'Administration Reports of the Persian Gulf, 1945 [-1946]' [‎98r] (208/414)

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The horses on charge are all fit. In last year's
report it was stated that it was proposed to attempt to bread
a mule with a view to using them in future for 2.75 guns. This
has not yet been possible as, owing to an unfortunate liaison
the mare is in foal to a Stallion.
The extra fodder grown at Ruwi and Bait-al-Falaj was
sufficient for all animals up to the end of October. Since
then a certain amount has had to be purchased outside.
Unfortunately the heavy rain last year which caused the
Falaj to flow for the first time in aany years does not appear to
have had any lasting effect as dried up in the middle of the year.
The damage to the various channels was very great and we have
been working throughout the year clearing the stoppages.
(b) M.T.: Please see reports for 19-43 and 194A? Our
M.T to all intents and purposes has been non-existent. Two
30 cwt. Chevrolets were sent to Karachi for repair but were
"written off" by the I .E .M /E. work shops as beyond repair.
We have managed to keep one lorry going by stripping the f ourth
which was also unserviceable. This lorry can do the journey
between Muscat and Mutrah, but the radiator has to be filled
up eight times in the 4^- miles.
The old R.A.F. lorry has been purchased from the Consulate,
and although this requires a lot of attention, it is helping us
to carry on.
The Government of India has agreed "to supply four lorries.
It is now learned that they are 15 cwt. and second hand Fords.
They are apparently in Bombay and shipment is being delayed
pending the receipt of an Export Permit.
It appears that the issue order for these lorries was
published in Delhi in January 1945 and received in Bombay in
December 1945.
We now hold a very large stock of Chevrolet spare parts
as a result of the past three years' indents. All these spares
arrived too late to be of any use and will have to be returned
or disposed of and Ford spares indented for. The same applies
to tyres, of which ?/e have a considerable stock.
9. Medical :
Captain Matthews, the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Surgeon, continues to
officiate as our Medical Officer. His report is appended
below:
ANNUAL HEALTH REPORT ON THE MUSCAT INFANTRY
from 1st January 1945 - 31st December 194-5. \
The general health of the Unit has not been very satisfac
tory. Although there was no epidemic of an infectious nature,
nevertheless the numbers of sick have been high. I feel that
the summer of 1945 must be regarded as accounting a great deal
for this rise in sick numbers.
During l-lay, June and July the average maximum temperature
was 100° C to 102 o C. The wet bulb reading was between 94 0 C to
to 98 0 C. With a high maximum temperature and a relatively high
humidity reading, a very dangerous period exists. Fortunately
no cases