanshya African Canteen Fund has expressed an intention of making a similar loan of £250 a month until further notice. - Danini ons Office Press Section. • M, 0.1. J. TAR TAXATION IN TEE STRAITS SETTLN.ENTS. The proceeds of war taxation in the Straits Settlements for November and December 1940 amounted to $730,523.43. At the beginning of the war it was decided to impose special taxation, the proceeds of which were to go to His Majesty’s Government as an unconditional free gift. The total raised to the end of 1940 amounts to approximately £447,781. - Colonial Office Press. Section. Ko.I. 4. NEU ZEALAND VZAAFS. Young women have eagerly sought enrolment in the New Zealand. Hauen’s Auxiliary Air Force. Applicants number 1,700, of whom 180 will begin duty at the Wellington aerodrome on April 1, releasing men for overseas training, and. for combatant service. The pay, exemp from national and Social Security Act taxation, will range from 45.6d. to 6s. a day for a seven-day week of 14 hours. Meals on the station will be provided, as well as medical and dental benefits. A smart uniform is to be supplied from material used for Air Force officers’ uniforms. - Dominions Office Press Section. The Minister of Aircraft Production acknowledges with gratitude the folloudng gifts towards the purchase of aircraft:- Folkestong, Hythe & District Spitfire Fund, (total ncr.7 £5201.7.7) £201.7.7. Bognor Post Spitfire Fund (total ncn?r £2000) £500.0.0. Gillingham (Dorset) & District Spitfire Fund £820.0.0. Post Office departments in the Welsh and border counties region.* £872.19.8. Vath-upon-Dearne, Vest Melton & Nevhill Spitfire Fund £1318.7.9. - Ministry of Aircraft j^c^uction. A*. K/W - KO-5- NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST BEFORE .11 A.M. --a !'■.< ■\ ■ ON THURSDAY' MARCH ' ~ 1 jTH 1941.. - : , ’■ ■ ' •.* J ' . *'/■* • : '.*? • i ! ■ '* ’•• •; ...... 4» ♦. 4, ‘'': . • . .j. \l.•>,/<“' THE HOW, GUARD -J- •?•.•••.• .<■ .COMMISSIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES V ■-.1.- •; W.-rr-j emoJ w •- ■. . ■;■ ■■ ; . • ‘ ; "-'AI»L-'.-RE/W.Y . . ■ •'J? WW? W'W./W' -f .• .. .. • Y.lth vefy- fevz exceptions, the "names of. all Area } Group, Zone and Battalion Commanders and'the names for any other appointments carrying rank of .Lt.Cdlohel or above been submitted by Commands the Uar Office and have been approved. haye to These nameshave not yet been published’ in Nar. Office Orders,'; but this will be done shortly. •‘oxccnon ■I I-.-• A' ' Command Selection Boards are now dealing with applications for Commissions for ranks below that of Lt. Colonel and a number have already been approved. . . .Instructions have now been given that if a man selected for the appointment of Platoon Commander does not’wish to accept a Commission he may be granted the rank 7/? . ; of’,’'.arrant Officer, Class il (Company Sergeant Major).. ;i ' - , Recruiting. : wW As has been stated or recently practically every unit of the several occasions ; Home Guard is up to. strength and many have ’’waiting "lists" There are,, however, . always mainly in country districts which still have some Vacancies owing to their members having been called up for service. Therefore no man ; should fail to apply for enrolment because he thiiiks his local unit;is full up. r . He should ascertain if it has any vacancies and if not. his name will be recorded ; on the..’’waiting list”. ' • . This applies particularly to the seventeen year olds. If the-/17,.y ear s come along as is expected and as those men on ’’waiting lists” are absorbed into the H.H. it is not present that the changes in the age. limits of the anticipated at Schedule of Reserved Occupations will have a serious effect on the strength, of the r Home There is nothing to prevent those who are approaching the age 17 to have themselves registered on the ’’waiting list.” in readiness for . their seventeenth r <. ' . .-. Army Reservists. There certain number of members of the Array Reserve notably -Glass - are a who who are not at present serving with the Forces. These are mostly individuals are required for industrial work. and there ate There is no reason why such men should not join the Home Guard very good reasons why the/ should do so. Many of them are trained soldiers and would be of great value to the Home Guard both as instructors and defenders of the country. The fact that such men join the Home Guard "WOuld not prevent them being recalled to the Colours if their services should be required there, and even if they were recalled later, the Home Guard would have got the full benefi-t of their present services. /Any Any member of the Army Reserve (Class W or otherwise) who alters his address, is reminded that he must report his new address to the officer in charge of Records of his ’Regiment or Corps on the c ard provided for that purpose. If the Invader Comes. No matter how or when German troops may land, they will not take our home defence forces by surprise. There are a million and a half of the Home Guard alone, and they are in every town, village and hamlet. The invader would not find a scared population and a congested countryside, but an armed and -trained body of men, who, fighting for their homes on their own home ground, would with shot, and steel and bomb contest foot of ground every t By night and by day in village streets, in farm meadows, on the banks of rivers, on hills and in valley^ ,■■■ the Home Guard would defend their homes and their own folk. Fighting as a local force or in. conjunction with the Regular . Array, men of, the. Home Guard, will truly deserve their proud name and the people’ s trust. Already "in Action" Already they have proved their worth in swift response to the wall for action. Many times they have been first on the spot ready to capture German airmen who had baled out; and in the air raids on ou'r towns and villages the Home Guard have given great help to our Civil Defence Services. Take only one case' in the big blitz on Manchester the Home Guard were paraded and were among the first to aid and the last to leave. ' Workers as well as soldiers. There is no fear that when the Home Guard is mustered, production will., come to.a. standstill. The men are workers as well soldiers, and when active defence of fheir different areas is not required they will continue to work in the fields, factories, and workshops. .Not everywhere at once will fighting come before production. / .h . A combination of vigorous youth and mature age, the Home Guard is an inspiration to the entire country. Everywhere they are relatives and neighbours of the they to defend, and thoir uniform is convincing to people mean a answer any mischevious rumour of Fifth Columnists. ' h.. - Parents, wiv.es/ sweethearts and sisters are-rightly proud of their Home Guard ready to fight for the safety of their country, the security of their homes, and the honour of the family. ’ WAR OFFICE, SIM., . ... 12/3/U1 ■■No>6 NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE 3 p.m. WEDNESDAY, PARCH 12th. SCHOOL TEACHERS AND EMPLOYERS SHOULD GET TOGETHER A suggestion that teachers and employers should get together and discuss their difficulties was made to-day (Wednesday) by Mr . t Chuter Ed.e, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education. Opening a new Senior School for Girls at Cannock, Staffordshire, he said that the child’s future employer should made to realise that the first years with a good employer should he a continuation of the processes of education. Teachers and employers should get to know more of each other. Each could correct misconceptions formed hy the other and it was certain that neither could properly do his duty to the child without under-, standing the other. 'Hr, Ede also said that with the raising of the school year to 150 four-year courses would have to he planned for the children between 11 and 15 that would combine a good general education with an endeavour to give natural and acquired practical aptitudes full play, OOo P OARD OF EDUCATION 12/3/41 - No, 7. « ♦ FOR HJBLICATION IN THE MORNING PAPERS OF WARCH IJth,. 1%1. AND NOT FOR BROADCAST^7 a.BU ON THAT DATE. 'WAR OFFICE AWARDS. The following statements of services are in respect of immediate awards conferred for gallantry in the field which have been previously announced in the London Gazette:- Service Order. The_Distinguished Major (acting Lieutenant-Colonel) Skipworth Edvard Tayler, 18th. Royal Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army. Lt.-Col. S.E. Tayler when in command of the assualting troops on a position displayed throughout the attack courage and leadership of the highest order. The attack he success of the v.as largely due to his personal example. Later was in the to placed in command of all troops locality. Subjected prolonged and intensive air bombardment he invariably remained cool and imperturbable. He displayed, at the time they were most needed, outstanding qualities as a commander. The, Indian Order of Merit (Second Class). No. 5108 Havildar Balwant Sing Quswain, 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army. Wen this N.C.O’s company which had been ordered to exploit a position was heavily counter-attacked, and he himself shot through the thigh, in spite of his he refused to to the and continued to command his section with great wound, go rear gallantry and his skilful control of L.M.G. fire was responsible for inflicting a considerable number of casualties on the enemy. Later on, seeing that the number of stretchers available was insufficient to carry all the wounded, he insisted on walking and continued to command his section. It only was when his company had been withdrawn into battalion reserve that he eventually went back to the First Aid Post, His conduct throughout the of the order. operation was highest The Distinguished Conduct Medal. No. 7887112 Corporal (acting Sergeant) Charles Stanley Elliott. Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps. The tank commanded by this N. C.O. had gained its objective, it broke a track and became immobile during operations. Soon after another tank about Zj.o years away caught fire. Sergeant Elliott got out of his tank although still surrounded by enemy and rescued the two occupants of the burning tank who had been seriously wounded by an A/Tk rifle fired from the top of a building 15 yards away. He laid the two wounded men between his tank and a bank and dismounted a M.G. and went into action with it, as owing to the position of his tank he found it impossible to man his properly from his own tank. guns The courage and resource of this N.C.O. throughout the operation was most praiseworthy. (continued) 2 The Military Medal. N0*6012035 Lance-Corporal Robert William Clarkson, The Essex Regiment. when this and his taking cover in During a bombing attack, N.C.O. men were a slit trench, L/Cpl. Clarkson jumped out and maintained his Bren Gun in action in the open, firing continuously, and shouting words of encouragement to his section. He continued to fire his gun in spite of the fact that bombs were dropping as close as 30 yards to him. Prior to this when volunteers called for by his Company were Commander to provide protection for O.C. Tank Squadron -who had three disabled tanks well to the the Fort, L/Cpl. Clarkson’s section killed two right flank and in front of snipers whilst affording protection to the tanks, subsequently returning with the enemy rifles. Throughout the action this N.C.O. displayed great courage and coolness in action and set a fine example to his section. The Military Cross. Second Lieutenant Eric Forster Duncan, Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corpse During operations in November 1940) 2nd Lieut* Duncan whilst in command of a troop of tanks under very heavy fire engaged a forde of enemy Medium Tanks numerically superior by more than three to one. As a result of the brilliant leadership and dash of this officer several enemy tanks were destroyed and the remainder were forded to retire. The Military Cross. Subadar Umrao Singh, 19th Hyderabad Regiment, Indian Army. During operations in December 1940, of the Hyderabad Regiment under a Company Subadar Umrao Singh counter attacked and retook a difficult feature which had been captured by part of a tribal lashkar. It was then too dark to -withdraw his Company which had to be left out for the night. The position on its flank was rushed and so it was completely isolated and out of touch with camp. Subadar Umrao Singh skilfully and rapidly organised the position in three platoon posts although by this time completely surrounded by the lashkar,. During the night the position was attacked several times and one platoon post was rushed. The Subadar immediately organised and launched a counter attack with grenades which retook the position so rapidly that the tribesmen were unable to take away the arms of casualties. The Company maintained their position until relieved next day. Subadar Umrao Singh displayed the highest qualities of leadership throughout the night. His personal courage and coolness were an inspiration to the whole and kept them in good heart in spite of the intense company cold and the fact that had neither food they nor greatcoats. The Military Cross. Second Lieutenant Christopher William Bellenden, The Gold Coast Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force. During an attack on an enemy position in December 1940, this officer was in charge of detachment of the Gold Coast Field under the leading attacking a Company, Rifle Company* One of his men carrying a Bangalore Torpedo, ready fused, dropped it among the leading attacking troops, which started the fuse to burn. 2/Lieut. Bellenden, without hesitation, ran forward, picked up the Torpedo and carried it to the wire distance of The before this officer enemy a some 30 yards. Torpedo exploded had time to back than 20 yards. This action saved the lives of get more undoubtedly the leading men, waiting to the wire. go through WAR OFFICE. 12/3/41 - No.B. KINGS ■■'JRICriT RIFLES ’ .I FINE RECORD* i\ of the fighting in Kenya and contained in cable survey Somaliland, a from Nairobi, gives an excellent record of the performances of the King’s African Rifles, a force recruited from all territories including Nyasaland and officers! by Europeans with many regulars, settlers and officials* The K.A.R. have fought on all fronts since the outbreak of when they war, constituted practically the sole defenders of the country* Their engagements include the first capture of El Wak in June, the defence of Moyale in July, patrol skirmishes at Dobeo at the end of that month, Then came the evacuation of British Somaliland in August and the retreat in the following month from Burna after which there was much patrol work and they were always conspicious in bearing the brunt on all fronts from Turkana to the coast. They led the offensive against Italian Somaliland, capturing Linoi and many posts on the desert road to Afrnadu. They even fought on water and in dhows took Beiserpenti Island which controls Kismayu harbour* They formed the northern clan of the pincers movement, cutting the Gelib-Brava road. This was accomplished by covering by compass course 45 miles in days through a solid wall of bush. They captured many prisoners at Buda, after which they rushed to the coast with the Nigerians and effected the release of the British seamen at Merca and took a further thousand prisoners. VJest of Lake Rudolf, they have lately captured Todenyang and British and Italian Namaropoth. Individual feats of heroism are many among them that of Private Choka at Makali providing an excellent cover of his comrades against fire and Lance Corporal Otieno who held his position under heavy fire and carried a wounded comrade to safety. Then there was the cook who through the Moyale continued above siege of ground although everyone else had gone below to shield from bombardments and the four African signallers who did not fail once, though their dugout was frequently hit by shells and their aerial shot down several times. 1 The Commander at Moyale said "The African ranks cheerfulness was amazing although they all knew that the enemy was right round us." This sums up the courage of the K.A.R. throughout the whole campaign* MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. XZ/l/ia - No. 9* Contingents of the Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Expeditionary Force which left England in order to take duty in another theatre of war up arrived in the middle East time safely some ago. the departure of the troops from England, the Secretary of State for Upon Dominion Affairs sent the following message to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia:- "On behalf of His Majesty-s Government in the United Kingdom I desire to to you and your colleagues our admiration of the Australian troops who express are now leaving this country for services against our common enemies elsewhere. '.?e send them our best wishes and they will take also from these we hope that shores friendly recollections of their service here in England. They will, we know, be glad to feel that they have, by their presence here, played a great part in the defence of this country and so contributed in no small measure to final victory. "We shall follow the future exploits of these fine troops with the greatest interest and admiration," The Commonwealth Government sent the follotzing reply:- "The Commonwealth. Government greatly appreciate the kindly message you have sent the transfer of contingent of troops from England to consequent upon a our the Middle East. "We are delighted to know that our men have had some part in the magnificent defence effort of Great Britain at home. Y/e are conscious of the great importance to all the British people of this gallant resistance. The Commonwealth Government declares proudly that whether it is in Great Britain or on other frontiers of the Empire we want to fight with you in the thickest of the battle until we reach a victorious peace. At the same time Lord Cranbome sent the following message to the Prime Minister of Not Zealand:- "On the departure of the Not Zealand troops who are now leaving this country for service elsewhere, I should like, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, to convey to you and your colleagues, our thanks for the help which they have rendered in the oftmmon cause during their r service here. Their fine bearing and keenness won the admiration of all. Y. e have happiest recollections of the them and we hope that they are talcing vzith them equally happy memories of the home country in whoso defence they have well played their part. "Me send them every good wish. They will, we know, ably carry on the splendid traditions of the Not Zealand Forces and win fresh laurels for their arms." The following reply was received from the Prime Minister of Not Zealand: - the colleagues and I very warmly appreciate your remarks on conduct and bearing of the Not Zealand troops who have recently left the United Kingdom. They were made to feel at all times that they were among their own people and that their welcome and and here for our part are proud to genuinewas warm we part in lenow that they worthily represented us and they have played some of the share with you the conviction that defending the centre Comnonwealth. Ke in their new sphere of activity they will worthily uphold their tradition," DOMINIONS OFFICE. 12/3/41. No, 10. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO 3250. • Air Ministry News Service. ONE NIGHT RAIDER DESTROYED ON GROUND, An enemy aircraft ready to take off on a raid last night, was destroyed Before it left the ground. An R.A.F, pilot who has already won the D.F.C. for his night exploits against enemy raiders flew to ar. aerodrome in France, stayed there for 25 minutes, then dropped Bombs. One of these was seen to hit an aircraft on the edge of the aerodrome. It burst into flames, ammunition and lights flew cut, and the petrol very tank exploded. No. IL, FLASH. It is learnt in London that last night aircraft of Bomber Command made a successful attack on the naval base of Kiel. AIR AFFAIRS, . 12/3/jl - , No*. 12. FIRE FIGHTING . r The following is the. text pf • : ll.2Q -.">?/■ . a Broadcast to Schooh at ..-■■• this mornihg'by Lt.-Col. 'Symonds--n/..'-wb ./ ■' ’ • . • ’ • • . ■’ -■wW •"? ■■ ... b-fy .. „• , "T' \ ViThen only six ' I* was years old, my father was appointed Second ■ ’ or seven Officer to Captain ShaW, who was the-Chief Officer.of the.London Fire, Brigade. . From that time onwards',' till I was getting oh’for twenty,/I lived at the' head- ; : of the London Fire you may be quarters. Brigade, and sure I tbok,interest in all that going" cn» 'bl thoroughly enjoyed myself,: and. I’m sure you would have was too. After all >.'nothing could be'mere exciting than to be. .allowed, to .play with'; fire and .water just-as .muchJas ever you?-liked.” .J?..../- " 4 a?: •> •// r, ' a.-- . .-. n, \. Living at a fire station like that I learnt about fire fighting when I- was young. I wonder if you’ve ever thought of the many things- that,happen, when you pull the ordinary street fire, alarm. You’ve probably thought that, a bell rang in the nearest fire station, ' But a great deal more 'than, ..that happens, ■ First of all - -: - the time at which youpull recorded., .and a., bell, rings in the' - alarm is several ■ different fire'-'stations all round • the neighbourhood possibly in as many as fifteen - . stations 'and then*'the fire engines s tart /their’ dash to .the fire./-- Some, of them-...<-ii?-- carry hoses, some carry fire-escapes, andI'there will be at least one with a hundred-foot high turntable ladder all of them'turning out-at the pull of * a single alarm* . . ■' ■■■ When the Fire Brigade arrives at the fire, it may turn out to be a pretty difficult one, and then the Fire-Brigade sends a number.of special'signals 'back' to its headquarters, asking for-more turntable-ladders > extra fire engines «■‘perhaps IJ for canteen vans., or vans fitted with special rescue dresses;. ''' • All -'the big cities "■ ' . ? and. towns jin the British Isles-have the same/kind of arrangements for dealing with' -' •' '<•' their.fires. . - ’ - -J- i---' • .-. V■■ i ■ ' ■ , ■ ■■■; ; ■ ■ ■ , j’ - ; ; J •• • , > !.■) ,’1 •’ .i. » * ■ •■ ■•'•/ ’-. *jV' -- -*J -c ,_• --J -■ • But when I was young, fire-brigade work was very different from wha't it is today, The engines were all pulled by horses, and, were worked, by steam. ■ The, engines .''.all StbCd redly in 'the stations, and wheii' a : 'fire., alarm' sounded jthe hors.es .. , were backed on, and the harness, kept hanging from- the ceiling, J.ust..py.er where , they stood;,■ was lowered, and. buckled 'on.• Then the . doors and put ..rushed, the horses I'galloping -down iiie/rdal-•at/full speed, the bell ridging',"men., shouting : and a- trail- of Sparks and smoke" pouring-' from'the chimney, of the engine. ' , .. . We had wonderful horses. They were not owned by the brigade, bpt were .. r hired, then-after an exciting five or'six years', they-Went’Ch ’ full' of honour to . the quieter--Job of■: pulling a London-, horse bus. ‘-This they did well and soberly , v ... . enough till they .heard-the .Hi,'-Hi'^-'Hi, 1 an’ approaching' fire engine. Then the... old spirit-, av/oke again-.and the drivery lacking the -powerful brakes' of a fire engine, had all .he could do t'biprevent them getting into their old-time .ghliqp. . . .. n I doubt if Borough High Street in London has yet., quite, forgotten the the ~i ; . historic race between' a horse bus ahd a horse steam fire engine from the’.Fire •••■.. Station.- in Southwark Bridge Road. It was' neck- and neck till London Bridge. The . VA! bridge was not planned for a race like this and someone had to give, way, possibly the bus had a,slight lead;or. engine-.\may have-•■been able -the. brakesmen on the fire to checkthe engine better than /.'•■/.'.Anyhow, : the the driver of.-the bus could do* ■■■ bus with its four hors.e.s still, at-full [-gallop lead the procession--over tte-Bridge' ■/•'• its*-load? of ie and only, .pulled on the. other side /at/'ing William- Street#r.'- Out got- ' bruised And shaken, passengers'.' ' 'But ’...that was all thirty .;or /forty years ' ago*'- k ' f By the way, in the very very 'early days', fire protection just depended on the banding together of the people to fight the common enemy. People were required to occurred fire keep a few" buckets ahd a hooked pole near -their doors and when a they all turned out and working, usually under some authority of the parish, did what they could with their crude implements to put out the fire and pull doim It’s all rather like today, isn’t blazing thatch or burning timber in the roof. it? A fire party in every street. /The point . . -2* The point is that today, while fire brigades were perfectly able to deal with peacetime fires, when the Germans, by dropping incendiary bombs, caused an enormous increase in the fires, hadj we as you all know, to go back to a system of everyone taking a hand in fire-fighting* I*m sure some of your family are members of fire parties who have agreed to turn cut to try to.put cut fifes- in their early stages. But there are other people fighting wartime fires* this war started the wiien Government knew that the ordinary fire brigades of the country wouldn’t be able to deal with all the fires that might be caused by the German raids* So they started a new fire service which you all know about - the Auxiliary Fire Service the * A.F.S., The fire brigades .were thus increased in size fourteen or fifteen times, and there were nearly twenty times as many engines and equipment of all sorts*. You’ve all seen the A.F.S. men aniyou know what we all owe'to their courage and hard work* ■. One important part of the new equipment most of you will have seen tdo, I’m sure* I mean the large steel tanks, known as dams, which are standing in the streets of most towns. Mich more has been done in supplying extra water. In most cities, ®very swimming bath, every pond and every stream has been listed and marked maps, because water mains get damaged by bombs, and to provide fire on engines without providing water is like providing rifles and guns, and no ammunition. Now I want to give you few hints which may help you so a . sav© lives if you ever get caught in a fire, and also how to help others to put oui fires while they’re still small ones, . First of all your own the first .time I’ve talked safety* You this isn’t see, to schools about fires* It used to be job tp.help schools with firedrill part of my and so on; indeed, it’s possible that some.;•of you who are listening to me this morning may have met me when I’ve been visiting your school* I thought of starting by .saying ’’Keep your heads”, but I’m not going to insult you by that. We do, most of us, keep cur heads; but don’t forget, that is your first job. No one el5© can do that for you. I think the second thing to remember is this. If there’s a fire, shat every door in the building you possibly can, and never break a window unless you just have to. Fire can’t burn without air, and a Berkshire -school who may be listening in will remember how a fire smouldered all night, in their school. It was in a room with all the doors- and windows shut and it only flared up when the door was opened, in the morning. There was a fire party standing by, and they soon put it out. Another word about doors. careful how you open a door in any room where Be there may be. a fire. If the door towards you, put one foot a few inches opens away from the door’so that it can’t fly open* .* It will Shield you from a possible burst of flame or smoke, and apart from that you can shut it again if necessary and try to get out another way. Look at your bedroom door tonight and see if it epens inwards - that is to say towards you. • I expect you’ll find it does. Keep down low near the floor if there’s a lot of smoke, because it’s amazing what thick smoke you through if you and mouth close to the can pass keep your nose ground. Some years ago there was/fire and several people thought they were trapped, for several of them, had tried to walk along a corridor and downstairs, but couldn’t manage it because of the smoke. They were thinking of jumping from the windews, but who’d .had to someone some training managed get up the stairs and persuaded them to crawl along after her, and they all got out qaite safely* By the way, when you have to crawl go down downstairs, backwards, that is, feet first* /Remember too, -3- Remember too, that the sides of a room or staircase are always the last part' to he burned through or weakened by a fire, and you can often pass/safely round the sides tf a room close to the wall, when it might be dangerous to go across the centre. • It was by knowing’this that a party’of firemen were able to bring five girls out of. a fire in a convent in Northumberland some years ago. ( The centre of the floor was actually burned through, but they all gdt round the edges safely. I■’ • ’' . < Have you ever realised, I wonder, that you can move'a person much heavier r , than yoUrself without lifting them? You both have to be down on the floor, and that, as I’ve said, is the best place to' be if there’s smoke' about. Thps is the trick. Lay the person on his back together, and tie his wrists Then kneel across his body, put your head through the loop formed by his arms, and start crawling forwards on hands end knees, Part of his weight will be on the floor. and the rest oh your shoulders which is the strongest part of your body,. ’.Just you, try this sometime. , .... / .If your clothes catch fire, put your hand over your mouth sb that you don’t ... go breathing in hot gases and flame, then lie down and roll on the gMund, .... If. anyone else’s Clothes catch fire, get them down- as 'quickly, as possible, .... . ..because the-worst injuries nearly always are bums on the face .and.head, Don’t, whatever you do, let them run about;, the result; is almost ‘certain tb be fatal. If the worst happens and you have to escape by a window, nevernjump, Lower . yourself •ut of the window, hanging on till the last moment to the' outside of . the window-sill,,..then let yourself drop. ,•> n • ■ sc yn.-e .. -• ...' Sb much for what you can do to help yourself and others in fire*’ ? t a Now, how help others who fire?.- : ‘ . o can you are putting out a First of all remember this - I want.you to try to..‘deal with ah don’t incendiary .bomb# It lookd so easy to up and put go some sand on it. Sometimes this is easy- enough, but not all these bombs behave quite in- the same’ and way, while some people must and risk, that’s no job for you#will Where youtake a can help, however, is by reporting where a fire bomb has fallen#- oYou can’t mistake them, as they burn for a time with a bright white- glow# ■: It’S'the undiscovered incendiary bomb that does the most damage, so if you see one that has escaped the notice of a fire party, just report it tc a as you grown-up Soon as ever ynu can# , ' ;fb :. .’ ’• ■■■ •• .- : •.. ...•/ ; • ■ ■ If there are plenty of grown-ups busy putting out incendiary bombs or small fires, don’t tn any account get in their way# On the other hand, no matter how mary grown-ups there may be, think if you can possibly help by bringing water# If arrange a bucket 'you line, passing the buckets from hand to hand, you’ll find this very much more useful than running cbout with a bucket and spilling half rf the water# Some of you old are enough to work a stirrup pump, possibly for someone who is getting tired. But don’t think I want you to run around putting out fires# The thing is to keep away - fighting fires is not your job# Help if you can# What you must do, though, is learn how to look after yourselves and what you can usefully do to help others# /Just let Just let me run through these seven points again B / . 1. Keep your heads (l know.you will really) .... 2*. Never leave a door or break a window- if you can help it, and when open you have to open a door, he careful how you do it Q „ Keep low in smoke* ;- 4* A floor is always strongest near the sides of a room rr stairway. 5® Practise a drawling rescue sometimes. .. -.w" - 6, Keep atvay - yes, at least fifty yards away from a burning incendiary- bomb. 7» If your clothes catch fire, hands over your mouth and nose, lie down, and roll* If it’s someone else, get them down as soon as you can and roll, them; over * and over. . •. I would like to end up with a short story of What' happened to a?«girl who had this kind of training at school. When this happened, she was older-than any of you bp-t she knew what she ought to do from v.hat she- had learnt at school. One day she was passing a farmhouse in the country when she was asked by a man go to and ring up-for the fire brigade 0 He said there was a bed-ridden woman on the. first floor, of the farmhouse with a serious fire on the ground floors The girl said she would., try to get into the house and see if she could rescue the old woman* She was told this was impossible as several, people had already tried to get up the A staircase and failed o But she had been trained and knew sust a little bit more about this than those who had already tried* SheAgot up the staircase - it wasn’t'";, easy - and managed tn get into -the room white the bedridden woman lay, once she got in she was able to shur the door o . And, as she "told me afterwards, from that.. . enwards all her troubles were oVer . She was able to get'the woman on to the Sill 0 Of the bedroom window, while helpers had pulled a cart full of hay under the window. She was able to drop the woman on to the hay, jumped on herself ..and.'the' cart was driven away. About ten minutes later the : fire got so hot that the-;' ’ . bedroom floor collapsed and the house .was..,eventually .burnt out. It was a very ' plucky action, and ! asked the girl .afterwards if she had found it difficult 'to get into the hall and up the Stalls, and’she said that although it was very hot the smoke was nothing like as dense as the smoke through which I had made them pass when carrying out fire-drill at her school. BRITISH BROADCASTING- CORPORATION. ' ■ , "• 12.3.U1- ■ - N0.13* Tho following is the text of an address on food supplies to be broadcast at 12.55 P.m. today by Mr.A.V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty. Most of us at this time of day have our minds on the subject of food, but I am speaking not so much to food consumers as to food producers; farmers, small holders, allotment holders, market gardeners, gardeners and even those with no gardens because a backyard can produce rabbits, eggs, and sometimes bacon. The Navy has to protect shipping on the seas, and bring safely to this country the largest volume of imports possible* Ships and shipping space for this purpose are limited and may become more so. We. must concentrate, therefore, upon bringing in only essential goods which wo cannot produce here. Food is one of the largest factors in the carrying job the Merchant Navy has to do. I want food consumers, therefore, to cut down their requirements to what is reasonable and all food producers to do their utmost to grow the maximum amount they can,. This is one of tho most important ways in which many people can give invaluable aid by making room and still more room in the ships we want to load to capacity with the munitions wo must import for our fighting men. The officers and men of the Merchant Navy, and of the fishing fleets, do the most gallant work in bringing our cargoes to port. They face incessant danger and work long hours. They never refuse to sail, however often they may bo attacked and have shown great heroism in resisting attack. The Royal Navy works unceasingly in the duty of protecting the convoys. I ask the farming community to help the Admiralty by ensuring that none of this courage and effort shall be in bringing home food which can be grown here at home. Also it is the plain duty of all of us not to waste anything which a sailor has to risk his life to to I to the farmers and the bring us. .appeal agricultural community generally to respond 'with vigour to the call made to them to get the largest possible production from the land this season. They will deserve well of tho country by doing so, they will have the satisfaction of knowing that the/ arc lightening the task of gallant men at sea and above all- they will have the satisfaction of making their answer to Hitler’s threats of starvation and hastening the day of his overthrow. Women in this work. can play a great part Already over 9,000 women are serving tho nation on the land and I trust that the Women’s Land Army will never lack recruits. Schoolboys, too, can do their bit in the harvest work and with planting and lifting the potato crop, But it is upon the farmers that the main responsiblity rests and never since in similar circumstances, Queen Elizabeth the first ploughing up campaign recorded has that responsibility been greater, I give them as a slogan the old toast at agricultural gatherings Speed the Plough - - and to all who can find a spade and some ground I say - Dig for Victory. BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, J Jz- NEW ZEALANDER'S BIG GIFT FOR AIRCRAFT. who Mr. Baker, wealthy Nev Zealander noir resident in Malaya, Alma has for six aircraft has sent to Lord given £30,000 Victory fighter Beaverbrook a special message appealing for the formation of further Empire flights and squadrons. " "The Empire, Mr. Baker ’’requires the greatest magnitude of says effort now both from rich individuals and of individuals in groups every corner of the earth. "be must make sacrifices in the hour of the Empire's greatest need. "T/hen victory is assured we and those many millions not at present living under our flag but who wish to do so will form a happy brotherhood that ■..’ill cover the greater portion of the world. ”1 am doing my utmost to see that should I die before victory is won my present private expenditure is used to provide a gift of one fighter every three months. "By this means I shall express my love for the Empire and assist in obtaining a democratic victory ifi-th peace and liberty for all." MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION. 12.3.U1 - No,lB, PRESS NOTICE Her Majesty Queen Mary has very kindly sent a parcel of books to the Royal Naval War Libraries, which collect books and distribute them to ships of the Royal Navy and the Allied Navies<> ADMIRALTY, S.W.I. 12/3/41 - No. 19. PRICES OF '.PEAT. A new Wheat (Prices) Order has been made by the Minister of Food to come into force on March 17th. The new Order is consequent on the Home Grown Wheat (Control) Order, 194-1. It amends in certain minor respects the VJheat (Prices) Order, 1939? as amended by Order dated 31st July, 194-0? hut makes no change in the existing selling prices for home-grown wheat. The principal alteration is that the New Order will apply to sales of wheat all in United Kingdom the and not only to sales by by growers growers registered under the Wheat Acts.. MINISTRY OP FOOD. 12/3/U1 - N 0,20 HOME GROWN WHEAT NOT TO BE FED TO LIVESTOCK A new Home Grown Wheat Control Order, to come into force on March 17th, has been made by the Minister of Food after consultation with the Agricultural Departments, The general effect of the Order is that all home grown millable wheat, except that required for seed, must be used for human food, and the feeding of such wheat to poultry or other livestock is prohibited. The effect of the new Order is that from March 17th a grower will not be permitted to feed his millable wheat to his livestock, but may only use it for sowing on his own farm or dispose of it by sale to an approved buyer, who may be a merchant or a miller. Approved buyers will only be permitted to use or sell home grown millable wheat for flour milling or seed, and this restriction applies to any stocks of such wheat in their possession on March 17th, ‘A poultry keeper or a licensed dealer in feeding stuffs, other than an approved buyer of wheat, who has bought home grown millable wheat for poultry feeding, may use or sell for that purpose any such wheat in his possession on March 17th 9 A grower of wheat who has in his possession on March 17th a total quantity of millable wheat of his own growing not greater than ten cwts, may use that wheat for feeding to his own poultry, Approved buyers ( who are already licensed under the Home Grown Wheat (Control) Order, 1939) will continue to make monthly returns to the Ministry of Food of their receipts and disposal of home grown wheat. They must also continue to obtain from growers, desiring to purchase seed, similar declarations to those at present in force. The grower will, however, in future have to get these declarations countersigned by his County War Agricultural Executive Committee before an approved buyer can deliver the wheat. In Northern Ireland, declarations will be countersigned by the County War Agricultural Executive Officer, The Order also.qprovides for returns of threshings to be made by owners of threshing tackle whether’’ they are contractors or farmers using their own machines. They must keep records of each threshing, and within seven days of any wheat being threshed must send in $ return to the Food Executive Officer for the Area in which the wheat was threshed. The return must give the name and address of the owner of the wheat, the number of stacks threshed, v the name and address of the farm on which the stacks stood and the quantity of head corn and tailings threshed out* -The obligations thus imposed on owners of threshing machines are subject to the exception that, if a farmer hires or borrows threshing machinery and operates it with his own it is he, and not the owner of men, the who must keep the record and make the return of machine, threshing to the Pood Executive Officer* of wheat sold All growers must keep records of the_ quantitips by them or used by them as seed, and must furnish information from such records on demand to the Food Executive Officer or to any other person authorised by the Minister of Food, MINISTRY OF FOOD 12/3/41. - No. 22. AIR MINISTRY WLL-ETIN _NO._ 325.2 • AIR MINISTRY COLMJNIQUE. Last night aircraft of Bomber Command successfully attacked the German naval base at Kiel. The flashes of heavy explosions and the glare of a large fire were observed. The docks at Bremerhaven and two aerodromes in Northwest Germany were also bombed. In daylight yesterday, single aircraft of Bomber Command bombed an oil storage plant at Rotterdam and a factory near Utrecht. In the course of offensive night patrols aircraft of Fighter Command aerodrome destroyed an enemy aircraft on an in Northern France. Aircraft of Coastal Command on patrol yesterday destroyed an enemy aircraft. None of our aircraft is missing from of these operations. any 12/3/U1 - No. 23. ORDER OF THE DAY TO GREECE’ 8 MERCHANT SEAMEN. The is translation of Order of the Day following a an whi-oh was issued on 11th March hy Captain Matessis, of the Royal Greek Jfavy, as Director of the Service of the Greek Mercantile Marine, to masters and seamen of Greek merchant ships:- ’’Not for the first time in their proud history have the Greek people dared to say "no" to a power- ful In ancient days the Athenians first aggressor. the world the meaning of ordered liberty. In taught its defence they abandoned their lovely city to the flames, denying its possession to the Persian tyrant. The Spartans who fell at Thermopylae asked no other epitaph than that the passing stranger should take the message home that they had obeyed their country’s orders to the death. ’’Patriotism, justice, liberty, sacrifice - all Greek history is instinct with these. ’’Greece today has made the same decision and new desires to share with her British ally the glorjA and the burden of the struggle. ”0n land her armies are fighting heroically. Her sailors, in keeping with her traditions, have an equal part to play. It will mean sacrifice. Her shipownersand the officers and men who man her ships, have a right io ask that they should be given equal treatment with their British comrades.No more, no less. The age-long Greek ideal of justice forbids either extreme. ’’Greek seamen will readily understand that their country, fighting for its life, cannot afford to pay to shipowners rates that as neutrals they could obtain in the world market. It follows that the ownerw in turn can no longer pay rates based on such high earnings to their men. ”To Greece, as to all nations born to the sea, her ships are her life blood. Her seamen, assured that they are receiving the same treatment as British seamen, will proudly share with them ef .. keeping the seas. So, and so only, can the two ancient homes of liberty preserve it for themselves ” and for the world. MINISTRY OF SHIPPING. • 12/3/41. No. 24., t NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE, THE, MORNING PAPERS OF THURSDAY 194.1 OR BROADCAST BEFORE 7. A Ji/ON THAT DATE. NOTICE TO IMPORTERS NO. 120. Raw Rubber and Carbon Black. The Board of Trade announce that the Open General Licence permitting the import of carbon black from natural gas or acetylene from any country has been revoked, from 13th March, 1941* Individual import licences will not, as however, be required for consignments of carbon black natural gas or acetylene which from can be shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to have been despatched to the United Kingdom before 13th March, 1941, and which are imported into this country before 13th May, 1941- As from 13th March, 1941> the Open General Licence for raw rubber is amended to include erepe. The wording reads "Rubber, rubber now raw, including crepe; latex; raw gutta percha and balata; but not including reclaimed and waste rubber". Applications for import licences for should be addressed to carbqnjblack the Import Licensing Department. Forms of application can be obtained from the Department or from any collector of H.M. Customs and Excise. PRESS OFFICE. 12.3.U1 Ko. 27 FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IK WORCESTERSHIRE & HEREFORDSHIRE Cutbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed yesterday amongst cattle at Dudley, Worcestershire, and at Stoke Bliss, —fenbury, Herefordshire. In consequence of these outbreaks the movement except by license of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer is prohibited in the district lying within approximately 15 miles of Dudley, and in all those districts within 15 miles of Stoke Bliss which were not already subject to restrictions on account of other outbreaks of the disease, • i '■ 4- + + + 4-+U- + + + 4- nz? An.'DTr’.TTT.TTTPB 12/3/41 - No. 28 YOUTH SERVICE CORPS < Reference No. 4* Issue of today Figures just received indicate that the number of squads has risen rapidly and their number in East Suffolk today is now 180 with a membership of. about two thousand, and in Hertfordshire there are now one hundred squads with a membership of well over one thousand. BOARD OF EDUCATION 12/3/41 - No, 29. SEED. POTATOSUPPLIES to meet the urgent need ■The Ministry of Food announces the • introduction of further measures/for increasing the supply of seed potatoes for planting this season. Effect is given to these measures by an Amendment + o the Potatoes(l94o Crop) (Control) Order, which comes into force on March 14th, 1 941 It is intended that the amending - Order shall remain in force until planting requirements are satisfied. Prohibition of sale of Seetch certified /'white" ware except to the Ministry Ware potatoes from stocks of Grade B (white) varieties, to which the Department of for Scotland issued certificate under the "Scheme for Agriculture a the Inspection of Growing Crops of Potatoes", may only be sold to the Ministry. All varieties are included in this prohibition except Golden Wonder, King Edward, Red King, Gladstone, Kerr’s Pink and Redskin. Higher Ware Riddles in England and Wales The Seventh Schedule to the Potatoes (1940 Crop) (Control) Order is extended to all stocks. Previously it applied only to stocks once-grown from Scotch or Irish seed or from certified English or Welsh seed. The revised Schedule is given below,; Growers in the counties named in the first column, when dressing cut ware from all c.f of the varieties named in the second column must use crops ary the minimum of that ware- riddle provided in the third column in respect variety. It should bo especially noted that the variety Gladstone has now been added to those in column 2 for which a2" riddle is. necessary f; This alteration applies to once-grown as well as to other stocks of this variety. THE CC EIDULE *l B » n l.« ■ •—! —i — j W ' W— *i l *— 1 ■■■ m I,, nI. ..l«■ Il .11— , *1 "■ l 1 r Col. 1. Col c 2. Col. 3, Counties. Varieties<> Minimum Y/'are Riddle. ii« i^jii— 1 '** " ——i! r —Su—I HU— •wmlfcli't. . «» —.l wwa.— a. _»■ —.— — —-•rr*—?.-—r. n I i—■ m >» r;i— m, «»;ii>lii .i —u n i ' England: Cumberland, Westmorland, ) Arran Banner ) Northumberland, Durham, ) Arran Cairn ) Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, ) Arran Consul ) Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, ) Arran peak ) inches (including Isle hf Ely), ) Doon Star ) Suffolk, Huntingdonshire, ) Dunbar Rover ) Rutland, Northamptonshire, ) Dunbar Standard ) (including Soke of peter- ) Majestic ) borough), Essex, Leicester- ) Great Scot ) shire, Nottinghamshire, ) Derbyshire, Warwickshire, ) Staffordshire, Shropshire, ) Cheshire, Lancashire, ) King Edward ) Gloucester- ) Red King ) 2 inches Worcestershire, shire, Hertfordshire. ) Gladstone ) Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, ) Wales? Flintshire, Denbighshire, ) Caernarvonshire, Anglesey, ) Merionethshire, Montgomery- ) shire, Cardinganshire, ) Pembrokeshire, Monmouth- ) shire, Glamorganshire, Carmarthenshire c ) Ary soiled seed cressed under the amending Order, which fails to find cut a , market- will bo r. "dec. as surplus ware under the Ministry f s guarantee. N oo Growers and merchants are informed that the Ministry of d (potato Section) w are prepared to buy twice-grovn. seed as well as onoe-grovm seed for delivery up to the first week in Aprils Offers should be rao.de to the local Area Supervisor of the potato Section o Growers are also reminded that seed may be sold only to a licensed seed potato mei‘chant o A special licence must be obtained from the Area Supervisor to permit a sale from one grower to another fur planting. MINISTRY OF FOGO, 12/3/41. Ho. 30. TRINIDAD ,\ND TOBAGO PAD CROSS CONTRIBUTIONS, The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross have sent £5,000 to the Red Cross and St. John Fund in London. The money is the result of this year’s drive so far, and brings the Colony’s cash contributions to the Red Cross to £39,000, in addition to several thousand pounds spent on materials for local work parties, ++ ++4~ -1-+T + Colonial Office Press Section. 12.3.U1, N0.31. •. CHANGES IN EXPORT CONTROL. Export of Aluminium Hollow-Ware Prohibited. Under a Board of Trade Order signed to-day which comes into force on 27th March, the exportation of aluminium hollow-ware is controlled to all destinations, hut applications for export licences will not, normally, he entertained. Were stocks are held "by persons registered under the Limitation of Supplies (Miscellaneous) Orders, the Ministry of Aircraft prepared to purchase such stocks Production are at cost. wishing to dispose of their stocks on this Persons basis should apply to the Aluminium Ministry of Aircraft Production, Southam Road, Banbury. •• cassava The exportation of candles, starchesysago,tapioca,waxes, sparking plugs and certain chemicals is also controlled to all destinations. Control is imposed on the exportation of casein and certain additional metal ores but, in these cases, to certain destinations only. The Order, (S.R. & 0. 19U1, No*. 308.) also extends the existing control with respect to certain watches and chemicals. BOARD OF TRADE. 12. - No. 32. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN . Hl—" y—— i.■ ■—•• NO. 3256 -» ———W«——> —:■!!■ r». J —< «r-v.«fc—la Air Ministry News Service MR, MALCOLM MACDONALD. INSPECTS CANADIAN SQUADRONS pilots and airmen now serving in Britain with a Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron of the Army Co- operation Command were inspected today by Mr. Malcolm Macdonald, M.P., the newly-appointed High Commissioner to Canada* Mr. Macdonald was accompanied by Air Marshal Sir Arthur Barratt, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Co-operation Command, Air Vice-Marshal P»C. Maltby, and Air Commodore LtF* Stevenson, Air Officer Commanding the Royal Canadian Air Force in Great Britain* Mr. Macdonald said his visit would enable him to give people in Canada impression an of their fight and their work in Britain, and of the great part they were playing in the common ’’Good luck tc everyone of youI’,1 ’, he added* 12/5/41.. Ho. 55. Rj/crutti; ;nt of mom, at. The Minister of Labour and National Service has appointed a ’/omen’s Consultative Committee to advise him on questions affecting the recruiting and registration of women and on the best methods of securing their services for the war effort. It consists of the foilowing: - Miss Dorothy Billot Mrs. Walter Hlliot Miss Florence Hancock The Countess of Limerick Miss Marjorie Maxse, C.8.8. Dr, Ldith Summerskill, M.P. Miss Mary Sutherland A r Miss Irene 7 ard, C.B.M. M.P. , The Committee will meet under the chairman- ship of the Minister or the Parliamentary Secretary (Mr. Ralph Assheton, M.P.) The Secretary of the Committee is Hiss D.R. Heinemann, of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. The first mooting of the Committee was held today. ++++++++++++-I- MINISTRY OF LABOUR. 12/3/41. N0.34* AIR UNISTRY BULLETIN NO 3255* Air i .inistry News Service. SUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON KIEL. In the attack on Kiel last night aircraft of the Bomber Command flew through thick cloud until they reached the Friesian Islands. There the sky cleared, and very soon the ground was moonlit so that pilots were able to map read their way to Germany. The Kiel Canal was visible from a distance of fifty miles. At Mel, docks and town stood out in such sharp relief that pilots could see that some of die small creeks were ice-bound though the main waterways clear. In spite of concentrated from this well defended were a barrage naval base our pilots took their time and many were over the target for half-an-hour or more. Clear weather and the great care taken to ensure hitting the target leave no doubt about the result. Hany sticks of bombs were seen to burst on a ship-building yard, as well as on other docks. One pilot counted five bursts right across the docks, the first exactly at the water’s edge. In the ship-building yard a large explosion followed the bombing and there was an extensive lire in the industrial centre of the city. Attacks were also made on Bremerhaven where a number of ware-houses were hit, and soon afterwards volumes of smoke rose high into the air. 12*5.11-1..N0.35. Welfare Work in Shelters. On the invitation of the London Regional Commissioners, a representative meeting of social welfare organisations was held today under the chairmanship of Aiderman Key, M.P.- During a full review of the position the desire was expressed of the voluntary welfare bodies to give all possible assistance in organising and co-operating in welfare work, not only in the large public shelters but also in the communal shelters,, the use of which is being encouraged by the commissioners. It was decided to form a small executive committee, representing the various organisations, to act in an advisory capacity to the commissioners* ‘ “ MINISTRY OF HEALTH r 12/3/41. No, 36. RECRUITMENT OF WOMEN, 'The Ministry of Labour request the following addition to issue No 33 of todays date headed ’’Recruitment of Women” After Mr, Ralph Assheton M W P« please insert ‘’Miss Caroline Haslett C,B