13th & 14th February - Ron gets some exam results and finally gets his gun!

Thursday, 13^th February, 1947

Fine again today.

Today we had another lecture from the Senior Medical Orderly about Typhoid Fever.

Following this Mr Rowland Tims[1]  gave us a lecture on all branches of the Police Force & asked us if we had any special qualifications to put in an application for any of these branches.

After a lot of difficulty in making up my mind I put in an application for Mounted.  The wireless branch does not attract me, though to return to the B.B.C.[2] I suppose I should go into this branch but I will try to get into the Mounted and perhaps transfer from that branch if I should find I have erred in my judgement.

We had our law exam results today I had 82%.  Highest in ‘C’[3]

[1] Mr Rowland Tims joined the Palestine Police on 17.6.1939 as British Constable 526, was promoted Sergeant in March, 1942 and appointed Acting Assistant Supt in 1946 becoming a Platoon Commander in the PMF in 1947

[2]Prior to signing up for the Palestine Police, Dad was working for the BBC as a radio technician.

[3]I’m guessing from this and Dad’s references to ‘A’ & ‘B’ Squad that he must have been in ‘C’ Squad!  I know… get my detective skills!

Friday, 14^th February, 1947

We rose at 5.45am this morning to find it very dull & stormy outside.

Today we are going to Jenin where we draw our rifles & proceed to the range.  We left Shafa Amr by truck at about 7am & arrived in Jenin at 8.30am.  We fired rifle, L.M.G. and T.S.M.C.  I am sorry to say that as other than my single shots rifle I was not very great.  The T.S.M.C. stopped every round & between it & Mr Tims I did very poorly on this weapon.  The day cleared up so that by mid-day we discarded our Denham jackets.  Our haversack rations were soon disposed of at lunchtime after which I met Raymond Bloomfield & had a chat with him for a short while.

It was dark when we got back to Shafa Amr & we were all very tired and dirty.