‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART II. (From 16th to 30th November 1918.)’ [‎131r] (270/558)

Lieijt.-Colonkl F. SKIP WITH, l-5th Gurkha Eifles, F.F.,
Lieut.-Colonel H. St. G. SCOTT, 2-4th Gurkha Rifles,
and
Lieut.-Colonel P. F. CHAPMAN, I.M.S.
The Board bavin" assembled pursuant to order, proceed to make an indivi
dual examination of all ranks of 49th Bengalis present on the strength of the
kttalion on October 4th, 1918, in order to eliminate those who are not likely
(from physical or. other causes) to make efficient soldiers.
A medical inspection was first held to set aside all those who were physically
iocapable of active service.
Two hundred and seventy (270) men fell under this category and were
reported by the medical officer as unfit. These men were also examined by the
Board which concurred in the medical officer’s opinion. Their names are given
in Appendix I.
The next test held by the Board was a 12 mile route march in field service
order, men parading in shirt sleeves.
Parade strength of other ranks was 683, vide Appendix II. A certain num
ber of these men had had to march up to 2 miles to the starting point, hut they
we given full opportunity to rest and feed before the actual march. The day
Wscool and cloudy with a fresh wind blowing from the flank.
Per the first 6 miles march discipline was good, and 5 men fell out.
During the next four miles there was a marked deterioration and a further
(seventy) men fell out.
During the last 2 miles the breeze fell, dust hung in the ranks and there
W a little sunshine, and by the time the battalion had reached camp a total of
' Owo hundred and twenty-one) men had fallen out, vide Appendix III.
The battalion had moved off at 7-10 a.m., and it reached camp at
Nd5 p.m.
As regards the causes of falling out, only about ten cases of sore feet occurred
\ ^ ese wei 'e also exhausted. About one-third of the total number were utterly
^ted, and about two-thirds fell out from want of heart and partial exhaus-
On arrival at camp the regiment was formed up and a close scrutiny made
e men who had completed the march.
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The men as whole were found to b§ 4 in an exhausted condition. Thos
•who had marked disordered action of the heart were fallen out and their names
are given in Appendix IV. A certain number of men lay down and were
incapable of standing up, vide Appendix V.
In the opinion of the Board the men who had completed the march were—
(a) Incapable of making an attack.
{b) Incapable of digging themselves in.
(o) Of practically no military value.
The Board however are unable to state that these men are not likely even
tually to make efficient soldiers.
AH casualties on the route march, i.e., those who fell out, those who at the
end of the march had marked disordered action of the heart or who lay down,
were paraded for inspection that evening 5 hours later. They showed but little
signs of recovery, and the majority had not had the energy to wash themselves
although the camp is on the river’s edge.
It was intended to hold another route march the following morning, hut the
Board was of opinion that the men were not physically capable of attempting
one. The Commandant also reported that he had been obliged to reduce the
strength of his night guards, as the men were so fatigued by the march that it
was impossible to send them on duty {vide Appendix VI).
On the following afternoon, after eliminating unfit men, Appendices I,
III, IV and V, the battalion in field service order with fixed bayonets was given a
physical training test consisting of advancing for about 700 yards over broken
country. Each platoon advanced at intervals of 4 minutes in extended order.
The average time taken was 6J minutes and, out of a total of 3 a 2 other ranks
on parade, 54 showed marked exhaustion and arrived at a considerable distance
behind their platoons.
Bearing in mind the fact that the battalion has received special treatment
extra rations being provided for the men, and 12 British non-commissioned
officers posted for physical training purposes, the Board is of opinion that the
men named in Appendices I, III, IV and V (a rotal of d69), are unlikely to
make efficient soldiers from physical or other causes.
Appendices III, IV and V do not include tlie names of any men who have,
joined the battalion in the field subsequent to February 22nd, 1918.
As regards the two special cases of No. 147 Tempy. Col. Hav. Major J. N.
Sircar and No. 293 Tempy. Hav. A. Sanyal, vide Appendix VII, the Board con
curs in the opinion expressed by the Officer Commanding, 49th Bengalis, that
these 2 Non-Commissioned Officers be discharged from the service.