9 September
After an uneventful journey, the convoy at the port of Freetown, Sierre Leone. No shore leave was granted to any troops and the Orduna lay out in the stream while she took on oil and water. The Battalion experienced considerable sticky heat which was partially alleviated by the lack of blackout which enabled the portholes to be opened.
12 September
R.M.S. Orduna sailed from Freetown. The convoy reformed the course of the morning and continued southwards.
15 September
Passengers and crew of the Orduna carried out the traditional ducking ceremony of ‘Crossing the Line’ to mark the crossing of the equator.
24 September
Part of the convoy left the main body bound for the port of Durban, South Africa.
25 September
Land was spotted as dawn broke and the Orduna docked in the port of Cape Town. Contrary to expectation, the Bn. did not go to a transit camp but was warned by the embarkation authorities to trans-ship on the following Sunday. Short leave was granted to all ranks, who greatly appreciated the warm hospitality and friendliness shown to them by the people of Cape Town. Shore leave continued until the Bn. left Cape Town.
27 September
The Bn., together with the 93rd General Hospital including the QAIMNS, 167 Field and a detachment of 39 BSD RASC transhipped to H.M.T. California which was lying about 1 mile from the Orduna, On HMT California, they joined 168 Brigade HQ, 10th Royal Berkshire, 1st Bn. London Scottish Regiment, 90th Field Regiment RA, 140 Field ambulance and a draft of the RAT, a total of about 5000 men. All transport remained on board the Orduna. This party consisted of 2/Lt AF Mace and 2Llt JVR Reynolds and 156 ORs. 2/Lt PC Islitt travelled on board S.S. Dominion Monarch in charge of the Bn’s Q1098 stores, as the California was unable to take them.
28 September
The Bn. carried out a route march through the dock area of Cape Town for a distance of 6 miles.
29 September
H.M.T. California sailed from Cape Town and joined the remained of the convoy to sail eastwards.
H.M.T. California, a ship of approximately 17,000 tons belonged to the Anchor Line. She was a newer ship than the Orduna and a good deal cleaner. However, as she as was carrying nearly 5,000 men, she was just as over-crowded but the food was much better.
Movement of the M.T. Party until it re-joined the Battalion.
R.M.S. Orduna sailed from Cape Town with the main convoy leaving on October 11th. After an uneventful journey, the M.T. convoy party disembarked from R.M.S Orduna in the afternoon of 22 October 1942 at Port Tewfik. The party then proceeded to Grosvenor Camp, Tawag, Egypt where camp was made. Vehicles were collected on various dates and parties were sent at intervals to join the Battalion in Iraq. The parties were arranged by HQ 56th (London) Division and are as follows:
1st party left on 30 October 1942.
2nd party left on 8 November 1942.
3rd party left on 11 November 1942.
4th party left on 15 November 1942.
5th/6th party left on 25 November 1942.
3 October
The convoy joined the remaining ships which left Durban.
17 October
After a hot, but otherwise uneventful journey through the Indian Ocean, the convoy arrived in the port of Bombay and H.M.T. California remained anchored in the stream, where it was very warm. No shore leave was granted.
22 October
H.M.T. California docked a Ballard Pier in Bombay and shore leave was granted to all ranks for three days.
24 October
H.M.T. California pulled out into the stream and re-docked at Alexandra Dock.
25 October
The Brigade transhipped from H.M.T. California and the Bn., less C Coy. Re-embarked on S.S. Melchior Treub, a Dutch ship belonging to the K.P.M. There were no other units aboard this ship which was being used for the first time as a troopship, with the result that the crew were unacquainted with the requirements of troops. The cooking facilities were inadequate and the Bn. was very overcrowded but the officers and crew of the Melchior Treub were as helpful as they could be.
C Coy re-embarked on S.S. Santhia.
S.S. Melchior Treub sailed from Bombay for the Persian Gulf without convoy.
30 October
S.S. Melchior Treub reached the mouth of the Shatt-al-Arab and sailed up towards Basra in Iraq.
31 October
S.S. Melchior Treub arrived at Moquil, Port of Basra. The Battalion disembarked and travelled by truck to Rest Camp No 39 at Ag Jubair. The whole troop was under canvas.
The Bn. on landing became part of the Persia and Iraq (PAI) Force.
3 November
The C-in-C, PAI Force, General Sir Maitland Wilson CBE KCB DSO visited the Bn. and was introduced to all officers.
4 November
C Coy re-joined the Bn. at Rest Camp No 39.
7 November
Lieut. J Boddam-Wetham posted to HQ Base L. of C.
The Weekly field return of officers and ORs of the Bn. published
10 November
An advance party for the Bn. under command of the Major, the Viscount Stopford left the Rest Camp by train for the new area.
11 November
Main body left the Rest Camp by train for the new area. The train was largely composed of iron closed freight cars.
12 November
The Bn. arrived at Baghdad and marched through the city headed by the band to Northern station where it had to wait until 2300hrs when the train came in. The Bn. left Baghdad at 0200hrs.
First M.T. party composed of Lt. J.V. Reynolds and 45 ORs bringing 22 vehicles and 14 MCs arrived in the new Bn. area from Egypt.
13 November
The Bn. arrived at Kirkuk railway station. After dinner at the rest camp, it travelled by M.T. to the camp area, arriving there at 1545hrs. On reaching the Kirkuk area. 56th London Division became part of the 21st Indian Corps which included the 6th and 8th Indian Divisions.
26 November
The second M.T. party composed of 17 ORs bringing three trucks and ten M/C joined the Bn. from Egypt.