This Day in History: 1942-09-05

The 5th Battalion was raised in March 1942. They were initially allocated some motor transport but in September this plan was changed and they were allocated fewer vehicles and given more mules. From a safety point of view this may not have been a bad thing. One officer recalled:
‘[Our] transport comprised twelve bazaar buses with gaily coloured wooden bodies insecurely attached to antique Dodge lorry chassis. Starting involved an old bearded man wearing a dhoti pouring some liquid from a small tin over the engine, which then appeared to burst into flames before it erupted into shuddering life’.