AWM52 1/11/18/2 - 1946, part 2, Headquarters London Victory March Contingent, Narrative of events - Part 6

SECTION 2

REGENTS PARK CAMP

Allocation of Troops

All numbers given are subject to change

(15124)SECTION 3
BUSHEY PARK CAMP
Allocation of Troops
All numbers given are subject to change

10
SECTION 4
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR KENSINGTON GARDENS,
REGENTS PARK AND BUSHEY PARK CAMPS
1. GENERAL.
Camp Commandants are responsible to the Brigadier Commanding Troops for the
administration of their Lines, Main Camp Headquarters is situated in Kensington G————ardens.
2. MOVEMENT OF PERSONNEL TO AND FROM CAMPS.
(a) Headquarters London District are responsible for the movement of personnel from
Railway Termini to camps and vice versa. Detachment Commanders on arrival
at Railway Termini will report immediately for instructions to the R.T.O.
(b) Detachment Commanders will, on arrival in Camp, hand to the Camp Commandant of
their Lines, three copies of the nominal roll of the detachment which is to occupy
those particular Lines.
(c) Camp Commandants will arrange for Guides to conduct Detachments to their areas.
3. DISCIPLINE.
(a) British, Indian, Burmese and Colonial Troops.
Minor infringements of discipline or irregularities of conduct will normally
not be dealt with direct by Camp Commandants, but will be referred for
appropriate action to the Officer Commanding the Detachment to which the
offender belongs.
The power of awarding summary punishment is vested in the Officer
Commanding the Detachment to which the soldier belongs in accordance with his
rank, as set out in King's Regulations, 1940, paragraph 590.
Where, in accordance with King's Regulations 1940, paragraph 590 (b), the
powers of the Officer Commanding the Detachment appear to that officer to be
inadequate to deal with an offence, the offender may be charged and brought
before the Camp Commandant who, if of field rank, has the full powers of a
Commanding Officer. A soldier will not be awarded a summary punishment by
the Camp Commandant or any officer other than the Officer Commanding his
Detachment without prior reference to the Brigadier Commanding Troops.
b) Allied, Dominion, Royal Navy, and R.A.F. Personnel.
All matters of discipline will be dealt with by the Officers Commanding the
respective Groups or Contingents.
4. PAY.
(a) Allied, Dominion, Indian, Burmese and Colonial personnel as well as the Royal
Navy and R.A.F. Contingents, are being paid under arrangements to be made by
the Governments and Ministries concerned.
(b) British Troops, stationed in the United Kingdom, and accommodated in camps for
fourteen days or less, will receive from their parent unit, prior to arrival, sufficient
pay to cover the period in camp plus any leave period to be given.
(c) Remaining British Troops will be paid under arrangements made by the Camp Commandants
in London, cash being supplied by District Paymaster, London District.
Parent units will issue to each man a slip showing his pay entitlement for leave,
if any, and credits, if any.
(d) On arrival in camps, Camp Commandants will immediately notify the District
Paymaster, London District, 15 Sussex Square, London, W.2. (Telephone :
AMB. 1152 Ext. 18) who will allot them an Imprest number. Cash will be
supplied weekly by 70 (H) Area Cash Office under arrangements to be made by
District Paymaster, London District, who will be responsible for providing the
necessary staff. Cash will be brought to the offices of Camp Commandants
weekly, on Thursday or Friday, whichever is the more convenient, by 70 Area
Cashier, and Camp Commandants will receive this in exchange for requisition for
Cash (A.F. O 1487), which they will hand to the Area Cashier. Banking accounts
for money received on Imprest will not be opened. Camp Commandants will
account for money on Imprest on A.F. 1531 A in the normal manner.
On the closing of the Camp, the Imprest Account will be balanced and
forwarded by hand to the District Paymaster, together with any balance of cash.
11
(e) Payment of troops will be strictly in accordance with their entitlement, and the
method of payment, etc., will be as prescribed in the pamphlet entitled
" Instructions Relating to the Pay Duties of Company, etc., Commanders of
Units at Home, in connection with the Modified Active Service System of
Accounting, 1941".
After each pay out, Acquittance Rolls will be despatched by hand to District
Paymaster, 15 Sussex Square, London, W.2.
If, through unforeseen circumstances, a supplementary requisition for cash is
necessary, Camp Commandants will get in touch with the Area Cashier (telephone
AMB 1152), who will take appropriate action.
(f) Camp Commandants are responsible for the safeguarding of public and regimental
funds in accordance with A.C.I. 786 of 1941 (republished as London District
Order 415 of 1946).
5. CURRENCY EXCHANGE.
Arrangements will be made by the District Paymaster to establish a Currency Exchange
Tent in the Main Camp Headquarters Lines, at Kensington Gardens Camp.
[*?*]
6. PROVOST.
A D.A.P.M. has been appointed to the staff of Main Camp Headquarters. His primary
task is the control of the various gates by means of Military Police provided by D.P.M.,
London District, supplemented as required by representatives of contingents.
Regimental police are provided in each Lines under the orders of Camp Commandants
for the additional safeguarding of stores or for other local police matters.
Camp Commandants will arrange for Contingent Commanders to leave the requisite
number of men or women in Camp at all times to safeguard the personal property of the
contingent.
7. WELFARE.
(a) No entertainments are being organized within Camps except for contingents from
India and the Colonies. The various Authorities who are sponsoring contingents
from overseas are making arrangements for the entertainment of troops outside
Camp.
(b) A number of information centres are being established in the Camps. A staff will be
on duty which can give information about London generally in any language
required. These tents will be rendezvous for guides and interpreters accompanying
parties going on conducted tours.
(c) Wireless sets will be provided on the scale of 4 per 1,000 men.
(d) A Welfare Store will be provided in the Main Camp Headquarters Lines.
(e) A.A.G. (Welfare and Leave) London District will provide a Welfare Officer who will
be attached to Main Camp Headquarters Staff from 23rd May. He will also be
responsible for the provision of all Welfare Services.
8. MEDICAL.
(a) Medical arrangements will be as under :—
Kensington Gardens Camp Camp Hospital.
Six Medical Inspection tents in different parts
of the Camp.
Three V.D. prevention centres at certain
entrances to the Camp.
Regents Park Camp One Medical Inspection Tent.
One V.D. prevention centre near the Medical
Inspection Tent.
Bushey Park Camp Camp Hospital (for women only).
(b) Personnel reporting sick will bring two copies of A.F. B 256 (Morning Sick Report).
After the patient has been examined, one copy will be returned to the patient's
detachment stating what is wrong with him, what treatment he is to have, and
if he has been sent to Hospital, the address of that Hospital.
Camp Commandants will make supplies of A.F. B 256 available.
(c) It is desirable that individuals who cannot speak English should be accompanied by
an interpreter when they attend for medical attention.

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9. CAMP EQUIPMENT.
(a) Equipment will be issued on standard camp scales, augmented to provide additional
amenities. Field allowance will not be issuable.
(b) Officers' and Warrant Officers' Tents will be equipped to camp scales, and camp kit
will, therefore, not be required. Sheets and pillow-cases will not be provided
except for women.
(c) There will be 1 Field Officer per tent,
otherwise 2 Officers per tent.
2 Warrant Officers per tent.
5 men per tent.
Women's services will be in huts.
(d) 4 blankets per man or woman will be issued.
(e) Tent boards will be provided.
(f) All British Army Troops (male and female) will bring ground sheets, knives, forks
and spoons,
(g) Palliasses and bolsters will be provided for male Other Ranks.
(h) Beds, mattresses, pillows will be provided for women.
10. LIGHTING.
(a) Electric lighting will be provided for the following :—
All Camp Headquarters Offices.
Ordnance Depot and Offices.
Officers' Messes.
Serjeants’ dining and reading tents.
Medical tents.
Cookhouses and Ration stores.
Main Camp roads and entrance gates.
N.A.A.F.Is.
(b) Hurricane lanterns will be available for all other tents and for use in emergency.
11. N.A.A.F.I.
A number of Institutes will be established. The allocation of Detachments to Institutes
will be notified by Camp Commandants and will be strictly adhered to.
12. POSTAL AND TELEPHONES:
(a) Temporary Post Offices will be opened in Kensington Gardens and Regents Park
Camps to deal with the sale of stamps, postal orders, telegrams, etc. All
telegrams for the different Lines will be delivers to each Camp Commandant,
who will arrange distribution in the Lines. Facilities for posting letters will be
provided in all three camps.
(b) Telephones. Camp telephones will not be used for private calls. Public telephone
call boxes will be available for private calls in and near each camp.
(c) Postal Addresses. The correct addresses for the Camps are :—
Number. Rank. Name. 
Unit [*?*]
Lines,
Victory Camp,
Kensington Gardens, London, W.2. Tel: AMBassador 2691-8.
OR Lines,
Victory Camp,
Regents Park,
London, N.W.1. Tel: WELbeck 5483-5.
OR Lines,
Victory Camp,
Bushey Park,
Teddington, Mddx. Tel.: Kingston 7766.
(d) Telegraphic Addresses.
For Kensington Gardens Camp - VICTRIKEN, LONDON.
For Regents Park Camp VICTRIREG, LONDON.
For Bushey Park Camp VICTRIBUSH. TEDDINGTON.

CHAIN OF COMMAND AND RESPONSIBILITY IN CAMPS
[Organisation Chart - see original document.]

14
SECTION 5
CAMP STANDING ORDERS FOR KENSINGTON GARDENS,
REGENTS PARK AND BUSHEY PARK CAMPS
13. BYE-LAWS.
All ranks will be careful to comply with the Bye-Laws for the Royal Parks, copies of
which are posted on all Lines Notice Boards.
14. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY.
(a) All ranks will take the greatest care to do no damage to Public or Private Property.
It is forbidden to cut or damage trees, fences, or shrubs in any way. Ant damage
done or noticed will be reported immediately to Camp Commandants. No
digging or cutting of turf will be carried out without authority of Camp
Commandants.
(b) Safeguarding of Personal Kit. Though Provost staff are on duty at the gates
and Regimental Police in the various Lines, the safeguarding of personal kit will
be the responsibility of personnel detailed by Contingent Commanders.
15. BOUNDS.
The bounds of the Camps are the wire perimeter of the Camps. Personnel will only
enter and leave Camps by the authorized entrances.
16. PERMITS AND PASSES.
(a) A Special coloured Permit will be issued to all personnel stationed or having business in
the Camps. All ranks are requested to co-operate with the Provost staff at the
gates, or with the Camp staff, in the showing of Permits or Passes as required.
These Permits are issued in the interests of personnel in Camps in order to help in
restricting the entry of unauthorized persons.
(b) Leave Passes may be granted by Detachment Commanders in accordance with King's
Regulations, 1940, paragraphs 1600-1603, subject to the Camp Commandant’s approval.
(c) In accordance with King's Regulations, 1940, paragraph 1602 (b), personnel without
a Leave Pass may remain out of Camp until 0100 hours daily.
17. DRESS.
Soldiers walking out of Camp in uniform will be properly dressed in the walking-out
order appropriate for the Contingent concerned. Non-British Services, R.N. and R.A.F.
Contingents will comply with such orders as are issued by Officers Commanding Contingents
Special orders will be issued regarding dress for the Victory Parade
18. PAY.
British Troops stationed in the United Kingdom will have received pay from their
parent units for their period in the Camp plus any leave period.
Remaining British Troops will be paid under arrangements made by Camp Commandants.
Such Troops should be in possession of slips issued by parent units showing pay
entitlement for leave, if any, and credits, if any.
Allied, Dominion, Indian, Burmese and Colonial personnel and the R.N. and R.A.F.
Contingents are paid under arrangements made by the Governments or Ministries
concerned.
There are no facilities for cashing cheques in Camps.
19. CAMP TIME.
Watches will be synchronised daily by the 0800 hours B.B.C. time signals.
20. ROUTINE.
The following routine will be adhered to except when otherwise ordered by the Brigadier
Commanding Troops:—

Two sittings may be necessary at certain meals.

21. BATHING,
A part of the public bathing place in the Serpentine will be available for bathing. No
other place will be used. Costumes must be worn.
22. MEDICAL.
Men reporting sick will parade at the Medical Inspection Tent allotted to their Lines at
0830 hours, unless urgent medical attention is required at other times.
23. FIRE PICQUETS.
Fire Picquets will be found by administrative troops in all Lines. Their strengths and
their Orders will be laid down by the Camp Commandants.
24. FIRE PRECAUTIONS.
(a) Any outbreak of fire will be reported to Main Camp Headquarters at once.
(b) Telephone numbers of the local Fire Brigades will be maintained in the Headquarters
of each Lines.
(c) No naked lights will be used in tents.
(d) Lights will not be left in unoccupied tents.
(e) Smoking in the vicinity of the Ordnance Depot and in Store Tents is forbidden.
(f) Great care will be taken that cigarette ends, matches and pipe ashes are extinguished
before being thrown away.
(g) Fires will not be lighted except in authorized places.
(h) Fire appliances as provided will be maintained and regularly inspected by Camp
Commandants.
25. SANITARY.
(a) Care will be taken that all water taps are turned off.
(b) All litter and dry rubbish will be placed in the receptacles provided throughout
the Camps, and will be removed daily under arrangements to be made by D.D.S.T.
(c) Cook-house refuse will be removed daily under arrangements to be made by D.D.S.T.
(d) Swill and by-products will be removed daily under arrangements to be made by
D.D.S.T.
(e) Care will be taken that overflow pipes from Ablution Benches are not allowed to
become blocked up with soap, etc.
(f) Lights will be placed near night latrines in the Lines.
(g) Latrines will be emptied daily under arrangements to be made by D.D.S.T.
26. CLEANING AREAS.
The Camp Commandants will be responsible for the cleanliness of their Lines.
27. VEHICLES.
(a) Vehicles will enter and leave Camps by the gates provided in accordance with traffic
circuit plan.
(b) Speed limit for all motor vehicles will be 10 m.p.h. within Camps.
(c) Vehicles will keep to the roads and paths as far as possible and avoid turning on
the grass.
(d) Private cars will not be allowed in the Lines. However, a parking place will be
available in or near each Camp where vehicles may be parked at the owner's risk.
Location of these parks may be ascertained from Camp Commandants.
28. POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS.
(a) Camp Commandants in Kensington Gardens Camp will be responsible for the collection
of mail from Main Camp Headquarters Post Office. All Camp Commandants
will be responsible for the distribution of letters in their Lines.
(b) A temporary Post Office will be opened in KENSINGTON GARDENS and
REGENTS PARK CAMPS to deal with the sale of Stamps, Postal Orders,
Telegrams, etc.
39. TELEPHONES.
Camp telephones will not be used for private calls. Public Telephone Call Boxes are
being provided at certain places in the Lines. The location of other public telephones
near camps are marked on the sketch maps.
(25424) D

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30. N.A.A.F.I.
(a) N.A.A.F.I. Institutes will open as follows:-
1000 to 1100 hours.
1200 to 1400 “
1800 to 2200 “
Beer Bars 1200 to 1400 “
1800 to 2200 “
(b) N.A.A.F.I. Institutes will be allotted to the Troops in each Lines by Camp Commandants.
Troops will only use the Institute so allotted.
37. VISITORS
No visitors will be allowed in Camps except with the permission of Main Camp
Headquarters in the case of Kensington Gardens, and of respective Camp Commandants
at Regents Park and Bushey.
17
SECTION 6
TIME TABLE FOR THE MOVES OF ADMINISTRATIVE TROOPS AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAMPS.

18
SECTION 7
R.A.S.C. ARRANGEMENTS
32. D.D.S,T., London District, will be responsible for all R.A.S.C. services in connection
with the Victory March. There will be a Major i/c R.A.S.C. duties at the Main Camp H.Q.,
Kensington Gardens, who will be responsible for R.A.S.C. arrangements to Brigadier Commanding
Troops.
33. TRANSPORT.
All transport required will be provided under arrangements made by the Major i/c
R.A.S.C. Duties,
This transport will be provided by 83 C(M)T Coy., the personnel of which will be
accommodated in Kensington Barracks and the vehicles in the transport park at the South
West Corner of Kensington Gardens.
All demands for transport will be sent by Camp Commandants to Major i/c R.A.S.C.
Duties.
34. SUPPLIES.
All supplies will be issued from the Command Supply Depot in Hyde Park Barracks.
Camp Commandants will demand supplies daily from the Major i/c R.A.S.C. duties,
Main H.Q.
A complete field service ration will be issued, which includes the N.A.A.F.I. portion of
the ration. This precludes the issue of Messing Cash Allowance. This will be indented for
on A.B. 55, in duplicate, 72 hours prior to issue. Rations will be delivered daily at Camp
Ration Stores under R.A.S.C. arrangements before 1200 hours.
Special ration scales will be available for certain Detachments. Camp Commandants
will make out individual A.Bs. 55, in duplicate, for such Detachments. For all other
personnel, Camp Commandants will submit indents, in duplicate, on a " Lines" Basis.
35. CATERING.
A Catering Adviser will be attached to the Main Camp H.Q. He will have the assistance
of certain other Catering Advisers and Specialist Messing Officers.
It is likely that a large number of troops will take their meals out in London, and
therefore it may be possible to underdraw rations. Camp Commandants will inform the
Major i/c R.A.S.C. Duties, Main H.Q., by 1800 hours each day of the quantity of rations
unconsumed for that day in order that under-issues may be effected on the following day.
36. PETROL, OIL AND LUBRICANTS.
(a) Vehicles of 83 C(M)T Coy., and any other vehicles, which may be attached
to Camps in Kensington Gardens, will draw P.O.L. from Petrol Pump in
Kensington Barracks.
(b) Vehicles attached for administrative duties to Bushey Park Camp will draw
P.O.L. from Petrol Pump to be notified to the Camp Commandant by D.D.S.T.
(c) Vehicles taking part n the march and all vehicles attached for administrative
purposes to Regents Park Camp will draw P.O.L. on a unit basis from the Petrol
Depot in Regents Park. P.O.L. will be demanded on Officer i/c Petrol Duties on
A.F. G 828. All P.O.L. will be drawn by Units in containers, which will be
returned to the Petrol Depot immediately after they have been emptied
37. SOLID FUEL.
D.D.S.T. will arrange for solid fuel to be delivered to Dumps which will be established in
each lines near the Cookhouses. Fuel will be provided to scale and will be accounted for by
Main Camp H.Q.
38. SCAVENGING, SWILL AND CONSERVANCY.
All arrangements will be made by D.D.S,T.
19
SECTION 8
R.A.O.C. ARRANGEMENTS
39. CAMP DEPOT.
A Camp Ordnance Depot will be formed in Kensington Gardens, and sufficient stores for
urgent replacements will be maintained at this Depot.
An Ordnance Officer, who will be directly responsible through D.D.O.5, London District
to Brigadier Commanding Troops for all departmental questions affecting Ordnance
administration, will be in charge of the Camp Depot.
Camps will be equipped on the basis of the Standing Camp Scale, and no issues, beyond
those already authorized, will be made without reference to Headquarters London District.
40. WORKING HOURS.
After the initial issues of camp equipment, issues will be made only from 0830 hours to
1700 hours except for urgent issues.
41. CAMP ACCOUNTS.
Camp accounts will be administered by the Camp Commandants of all " Lines".
Detailed procedure to be adopted for the accounting for Ordnance Stores is shown at
paragraph 47.
42. INDENTS.
Indents will not be required for initial issues of camp equipment, but will be required, as
necessary, for additional requirements or for replacements. A.F. G982C will be used for
this purpose.
43. ISSUES.
Issues will be made by Ordnance Officer at times to be arranged mutually between himself
and Camp Commandants. For convenience in checking quantities, camp stores, except tent
boards, will be issued from labelled bays at Kensington Gardens.
All transport requirements for conveyance of stores to and from Ordnance Depots will
be arranged by Camp Commandants concerned.
44. CLOTHING, NECESSARIES AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT.
Articles of clothing, necessaries and personal equipment which may be required by the
troops to replace damaged items or losses will be obtained in the following manner; —
(i) Camp Commandants will submit nominal rolls to the Officer Commanding Camp
Depot, Kensington Gardens.
(ii) Separate nominal rolls to be submitted for—
(a) Clothing items; and (b) personal equipment.
(iii) The following information will be required on each nominal roll :—

(iv) The Officer Commanding Camp Depot will (a) hold stocks of personal equipment
to meet this service, and (b) will forward bulk demands to Officer Commanding
London District Clothing Depot for clothing items, and (c) hold a limited amount
of clothing for emergencies.
(v) The 0.0. Camp Depot will notify Camp Commandants when items are available and will arrange mutually a suitable time for the individuals to parade at the Camp Depot, to obtain replacements.
(vi) The O.O. Camp Depot will notify Camp Commandants when items are available and
will arrange mutually a suitable time for the individuals to parade at the Camp
Depot, to obtain replacements.
(vii) The O.O. Camp Depot will then prepare issue vouchers for despatch to units of
individuals concerned; these will be endorsed "ON REPAYMENT " where the
loss or damage is due to neglect, and "FREE REPLACEMENTS" where the
loss or damage is caused through no fault of the individual.
(vii) The individuals concerned will be required to sign copies Nos. 4 and 5 of the issue
voucher as an acknowledgment of receipt of the item/s. The O.O. Camp Depot
will then forward Nos. 3 and 4 copies of the issue voucher to the individual's
unit for normal accounting procedure, retaining No. 5 copy as temporary receipt
pending return from unit of No, 3 copy to support his account.

20
45. RETURN OF STORES.
Tentage will be inspected by representatives of the Camp Commandant and the R.A.O.C.
before striking camp, and obvious damages noted. Damaged and unserviceable camp
equipment will be labelled with red labels and returned separate from serviceable equipment
to the Camp Ordnance Depot. All stores except tent boards will be returned to the bays
allotted at the Camp Depot and taken over in bulk by the Ordnance Officer. All transport requirements for conveyance of stores to and from Ordnance Depots and camp sites will be
arranged for by Camp Commandants concerned. Detailed instructions for repacking stores before return are contained in paragraph 48. Tent boards will be cleaned and stacked
neatly on one of the road-sides of each camp site to facilitate checking and transportation.
46. CLEARING SITES.
At the conclusion of the camp, particular care will be taken to ensure that sites
are cleared of all Government stores. It is important that broken tent pegs are not left
embedded in the ground—they constitute a danger to pedestrians and grass-cutting
machines.
77. PROCEDURE TO BE ADOPTED FOR THE ACCOUNTING OF ORDNANCE
STORES.
(a) Stores will be accounted for on A.F. G 973 amended as necessary to agree with
the nomenclature of stores shewn on the issue vouchers by the accounting
officers (Camp Commandants).
(b) Accounting Officers will keep distribution books and obtain such receipts as will
enable them to check stores at the conclusion of the camps and to locate any
deficiencies with the unit or individual concerned. A.F. 108 will be issued for
this purpose to accounting officers by the O. O. of the camp.
(c) At the termination of the encampments the accounts with the whole of the
supporting vouchers will be handed to the O. O., together, if necessary, with
A.F. G 998, which should be supported by a brief statement of the circumstances
of the losses or damages and particulars of the responsible unit or individual.
48. RETURN OF CAMP EQUIPMENT.
All articles will be cleaned and dried as far as possible prior to return.
Sisal and spunyarn for tying up, and labels and chalk will be obtained from Ordnance
Officer.
All damaged and unserviceable stores will be packed, labelled with red labels, and
returned separately to the Camp Ordnance Depot.
 

21
SECTION 9
REPAIR AND RECOVERY OF VEHICLES ACCOMMODATED IN
REGENTS PARK
49. A workshop detachment will be set up in Regents Park under arrangements to be
made by D.D.M.E. London District. Officer Commanding No. 1 Central Workshop, Ashford,
will be responsible for providing personnel and equipment.
The workshop will be ready to operate on Friday, 31st May. Personnel will be attached
to "X" Lines, Regents Park Camp, and will arrive there Wednesday, 29th May.
Strength 1 Officer and 38 Other Ranks.
Requests for workshop assistance will be submitted by Detachment Commanders to
Officer Commanding Workshop Detachment on A.F. G 1045.
50. Normal vehicle maintenance and inspection will be carried out by detachments.
Detachments will bring their own First Line Spares.
51. War Office is providing the personnel for the recovery points to be established
during the march. They will be accommodated in " X" Lines, Regents Park Camp, arriving
29th May.
Strength 1 Officer and 40 Other Ranks.
All vehicles will be recovered to the Workshop Detachment in Regents Park.