C.R.A.C. 8*819 (Q) (COPY)
O.C. South African Reserves.
I forward herewith correspondence and barrack damage claims against the South African Infantry as under:-
March out of the 4th S.A. Inf.
from Bordon on the 29/12/15 …………. £164.4.11
inspection held between 10 – 15
March 1916 in Quebec, St Lucia
and Martinique Barracks……………………. £387.10-5
you will see by the correspondence that the charges against the 4th S.A. Infantry in the first instance amounted to £643.3.3, but certain surpluses having been disclosed this was reduced to £541.17.7. This sum was subsequently written down to £164-4-11 the value at time of loss.
As the amount was still considered to be unduly large it was decided to hold a check of all barrack furniture on charge of South African Reserves and this disclosed a deficiency amounting to £1406.5.5 This again was written down to ¼ value, viz, £387-10-5, this being the assessed value at time of loss.
The deficiencies disclosed by the inspection held in March were arrived at by comparing the numbers of the various articles of barrack equipment actually seen, counted and taken over by the Reserve Regiment on the 29th December 1915, with the numbers actually seen and counted at the inspection.
I should be glad to know how it is proposed to adjust the matter.
(Signed) W. Butler Jordon (?) Major,
for Lt. Colonel,
A.Q.M.G., A.C.
Aldershot,
30/7/16.
4TH SOUTH AFRICAN INFANTRY.
marching out of Bordon 29/12/15.
£164-4-11
Points raised by O.C. units Explanation of O. i/c. Barracks.
in charge
- 4th Battalion South African 1. Advance parties of 3rd Battn South African
Infantry arrived at Bordon on Infantry took over Quebec Bks on behalf of
14-10-15. The Quartermaster on the 4th Bn. S.A. Inf. on 11-10-15 the Officers
arrival at camp found all in darkness, In charge being Lieut: J.G. Baker & 2nd. Lieut
some of the huts without locks and D.M. Abel, 3rd S.A. Inf. It is therefore not the
open and other huts closed: A few case as stated by O.C.4th Bn. S.A. Inf that a
days afterwards it was ascertained N.C.O. took over. The Bks were regularly
that an N.C.O. of the 3rd S.A. Inf. had handed over, in my presence, from the
taken over Barracks on our behalf outgoing unit, the 4th Bn. S.A. Infy.
some days before our arrival. To
understand the Imperial Barrack Nomenclature it requires an experienced officer. It was later found that much of what gear was then in rooms was transferred from one hut to another. In endeavouring to make check of all Barrack Furniture the Qr. Mr. found many deficiencies but O. i/c Bks. held himself covered by the handing over to a representative of the Brigade – a N.C.O.
2. Lists were prepared of articles actually in
Bks. in presence of outgoing and incoming
units and the O. i/c Bks. The lists were
compared and one list retained by each party
after signature by the other two parties. The
incoming unit therefore had a complete
record of Bk. stores taken over, the outgoing
a similar record of the stores handed over and
the O i/c Bks also retained his record of the
transaction. This took place when the 4th S.A.
Inf took over from the 12th Royal Irish Rifles
and again when the 4th Regt S.A. Inf, handed
over to the Res. Bns. S.A. Inf., such lists
having been modified by any issues from, or
returns to store.
3. An inspection was carried out on 3-1-16.
The deficiencies were so large that I received
orders to make complete inspection.
This was done 17-2-16. This inspection
enabled me to reduce deficiencies to
£541-17-7.
- Furniture in Officers’ rooms was
removed from one room to another
for comfort and it was therefore found impossible to re-adjust furniture to the various rooms in accordance with 2. See Note I (para 3.)
Barrack Officers Schedule. To get matter squared up, a Full list of all furniture in Officers’ Quarters was rendered to the Barrack Officer and it was found that in almost every instance we held more than the B.O. had shown against us and yet Officers’ tables, chairs, etc are noted as missing.
Quite possible that if an inventory were See Note I (para 3)
taken of what each hut or room should have, as per B.O., deficiencies would be found in some against surpluses in others.
See Note I (para 3)
On the mobilized part of the Rgt. leaving on 28-12-15 some 460 Officers and men were left in Quebec Barracks and these were transferred to Martinique Barracks. Undoubtedly a great number of small things, such as brooms, Scrubbing brushes, and Butcher’s Implements and Cooks utensils were transferred with them.
- In taking the items Brooms, Mops 3. Brooms, Mops and Scrubbing
Scrubbing brushes, etc, these are Brushes stated to be expendable
are expendable and any serviceable are not expendable and if
ones would be taken with the men unserviceable should have been
to Martinique Barracks. exchanged. The marching out
inspection on
3-1-16 of all Barracks covered removals to
Martinique Bks.
4.Sand Bags were drawn and used in the 4. Does not appear to be a reason
Training Trenches. for the deficiency.
5.Cooks Implements – Nine were taken 5. Almost invariably the case that
with the Regiment as full mobilization Cooks take the knives, etc, away when going
equipment had been drawn just prior overseas in spite of frequent warning not to
to departure. do so. In any case, the deficient
articles have not been found.
6.Bedding. Item incorrect. 6. Sheets charged for are ground sheets
No sheets were in any of the huts. for musketry purposes.
7. Blankets. All blankets found 7. 459 blankets, 100 bolsters and unstated
in the huts on arrival were sent number of mattresses said to have been
to the Medical Authorities for sent to “Medical” Authorities and not
disinfection, the bulk being returned and 113 cases pailliasse
verminous. From the stated to have been burnt by Medical
number it would seem to refer Officer. I knew nothing of transactions
to the one extra blanket per man until 29-5-16, moreover, dirty blankets taken
drawn by the Regiment which over by the 4th S.A.I. were not used by them
was returned by mobilized but clean blankets drawn from store 12-10-
portion but retained by the 15. The S.M.O. informs me that units
460 left behind and taken by invariably remove bedding etc, immediately
them to Martinique. after disinfection, and there is no instance
in which this rule has been departed from.
Bolsters. Many sent with the
bedding (Biscuits, Coir) to
the disinfectors and not
returned.
8. Cases, Bolster – None in 8. 50 taken over on arrival.
Bks on our occupation. 500 issued on 15/10/15: – 104 gathered up
after unit left, 93 returned later by Res Bn leaving 353 deficient.
- Cases, Palliasse – Burnt ) See 7.
with straw contents, on
order of Medical Officer
on becoming verminous.
- Barrack Furniture –
Generally explained above, 10. Barrack Furniture.
but to take larger items:-
a Barrows, Stable. Only 2 a. 3 handed over, 4 issued 26:10:15 2 on
received and these were 18:11:15, total 9. None returned to store,
returned to E.S.A. 5 handed in on march out of unit leaving
before leaving. 4 deficient.
b Bedsteads, Barrack. These b. Agree could not be taken overseas but
Boxes, Soldiers could not be Bedsteads were left lying about in pieces
taken away. If number quoted during units occupation of Barracks, having
as missing is genuinely missing apparently been thrown out when floor
they are presumably at space per man was reduced. Many boxes,
Martinique. Soldiers were used as firewood and Lt.
Ward saw soldiers boxes being used to fill in trenches on the eastward edge of Quebec Barracks.
c. Forms & Tables. – These c. These articles were commonly used as
could not have been taken firewood, particularly the local pattern with
away. Unexplainable unless wooden trestles and legs.
removed to other barracks.
d. Rests, Tripod M I Sets and d. Number of charge 28.
Rests Rifle Firing. Left in use handed over on march out 13.
of details. Deficiency
e. Basins, Soup & Plates, Basins, Soup & Plates, dinner :- Taken over
dinner. Although each hut from 12th Royal Irish Rifles
was supposed to be equipped, 238 basins
there were not more than 200 747 plates
of each in the whole lines when 1672 basins from Bk Store
huts were taken over. From 1042 plates “ “ “
the indents put forward by us
on arrival it would seem that
Barracks were practically bare
of these items. No doubt
many were broken but numbers
quoted are absurd.
11. Sergeants’ Mess:- On occupation 11. The Sergeants’ Mess was fully equipped
Sergeants Mess was bare with on 12/10/15 at public expense with carvers, exception of one iron pot. Table knives, forks, spoons, table wear, etc
There is some mistake in this and the inference appears conclusive that
debit. The Sergeants purchased the Sergeants’ Mess took this cutlery away
Cups and Saucers themselves with them on marching out.
and provided their own cutlery.
12. Officers’ Mess;:- This was in 12. See Note I
occupation by Officers left (See copy of Capt Mowatt’s minute)
behind with details and on
closing Quebec Barracks
possibly some of the gear
was removed to Officers’
Mess at St. Lucia or
Martinique.
Captain Mowatt, Res.
Bn. S.A. Infantry at Bordon
could advise on this point
and the definite loss he arrived at.
13. It was impossible to leave
my Qr. Mr. behind to hand over
Bks. and the only other Officer
who had any knowledge of Qr.
Mrs. work had been sent to
Aldershot as acting Qr. Mr.
of drafts for Reserve Battalion.
There is no doubt that irregularities
from the B.O’s point of view, in gear
being removed from one building to
another, would account for a lot of See note 1 (para 3) and note 3
discrepancies and further a percentage
of the expendable articles almost
unserviceable in rooms, would in the
early days of cleaning be thrown aside.
Some consideration should be given for a Colonial Volunteer Regiment on first arrival in England and ignorance of Barrack Regulations by Officers and N.C.Os and although minor losses undoubtedly occurred from the statement rendered, at this date, it is uncertain how to arrive at them.
May the sanction of the G.O.C. be obtained to write off the debit which has arisen chiefly from book entries and not through genuine loss or damage.
COPY.
From Capt. Mowat.
To … Officer i/c Barracks, Bordon.
Bordon.
8th July, 1916.
Re Deficiencies Quebec Barracks.
The South African Scottish left Quebec Barracks for overseas on 29th December, 1915. The Reserve Company was left behind but was transferred to Martinique Barracks on 30th December. A Guard was left in Quebec Barracks but in spite of the guard many of the small articles deficient were in my opinion removed to other Barracks. It was within my knowledge that soldiers boxes were removed to other barracks especially at night. This was possible owing to the interval which elapsed between the vacation of the barracks and the taking of the inventory. Regarding the burning of soldiers boxes as fuel I have no knowledge of such an occurrence and can not admit that it took place. With regard to bedsteads, I know that many broken bedsteads were lying outside the bungalows on the arrival of the Regiment.
(Sgd.) G. Mowat, Captain.
O.C. “K” Company,
4th South African Infantry.
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