Amazing Organisation Behind Victory Front

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 271, 16 November 1942, Page 5

Amazing Organisation Behind Victory Front

HOW WORKERS EQUIPPED THE ARMIES Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 14. How thousands of soldiers and civilians in Britain under strict secret orders worked night and day for months in the vast arms depots throughout the country to equip the Eighth and First (North African) Armies is now revealed. Not only did the Eighth Army go into battle with every tank, vehicle, gun and radio sot it needed, out behina the line was built a reserve that had not existed in previous campaigns. Throughout the whole striking force from front line to the base were essential spare parts required for light aid detachments and field workshops. The Ordnance Corps was responsible in England for the despatch of all the fighting equipment from outsize howitzers to carefully packed delicate wireless sets, it had devised the packing and despatch systems so that the stores could be taken off the boats anywhere in definite priority with every equipment ready for action the moment it was landed. These new and so far secret methods saved shipping space and many manhours at the dockside. The First Army landing in French North Africa were able to set up a supply system of spares and equipment the moment the first flight of landing craft touched the shore.

Ordnance Corps units with special packs and a combined “supply in attack” system had been loaned to the American forces for servicing troops in the initial stages of the campaign. The v/hole success of the Eighth and First Armies depended on the quantity oi stores and the speed of supply. The revised ordnance organisations in the field were based on experience gathereu in Madagascar and France and achieved the essential speed. Other R.A.O.C. men at home with specially-trained A.T.S., assembled and despatched the necessarily huge quantities of stores.

It was obvious that a great striking force was being built up, yet the secret was perfectly kept. The last-minute demands from the Middle East were met by air freight, including intricate pieces of mechanism which a 3 they take so long to produce had fallen behind production schedule. The co-operation reached between the R.A.F. and R.A.O.C. in air traffic to tbe Middle East, set tbe pace for future requirements.

Tbe repercussion of the victory in Egypt has been a tonic to millions oi workers in British munitions factories. One great plant which broke five records in the past six months has just set up the highest output in its history. It was the amazing outputs of the gun factories that helped to make possible the great break-through. Many gun factories in recent months upset all ideas of the time required to produce guns. Working shift by shift day and night, these workers raised the production month by month until it reached a point where only the emotional stimulus of victory could give them more, ana that is now supplied by the troops in the field.