Notable Achievement by Six R.H.O. Drivers
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EARLY on January 18 the Service authorities in the South of England notified the M.O.W.T. that a consignment of vital war material, occupying over 3,000 cubic ft., was required at a North-west Scottish port by January 21. The R.H.O. immediately assigned six vehicles to this task, these being a 10-tonner, three 74-tonners, and two carrying S tons each. The drivers were asked to avoid any unnecessary stops en route.
Fully laden, the convoy started on its long haul of 500 miles to the North on January 19. Late the following afternoon one driver telephoned to say that he had reached Doncaster, but that the roads were in a terrible condition., so that he proposed to make a detour via Newcastlearid Edinburgh ! - At 11.45 a.m. on January 21, 'the first vehicle arrived at its destination, after what the reporting officer described as a superhuman effort on the part of the driver. This man had driven over 500 miles without a break, except short stops for meals, and had worked through two nights without sleep. [Shades of Section 19 !—En.] By noon two more vehicles arrived, the rest checking in at 4.30 p.m.
In a letter to the M.O.W.T., a Ser vice official stated that he could safely ,
say, without hesitation., that the performance of these six drivers and their vehicles was the finest example he had had throughout nearly five years of service in his Region, of civilian transport seeing the job through under such exceptionally adverse weather conditions. Despite blizzards, ice and snow-blocked roads, these men had .driven for over SOO miles without rest, and delivered their loads on time. -In doing so, they
had undergone great deal of strain and hardship, and be felt they weredeserving of the highest praise for their effort.