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II/1931/12F/2 (12 pages)

Notified in A.C.Is. 4th June, 1941

A INFANTRY BATTALION (HIGHER ESTABLISHMENT)

Consisting of –

Battalion headquarters; headquarter company of signal, A.A., mortar (6 3-inch), carrier (14 carriers), pioneer and administrative platoons; 4 rifle

companies, each of 3 platoons of 3 sections.

WAR ESTABLISHMENT

(This establishment will not be implemented without further orders from the War Office, and until such orders are received, W.E. II/1931/12F/1 will remain in force.)

79/W.E./2845

(i) Personnel

Detail

Bat

talio

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qu

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Headquarter company 4 rifle companies

(each)

Tota

l, in

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try

bat

talio

n

(hig

her

est

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hm

ent)

Co

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any

hea

dq

uar

ters

No

. 1 (

sign

al)

pla

too

n

No

. 2 (

A.A

.) p

lato

on

No

. 3 (

mo

rtar

) p

lato

on

No

. 4 (

carr

ier)

pla

too

n

No

. 5 (

pio

nee

r)

pla

too

n

No

. 6 (

adm

inis

trat

ive)

pla

too

n

Tota

l, h

ead

qu

arte

r

com

pan

y

Co

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any

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Thre

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Tota

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Lieutenant-colonel 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Major (2nd-in-command) 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Majors or captains … 1 … … … … … … 1 1 … 1 5 Captain … … … … … 1 … … 1 1 … 1 5 Adjutant 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Lieutenant … … … … 1 … … … 1 … … … 1 Subalterns 1 … 1 … … 1 1 1 4 … 1 3 17 Quarter-master … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1

Detail

Bat

talio

n h

ead

qu

arte

rs

Headquarter company 4 rifle companies

(each)

Tota

l, in

fan

try

bat

talio

n

(hig

her

est

ablis

hm

ent)

Co

mp

any

hea

dq

uar

ters

No

. 1 (

sign

al)

pla

too

n

No

. 2 (

A.A

.) p

lato

on

No

. 3 (

mo

rtar

) p

lato

on

No

. 4 (

carr

ier)

pla

too

n

No

. 5 (

pio

nee

r)

pla

too

n

No

. 6 (

adm

inis

trat

ive)

pla

too

n

Tota

l, h

ead

qu

arte

r

com

pan

y

Co

mp

any

hea

dq

uar

ters

Thre

e p

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on

s (e

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)

Tota

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Total, officers 4 1 1 … 1 2 1 2 8 2 1 5 32

Regimental serjeant-major 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Regimental quarter-master-serjeant … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Company serjeants-major … 1 … … … … … … 1 1 … 1 5

Total, warrant officers 1 1 … … … … … 1 2 1 … 1 7

Company quarter-master-serjeants … 1 … … … … … … 1 1 … 1 5 Intelligence serjeant 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Orderly room clerk (serjeant) 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Provost serjeant 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Pioneer serjeant … … … … … … 1 … 1 … … … 1 Serjeant (medical section) 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Transport serjeant … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Serjeant technical storeman … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Serjeants … … 1 1 4 5 … … 11 … 1 3 23

Total, company quarter-master-serjeants and serjeants

4 1 1 1 4 5 1 2 15 1 1 4 35

Corporals (includes 14 lance-serjeants) 2 ... 2 2 6 10 2 5 27 1 3 10 69 Privates (includes 48 lance-corporals) 43 5 32 17 34 46 18 31 183 8 32 104 642

Total, rank and file 45 5 34 19 40 56 20 36 210 9 35 114 (a)711

Total, other ranks 50 7 35 20 44 61 21 39 227 11 36 119 753

Total, all ranks 54 8 36 20 45 63 22 41 235 13 37 124 785

Attached – R.A.Ch.D. –

Chaplain 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Batman-driver … 1 … … … … … … 1 … … … 1

R.A.M.C. – Medical officer 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1

Detail

Bat

talio

n h

ead

qu

arte

rs

Headquarter company 4 rifle companies

(each)

Tota

l, in

fan

try

bat

talio

n

(hig

her

est

ablis

hm

ent)

Co

mp

any

hea

dq

uar

ters

No

. 1 (

sign

al)

pla

too

n

No

. 2 (

A.A

.) p

lato

on

No

. 3 (

mo

rtar

) p

lato

on

No

. 4 (

carr

ier)

pla

too

n

No

. 5 (

pio

nee

r)

pla

too

n

No

. 6 (

adm

inis

trat

ive)

pla

too

n

Tota

l, h

ead

qu

arte

r

com

pan

y

Co

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any

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dq

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ters

Thre

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s (e

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)

Tota

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R.A.O.C. – Armourer (serjeant) … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Shoemaker (corporal) … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Fitters, M.V. (includes 1 serjeant, 1

lance-corporal) … … … … 1 1 … 2 4 … … … 4

A.C.C. – Serjeant cooks … … … … … … … 2 2 … … … 2 Cooks for –

Officers’ mess … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Other ranks (includes 1

corporal) … … … … … … … 11 11 … … … 11

Total, an infantry battalion (higher establishment) (including attached)

55 8 36 20 46 64 (b)22 59 255 13 37 124 806

(ii) Distribution of rank and file by trades and duties

Detail

Bat

talio

n h

ead

qu

arte

rs

Headquarter company 4 rifle companies

(each)

Tota

l, in

fan

try

bat

talio

n

(hig

her

est

ablis

hm

ent)

Co

mp

any

hea

dq

uar

ters

No

. 1 (

sign

al)

pla

too

n

No

. 2 (

A.A

.) p

lato

on

No

. 3 (

mo

rtar

) p

lato

on

No

. 4 (

carr

ier)

pla

too

n

No

. 5 (

pio

nee

r)

pla

too

n

No

. 6 (

adm

inis

trat

ive)

pla

too

n

Tota

l, h

ead

qu

arte

r

com

pan

y

Co

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any

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Thre

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Tota

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Tradesmen – Bricklayer … … … … … … 1 … 1 … … … 1 Carpenters and joiners … … … … … … 6 … 6 … … … 6 Clerks 2 1 … … … 1 … 2 4 1 … 1 10 Driver-mechanics 1 … … 1 7 13 ... … 21 1 … 1 26 Equipment repairer … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Mason … … … … … … 1 … 1 … … … 1 Motor mechanics … … … … … … … 2 2 … … … 2 Technical storemen … … … … … … … 3 3 … … … 3

Total, tradesmen 3 1 … 1 7 14 8 8 39 2 … 2 50

Non tradesmen – Batmen 6 1 1 … 1 2 1 2 8 2 1 5 34 Butchery duties … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Drivers, I.C. 2 1 2 5 3 1 1 17 30 1 1 4 51 Intelligence section 6 … … … … … … … … … … … 6 L.M.G. numbers and riflemen 1 … … 12 … 39 … .. 51 … 30 90 412 Medical officer’s orderly 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Mortar detachments … … … … 26 … … … 26 … 2 6 50 Orderlies … … 5 1 2 … … … 8 3 1 6 32 Officers’ mess servant … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Pioneers … … … … … … 10 … 10 … … … 10 Regimental police 3 … … … … … … … … … … … 3 Rangetakers … 1 … … 1 … … … 2 … … … 2 Storemen … 1 … … … … … 1 2 1 … 1 6 Signallers … … 26 … … … … … 26 … … … 26 Stretcher bearers 20 … … … … … … … … … … … 20

Detail

Bat

talio

n h

ead

qu

arte

rs

Headquarter company 4 rifle companies

(each)

Tota

l, in

fan

try

bat

talio

n

(hig

her

est

ablis

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ent)

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No

. 1 (

sign

al)

pla

too

n

No

. 2 (

A.A

.) p

lato

on

No

. 3 (

mo

rtar

) p

lato

on

No

. 4 (

carr

ier)

pla

too

n

No

. 5 (

pio

nee

r)

pla

too

n

No

. 6 (

adm

inis

trat

ive)

pla

too

n

Tota

l, h

ead

qu

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com

pan

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Co

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Sanitary duties … … … … … … … 4 4 … … … 4 Postman … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Water duties … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1

Total, non-tradesmen 42 4 34 18 33 42 12 28 171 7 35 112 661

Total, rank and file 45 5 34 19 40 56 20 36 210 9 35 114 711

(iii) Transport

Detail

Bat

talio

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ead

qu

arte

rs

Headquarter company 4 rifle companies

(each)

Tota

l, in

fan

try

bat

talio

n

(hig

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est

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ent)

Co

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dq

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ters

No

. 1 (

sign

al)

pla

too

n

No

. 2 (

A.A

.) p

lato

on

No

. 3 (

mo

rtar

) p

lato

on

No

. 4 (

carr

ier)

pla

too

n

No

. 5 (

pio

nee

r)

pla

too

n

No

. 6 (

adm

inis

trat

ive)

pla

too

n

Tota

l, h

ead

qu

arte

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com

pan

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Co

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Bicycles 3 … 8 … … … … … 8 2 1 5 31 Motor-cycles 5 … 3 1 3 8 1 2 18 … … … 23 Motor-cycles combination … … … … … 4 … … 4 … … … 4 Cars, 2-seater, 4-wheeled 1 … … 4 … … … 1 5 … … … 6 Car, 4-seater, 4-wheeled 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Trucks, 15-cwt., 4-wheeled, G.S. 2 … 1 2 3 1 … 3 10 2 1 5 32 Trucks, 15-cwt., 4-wheeled, personnel … 1 1 … … … … … 2 … … … 2

Detail

Bat

talio

n h

ead

qu

arte

rs

Headquarter company 4 rifle companies

(each)

Tota

l, in

fan

try

bat

talio

n

(hig

her

est

ablis

hm

ent)

Co

mp

any

hea

dq

uar

ters

No

. 1 (

sign

al)

pla

too

n

No

. 2 (

A.A

.) p

lato

on

No

. 3 (

mo

rtar

) p

lato

on

No

. 4 (

carr

ier)

pla

too

n

No

. 5 (

pio

nee

r)

pla

too

n

No

. 6 (

adm

inis

trat

ive)

pla

too

n

Tota

l, h

ead

qu

arte

r

com

pan

y

Co

mp

any

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Thre

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)

Tota

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Truck, 15-cwt., 4-wheeled, water … … … … … … … 1 1 … … … 1 Lorry, 30-cwt., 4-wheeled, G.S. 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1 Lorries, 3-ton, 4-wheeled … … … … … … 1 12 13 … … … 13 Carriers, universal 1 … … … … 13 … … 13 … … … 14 Carriers, universal, fitted for 3-inch mortars … … … … 7 … … … 7 … … … 7 Attached –

Car, 2-seater, 4-wheeled for chaplain 1 … … … … … … … … … … … 1

(iv) Organization

BATTALION HEADQUARTERS

Bicycles 1-3 3 intelligence privates

Motor cycle 1 1 intelligence serjeant

Motor cycle 2 Provost serjeant

Motor cycles 3-5 3 regimental police

Carrier Commanding officer’s carrier Private Driver mechanic Machine carbine and 250 rounds L.M.G. and 1,000 rounds

Car, 4-seater Lieutenant-colonel Adjutant Orderly room clerk (serjeant) Driver, I.C.

Car, 2-seater Major

Driver, I.C.

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. 1 Subaltern for intelligence duties Intelligence private Driver, I.C. Intelligence equipment

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. for office 2 Regimental serjeant-major 2 clerks 2 intelligence privates Driver, I.C. Machine carbine and 250 rounds

Lorry, 30-cwt. Medical officer Medical officer’s orderly (lance-corporal) Batman Driver, I.C.

Total, personnel, including attached Officers … 5 Other ranks … 24

Marching – Other ranks … 26 Pistols … … 11 Rifles … … 4 Machine carbine … 2 L.M.G. … … 1

HEADQUARTER COMPANY, HEADQUARTERS

Truck, 15-cwt., personnel. Major or captain Company serjeant-major Rangetaker Clerk Batman Driver, I.C.

C.Q.M.S. Storeman

} (Carried in No. 6 platoon transport)

Total, personnel, excluding detached – Officers … 1 Other ranks … 5 Pistols … … 1 Rifles … … 5

No. 1 (SIGNAL) PLATOON

Bicycles 1-3 3 orderlies

Bicycles 4-8 5 signallers

Motor cycle 1 Signalling serjeant

Motor cycles 2 and 3 2 orderlies

Truck, 15-cwt., personnel Subaltern 2 signallers Driver, I.C.

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. Corporal Driver, I.C. Signal stores A.Tk. rifle and 200 rounds

Total personnel, Officers … 1 Other ranks … 16

Marching – Other ranks … 19 Pistols … … 4 Rifles … … 32 A.Tk. rifle … 1

No. 2 (A.A.) PLATOON

Motor cycle Serjeant.

Cars, 2-seater 1-4 (each) 2 gun numbers Driver, I.C. Twin L.M.G. and 2,000 rounds A.Tk. rifle and 200 rounds

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. 1 Corporal Orderly Spare gun number Driver mechanic Reserve ammunition

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. 2 Corporal Spare gun number Driver, I.C Store and equipment

Total personnel, including attached – Other ranks … 20 Pistol … … 1 Rifles … … 19 Twin L.M.Gs. … 4 A.Tk. rifles … 4

No. 3 (MORTAR) PLATOON

Motor cycle 1 Serjeant

Motor cycles 2-3 2 orderlies

Carrier 1 Lieutenant Fitter, M.V., R.A.O.C. Driver-mechanic

Carriers, 2, 4 and 6 (each) Serjeant 3 privates Driver-mechanic 3-inch mortar and 72 rounds

Carriers, 3, 5 and 7 (each) Lance-serjeant 3 privates Driver-mechanic 3-inch mortar and 72 rounds

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. 1 Corporal Rangetaker Batman Driver, I.C. A. Tk. rifle and 200 rounds

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. 2 2 privates Driver, I.C. A.Tk. rifle and 200 rounds 72 rounds 3-inch mortar ammunition

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S., 3 2 privates Driver, I.C. A.Tk. rifle and 200 rounds

72 rounds 3-inch mortar ammunition

Total, personnel, including attached – Officers … 1 Other ranks … 45 Pistols … … 4 Rifles … … 42 3-inch mortars… … 6 A.Tk. rifles … 3

NO. 4 (CARRIER) PLATOON

Headquarters

Carrier Captain Batman Driver-mechanic L.M.G. and 1,000 rounds

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. Subaltern Fitter, M.V., R.A.O.C. Clerk Batman Driver, I.C. Ammunition, blankets and greatcoats

4 sections (each)

Carrier 1 Serjeant Private Driver mechanic L.M.G. and 1,000 rounds A. Tk. rifle and 200 rounds

Carrier 2 Corporal Private Driver-mechanic L.M.G. and 1,000 rounds 2-inch mortar and 36 rounds

Carrier 3 Corporal Private Driver-mechanic L.M.G. and 1,000 rounds

Motor cycle section

Motor cycle 1 Serjeant

Motor cycle 2 Corporal

Motors cycles 3-8 6 privates

Motor cycle combination 1 Corporal 2 privates Machine carbine and 250 rounds

Motor cycle combination 2-4 (each) 3 privates Machine carbine and 250 rounds

Total, personnel, including attached – Officers … 2 Other ranks … 62 Pistols … … 2 Rifles … … 58 Machine carbines 4 L.M.Gs. … … 13 2-inch mortars … 4 A. Tk. rifles … 4

NO. 5 (PIONEER) PLATOON

Motor cycle Subaltern

Lorry, 3-ton Private Batman Driver, I.C. Tools and stores

Total, personnel each platoon Officers … 1 Other ranks … 3

Marching – Other ranks … 18 Pistols … … 1 Rifles … … 21

NO. 6 (ADMINISTRATIVE) PLATOON

Motor cycle 1 Transport subaltern

Motor cycle 2 Transport serjeant

Car, 2-seater Quarter-master Driver, I.C.

Trucks, 15-cwt. 1-3 (each) Sanitary duty man

Driver, I.C. Reserve S.A.A.

Lorry, 3-ton 1 Motor mechanic Driver, I.C. 960 rounds reserve 2-inch mortar ammunition A. Tk. rifle and 200 rounds

Lorry, 3-ton 2 Driver, I.C. 360 rounds reserve 3-inch mortar ammunition

Lorry, 3-ton 3 Serjeant cook, A.C.C. Officers’ mess cook, A.C.C. Officers’ mess servant 2 batmen Driver, I.C. Officers’ mess and rations

Lorry, 3-ton 4 Serjeant for technical stores 2 clerks Technical storeman (lance-corporal) Technical storeman Fitter, M.V., R.A.O.C. (serjeant) Fitter, M.V., R.A.O.C. Motor mechanic Driver, I.C. M.T. stores and tools

Lorry, 3-ton 5 Serjeant cook, A.C.C. Corporal cook, A.C.C. Butcher 2 cooks, A.C.C. Driver, I.C. (c) Cooking sets, rations and water in tins

Lorries, 3-ton 6 to 9 (each) C.Q.M.S. Cook, A.C.C. Driver, I.C. (c) Cooking sets, rations and water in tins

Lorry, 3-ton 10 R.Q.M.S. C.Q.M.S. Armourer, R.A.O.C. (serjeant)

Technical storeman 4 cooks, A.C.C. Driver, I.C. Postman (lance-corporal)

Lorry, 3-ton 11 Equipment repairer Shoemaker, R.A.O.C. (corporal) Storeman Sanitary duty man Driver, I.C. Anti-gas equipment and decontamination reserves

of clothing

Lorry, 3-ton 12 Storeman Driver, I.C. Distribution of petrol

Truck, 15-cwt., (water) Water duties man Driver, I.C. (c)

Total, personnel, including attached – Officers … 2 Other ranks … 63 Pistols … … 3 Rifles … … 62 A. Tk. rifles … 1

EACH RIFLE COMPANY HEADQUARTERS

Bicycles 1 and 2 2 orderlies

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. 1 Major or captain Orderly or clerk Driver, I.C.

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. 2 Storeman Driver mechanic Tools and stores C.Q.M.S. (carried in No. 6 platoon transport)

Total, personnel Officers … 1 Other ranks … 6

Marching – Officers … … 1

Other ranks … 4 Pistols … … 2 Rifles … … 10

EACH RIFLE PLATOON

Bicycle Private

Truck, 15-cwt., G.S. Private Driver, I.C. 3 L.M.Gs. and 3,000 rounds 2-inch mortar and 36 rounds A. Tk. rifle and 200 rounds Ammunition and tools

Total, personnel Other ranks … 3

Marching – Officer … … 1 Other ranks … 33 Pistols … … 1 Rifles … … 33 Machine carbines .45-inch 3 L.M.Gs. … … 3 2-inch mortar … 1 A. Tk. rifle … 1

(v) Table of weapons and ammunition

Detail Number

Ammunition – rounds

On man or with gun

Reserve Total

Pistols, .38-inch 47 12 282 846

Rifles, .303-inch for –

Infantry 697 50 70,000 104,850

R.A.O.C. and A.C.C. 20 20 … 400

Machine carbines .45-inch 42 250 14,700 25,200

L.M.Gs. .303-inch 50 1,000 25,000 75,000

Twin L.M.Gs. .303-inch 4 2,000 4,000 12,000

A. Tk. rifles, .55-inch 25 200 1,000 6,000

Pistols, signal 24 20 … 480

Pistols, signal, for carriers 14 18 … 252

3-inch mortars 6 … … …

H.E. … 72 270 702

Smoke … 24 90 234

2-inch mortars 16 … … …

H.E. 27 720 1,152

Smoke 9 240 384

Grenades (various types) … … 528 528

(a) Scottish battalions and Irish battalions (except the Royal Ulster Rifles) will be allowed 1 serjeant piper and 5 pipers in addition. A battalion of Foot Guards will be

allowed 2 drill serjeants (warrant officers, class II, in addition).

1 main in each company will be trained, after mobilization to repair boots as a part-time employment, under the supervision of the R.A.O.C. shoemaker. 1 man in

each company will be trained in sanitary duties as a part-time employment.

(b) Trained in anti-gas duties and decontamination work.

(c) The drivers of the water truck and drivers carrying water in tins will be trained in water duties.

NOTES ON FIRST REINFORCEMENTS AND 2ND LINE TRANSPORT R.A.S.C.

Detail left at base

Orderly room serjeant … … … … 1

First reinforcements

Captain … … … … 1

Subalterns … … … 5

Warrant officer, class II … … 1

Company quarter-master-serjeants … 2

Serjeants … … … 5

Corporals … … … 7

Lance-corporals … … … 14

Privates … … … … 121

156

Pistols, .38-inch … … … 6 and 72 rounds.

Rifles, .303-inch … … … 150 and 7,500 rounds.

2nd line, R.A.S.C. – See W.E. of R.A.S.C. units in Vol. I.

4000 7/41 W.O.P. 7853 (6½)