Mauritians Serving in the British Army

whole: the 12 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in black. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, also in black. The coat of arms of Mauritius is located at the top edge centre. All set against a white background. image: 12 separate photographs depicting Mauritian soldiers serving in the British Army. text: STELLA CLAVISQUE MARIS INDICI [Translation: 'The Star and the Key of the Indian Ocean'] MAURITIANS serving in the British Army... Private Veeren Arran comes from Petit Verger St. Pierre, Mauritius. As Officers' Mess Cook he uses his talent for cookery, and smiles as he lifts the day's bread from the oven. The camp butcher is Private Casmally, of Port Louis. This Mauritian, like many of his fellow countrymen, finds army life interesting. A ceremony no Mauritian serving in the British Army would miss. At the camp near Cairo the flag is lowered at the end of the day while the guard 'Presents Arms', and officers and men stand to attention. Lining up for dinner, with Private Pointe at the head of the queue. This young Mauritian hails from St. Pierre and enjoys the healthy army life in the Middle East. The cooks provide food to which the Mauritians are accustomed. A Mauritian working party on parade in the Middle East. Mauritian Pioneers did valuable work at Benghazi and Tobruk when these ports were recaptured. They manned the holds of ships as auxiliary stevedores and were proud to receive the Prime Minister's message to the Pioneers: 'Tell them from me: they are unloading history.' Orderly Sergeant Andre Kishtoo reports to the Mauritian Orderly Officer, Captain P. Hein. Both sergeant and officer come from the same town, Port Louis, and are now working together in the same unit. Company Sergeant-Major Bassy instructs Corporal C. Benjoolal of La Vacous and Private Arlande from Port Louis on the Breda anti-aircraft gun. Private Joseph Harius Armel, of Port Louis, is serving in the Cairo area. A first-rate bugler, he is seen here sounding Reveille at six o'clock in the morning. Mauritian troops play their part in a wide variety of jobs with British Army and have an excellent record. Among the Allied troops in the Middle East are many men from Mauritius. This camp houses the Mauritian troops in the Cairo area. It is to awaken the men in this camp that the bugler in the top photograph is sounding his call. Private Freddie Quessy of St. Pierre was champion racing cyclist of Mauritius and is now Company Orderly Runner. Private Padjoe Dornford lived at Soraye, Mauritius, before he joined the British Army. Now he helps to maintain army vehicles just outside Cairo. Since the beginning of the war there has been steady recruiting for the Pioneer and Artisan Corps. Clerks, stevedores, cooks and men of various trades have served in North Africa. The recruiting ages are between 18 and 40. Company Sergeant-Major Walter Bassy, of Port Louis, inspects the Mauritian Regimental Police on the parade ground of the Mauritian camp in the Middle East. G.P.D./365/61

GPD/365/61 Similar posters were produced giving details of other colonial peoples serving with the British Army - Maltese (PST 15998), Cypriots (PST 16000), West Africans (PST 15392) and East Africans (PST 15364 and PST 15365)