What does abbreviation N.M.S. in Burma period war diary mean?

Discussion in 'British Indian Army' started by dryan67, Aug 8, 2022.

  1. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here are a few examples of the use of N.M.S. in a war diary for Burma 1944.

    "1330 Hours - DOLLUANG O.P. reports enemy bunkers 364853 and 368842 but N.M.S."

    "0820 Hours - 2/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles road cutting party reached Road at 0100 hours. Laid mines N.M.S. but movement heard between 2130 and 2230 hours on road FORT WHITE-M.S. 22."

    "1050 Hours - Patrol 1 and 3 from PIMPLE reached road behind MS 22 where remained for one hour. N.M.S."

    "0845 Hours - Patrol across road behind MS 22 night 27/28 report N.M.S."
     
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  2. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Its a guess but "No Movement Sighted/seen"

    edit: When I google war diary "no movement seen" it seems to get a few hits, so seems to be an accepted report
     
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  3. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Thanks for taking the time AB64.
     
  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    It is definitely officially defined as 'No Movement Seen' somewhere. I think under the 'Reconnaissance Code' in, I think, the Field Service Pocket Book.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2022
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  5. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Haven't seen N.M.S. in any Burma diaries, but N.E.S. was used for "No Enemy Seen".

    Here's 2nd Bn East Lancs Regt using the short form N.E.S.:

    2elr.jpg

    But in the diary of its parent Brigade HQ (29 Inf Bde) it's always written in full as "No Enemy Seen":

    29bdehq.jpg

    Based on that, AB64's suggestion of "No Movement Seen" for N.M.S. sounds like a good call.
     
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  6. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    I agree. It was probably used regularly in the war diary previous to the year I have been going through.
     
  7. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    To confirm what Idler says:
    Field Service Pocket Book, Part I – Pamphlet No. 5 – Signal Codes’
    Source: Field Service Pocket Books - The Vickers Machine Gun
    NMS = No movement seen.
    NMS.jpg
     
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