War Diaries Talk

'Certificates of neutrality'?

  • SarahPowell by SarahPowell

    At the bottom of the page at http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD0002vi0 - does it really say that certificates of neutrality were inspected, and if so what were they? (This is an Indian Field Cavalry Ambulance diary.)

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  • ral104 by ral104 moderator, scientist

    I think it might be 'unfit rates of neutrality', if that makes any sense...

    Sounds like it should be tagged #equipmentevaluation.

    Posted

  • SarahPowell by SarahPowell

    I don't think it's 'unfit' - I've seen a lot of this handwriting (which is messy but fairly consistent) and I am sure it's 'tif' in the middle, not 'fit'. It wouldn't have anything to do with followers, would it? As non-fighting men would they be entitled to neutrality?

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  • ral104 by ral104 moderator, scientist

    Well, it seems to have something to do with the 'Inspection of tube helmets' mentioned beforehand. They were a type of gas mask. So, if it does say 'Certificate of neutrality' it could be in reference to them being up to the job of neutralising poisonous gasses.

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  • HeatherC by HeatherC moderator

    I think it's one item in a list of items that personnel were supposed to always have with them - Tube helmets, certificates of neutrality, 1st field dressings iron rations & identity discs.

    I'm not sure what certificates of neutrality were but it may have been something that identified them as medical personnel?

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  • ral104 by ral104 moderator, scientist

    Oh, I see. That makes sense!

    Posted

  • SarahPowell by SarahPowell

    Yes, that does make sense. Thanks Heather!

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