‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 23 PART II (From 16thto 30thJune 1916)’ [‎34r] (72/274)

3 1
(ti) These packages should be despatched by certain selected ships
which should be fitted with a special “ baggage room similar to
that in P. and O. and other passenger steamers, and should be in
the personal charge of a ship’s officer who would grant receipts
to the Embarkation Supply officers for all packages handed over
by them to him, receiving at the same time a copy of the special
invoice in which the packages are entered, and which would give
particulars of address, marks, etc.
(in) On arrival of the ship at Basrah, the baggage room would only be
opened in the presence of a representative of Supply and Trans
port Corps, who would check the packages with the list in the
possession of the Chief Officer, and if correct, sign for their
receipt, and would then take delivery of the packages and
arrange for their handing over to the Officer in charge E (£) Sec
tion of the Base Supply Depot for further disposal.
(iv) Instances have occurred of private packages for officers and others
being delivered on board ships ju°t before their departure by trad
ing firms or shipping agencies ; these packages are not account
ed for or invoiced in the ordinary w^ay, but are only shewn on the
manifest as so many private packages, thus confusing check on
other similar packages, or in the event of one being lost, mak
ing it almost impossible to trace which package is actually mis
sing. This should on no account be allowed and only such pack
ages as have been delivered at the Receiving Section and from
there made over to and acknowledge by the Ship’s Officer in
charge of the baggage room should be accepted on board.
(sd No Packages or cases should be accepted by the Receiving Section
unless clearly and sufficiently addressed on the package itself.
Addresses on paper labels almost invariably get rubbed or torn off
and cannot be delivered.
(yi) Vouchers for all packages should be made ou; by the despat hing
Supply and Transport Officer in triplicate, the original being
retained by him and receipted by the ship’s officer, the duplicate
being kept by the latter officer and receipted by the Supply and
Transport representative by whom the packages are taken over
from the baggage room on arrival in Basrah, and the triplicate
sent by the ship to the Rail and Port Section of the Base Supply
Depot for record. In this way there would be no break in the
chain of responsibility from the time the packages w^ere handed
in at Bombay or Karactii to the time of their receipt by the
Supply and Transport here.
2. It is recommended that if the system indicated above is introduced the
principal trading firms and shipping agents or other consignors of goods should
be notified, either bv a circular or by a notice in the Bombay or Karachi local
papers as to the correct procedure to be followed when despatching packages
to the troops in Mesopotamia ; under the present system by w'hich such packages
are classed as ordinary cargo, no special measures can be taken to ensure their
reaching their consignees^ correctly or to prevent their being damaged or
pilfered en route.
Working copy to \M.G.
Copy to G.S. (M.O.a).
Memorandum No. A.-I2-68, dated 3lst May I9I6. APPENDIX 279 ',
(Received in War Section, 19th June 19 16 .) (Diary No. 60402,}
From—The Director, Medical Services, Force “ D.”
To—The Director, Medical Services, in India.
(Through the Chief of the General Staff, Simla.)
A copy of the Report of Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Lefroy on his investi
gation of the fly pest in Mesopotamia is attached (not reproduced.)
Lieutenant-Colonel Lefroy is returing to India to-day, leaving Captain
Beeson to carry on the work.