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enlisted and sent to sea as quickly as possible owing to the scarcity of British personnel capable of handling diesel engines.
On the other hand, Norwegian mercantile seamen, sent to Royal Arthur to be trained by us for the Norwegian Navy, have quickly reached a very fair standard of discipline and good morale.
(ii) Army.
25. Strength-Dumfries: 98 Officers, 1,328 Other Ranks, 7 Nurses. Equipment. The following has been issued during the month :---
Trucks, 15-cwt., 4-whd., Office
Tractors, F.A., Fwd. ...
1
6
Employment. On the 18th December, 1940, the Norwegian Forces came under the operational control of Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces.
Individual section training courses for officers are in progress. Independent Company training is continuing.
Welfare. Satisfactory.
Morale.-Good.
(iii) Air Force.
26. The Commanding Officer of the Norwegian Army Air Force has arrived in England to discuss training.
27.
F.-BELGIANS.
(i) Navy.
H.M.S. Royal Arthur report most favourably on the second batch of recruits which numbers 22. They are mostly young men and show keenness and intelligence. Their standard in drill is now approaching that of British entries.
A third contingent of about 60 men will shortly join Royal Arthur. The men do 6 weeks in that establishment and then 4 weeks minesweeping and gunnery training in H.M.S. Lochinvar. Picked men will be taken for certain specialist
courses.
When the men are trained they will commission a group of Auxiliary Patrol craft commanded by British Skippers.
(ii) Army.
Liaison
28. Strength.-Tenby area: 55 Officers, 957 Other Ranks, 5 Nurses. Accommodation.-Winter quarters in Tenby are satisfactory. Headquarters moved to Esplanade Hotel, Tenby, where the Belgian Headquarters will move very shortly.
Equipment. The following has been issued during the month :-
Respirators
Eyeshields, Anti-gas, packets (6)
Ointment, No. 2
Capes, Anti-gas
Trucks, 15-cwt., 4-whd., Office...
1,010
197
1,760
560
1
Employment. On the 1st January, 1941, the Belgian Forces came under the operational control of C.-in-C., Home Forces. Nos. 1 and 3 Companies, Penally Camp-Tenby defences and training.
Nos. 2 and 4 and Headquarter Companies and Depot Training Companies at Tenby-training.
During the month No. 4 Company has been formed.
Security.-Satisfactory.
Welfare.-Belgian Government distributed parcels for each man. Sir Thomas Cook arranged for 8 officers and 40 other ranks to be entertained in English families. M. Gutt, Minister of Defence, visited Tenby and addressed all the troops on Christmas Eve.
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