Coll 28/39(2) ‘Persia. Printed Correspondence, 1937–’ [‎117r] (233/320)

3. Injantry^Officers .—All officers were dismounted. Many junior
officers were observed in command of companies, and warrant officers in
charge of platoons. The machine gun, close support and anti-tank units
were however fully officered. A large proportion of junior officers wore
glasses.
Regimental Colours. —Each regiment carried its colours at its head.
The colour party consisting of the colour bearer (an N. C. O.) and two
officers on his right and lelt. No colour belt with socket is carried which
makes it difficult for the colour to be borne upright. All colours were of
silk but varied in design and colour. Each battalion had a square silk
pennon carried by the right guide of the leading company.
A rmaments —-
The second and fifth sections of each platoon were the light automatic
sections. The light automatic (Brno) was carried at the slope by the No. 1 .
There were 54 light automatics per regiment. Following each battalion
was one machine gun company on pack consisting of six guns. Following
each regiment were: —
(i) One anti-tank gun platoon of six guns mounted on rubber tyred
wheels and drawn by a single mule between light shafts.
Following each gun was its ammunition limber also drawn by
a single mule. Details of this gun are unknown.
(ii) One close support platoon of four Stokes Brandt (81 mm) Mortars
on pack.
(iii) One signal platoon equipped with field telephones, cable, lamps
and helios.
Dress—
The Infantry wore greatcoats with squared packs round which a neatly
rolled blanket was fastened. Copper mess tins, water bottles (wide neck
and uncovered) and entrenching tools were carried. Boots again showed up
as a weak point. They are made of rough untanned leather and are not
polished with the exception of one battalion which had endeavoured to be
so but with indifferent results.
in some platoons a new issue of peaked caps had been made for the
review. These were of an unpleasing mustard colour.
Generally, however, the turn out of the men was good and their equip
ment seemed to be new and cared for although not up to British standards.
The men looked clean and healthy. Most of them being of the peasant and
tribesmen class.
Drill and Marching. —No arms drill was visible from the stands. Rifles
with fixed bayonets were carried almost perpendicular. This makes the slope
appear regular, and even though it must be a severe strain on the arm. The
dressing was good. The marching good, except that the step on passing
the saluting base was a mixture of a slow march and a goose step. The foot
is brought up with the knee bent and is then stamped on the ground well in
advance of the body thus causing considerable jar to the body.
Pack Mules. —All animals looked fit and in good condition. All were
unclipped and in many cases showed traces of rubbing, a sign of badly fitting
saddlery.
Leather work .—The leather work of the anti-tank and close support
platoons was new. The remainder looked serviceable but was unpolished
and not up to British standards.
4. Cavalry—Horses —
Officers’ chargers were on the whole well bred and turned out. They
were mostly Turcomans, with some Arabs, The troop horses were unimpres
sive but are probably better than they look. The matching of the horses
was very good, each troop having horses of one colour only. The bays were
mostly the hardy Kurd ponies, with a sprinkling of Turcomans.