"مذكرات الحرب. مقر قيادة الجيش، الهند. [...] قوة المشاة الهندية «د». المجلد ٤٣. الجزء I‏. (من ١ إلى ١٤ نوفمبر ١٩١٧.)" [و‎‎١‎٧‎١] (٥٠٠/٣٤٦)

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5. (a) It is realised that the enlistment of
present, but the advantages are so great that it is
be taken up as soon as possible.
followers is not feasible at
hoped that this matter will
(J) It lias been suggested that, owing to the great difficulty experienced
by officers in a prolonged campaign of procuring suitable private Servants,
“ have ,, 0l \ e 1 °:; derl y ^d that ten public followers, as mess
servants and 13 as syces should be entertained on mobilization, thus dome
away with private servants. This is recommended for consideration.
(c) The following regimental public followers are considered necessary :—*
Battalion Headquarters—2 cooks, 2 bhistis, 1 barber and 10 sweepers.
Company Headquarters-4 cooks, 4 bhistis, 1 dhobi and 1 barber.
This is an increase of 16 on the number proposed by you, but the addi-
tional cooks and bhistis are, I consider, necessary in order to give 1 cook and
1 bhisti to each platoon. Also, it is the same proportion as allowed at present.
6. As regards the battalion Headquarters it is considered that the specially
trained men and employed men shown in the attached proposed War Establish
ment, should be included. They are all men who will not train or fight in
the platoons.
(a) Experience has shown that runners, specially trained as such, are
necessary to supplement signalling communications.
(d) The inclusion of police is recommended as they will always be required
and would otherwise have to be taken from platoons.
(c) A bugle major is considered necessary for the instruction of the
company buglers,
. W Battalion scouts under a Jemadar are important for special reeon*
naissance and patrols.
(e) The batmen or orderlies of officers, both British and Indian, should
be included in the headquarters to which they belong.
(/) Experience has emphasised the importance of thorough and systematic
sanitation, and I consider that a sanitary squad should also be included and
be trained and work directly under the orders of the medical officer.
((/) Three clerks are considered essential, one as adjutant’s and
quartermaster’s clerk, 1 for companies, and 1 to help the other two and
replace a casualty.
W armourers are strongly recommended. They have proved their
value under modern conditions.
Two carpenters per battalion are considered sufficient.
Two durzis per battalion are strongly recommended. In practice most
battalions have provided their own and have found them invaluable. It has
been pointed out that they save the State considerable expense.
(j) It is considered that the ward orderly should belong to the battalion
and not be attached.
7. I recommend that there should be a company Headquarters %s well
as a battalion Headquarters, which should include the personnel shown in the
attached War Establishment. None of these will be in the ranks of platoons
in action, and it is, therefore, considered that they should be shown separately.
The buglers and officers’ batmen should be trained as runners also.
Company scouts are not included as it is considered that they should be
in the rank of their platoons.
Only one pay havildar is considered necessary, in additon to the company
havildar-major, with a sepoy to assist him.
8. It is suggested that there should also be a small platoon Headquarters
shown, to include the platoon commander, platoon havildar, runners and
batmen. These have special duties in action and should be trained in them.
9. Some increase and alteration is considered necessary in the transport
shown in your proposed War Establishment.
(a) A fourth mule is necessary to carry the present signalling and tele
phone equipment.
(&) A water mule for the regimental aid post and one driver for it, and
the medical pannier mule, is strongly recommended.
(<?) There should be 2 drivers for the I stretcher mules, and they should be
separated from the medical equipment mules.