187 Field Ambulance - War Diary July 1942
1st July 1942 – KINGTON
Exercise Equator – Umpires Conference 17:30. Brigade Commanders Conference at 18:00 hours. Lecture on Beach Organisation for all available Officers, and Warrant Officers at Divisional HQ at 17:30 hours.
2nd July – KINGTON
Routine.
3rd July 1942 – KINGTON
06:30 hours - Exercise Equator begins. 20:30 hours – Exercise Equator ends.
4th July 1942 – KINGTON
17:15 hours – Conference at Divisional HQ on Exercise Equator.
5th July 1942 – KINGTON
10:30 hours – Economy Conference at Divisional HQ.
6th July 1942 – KINGTON
11:00 hours – Conference at Divisional HQ with Assistant Director of Medical Services refarding Exercise Appendix.
War Office telegram ordering Captain W.D.L. Smith to report to Leeds for overseas service on 16th July 1942.
7th July 1942 – KINGTON
06:00 hours – Stand-to for Exercise Appendix.
08:30 hours – Unit moves out – lies up in Area “Dhampder”. Advanced Dressing Station opens (A Company).
Main Dressing Station opens – Advanced Dressing Station closes. Exercise carried out over bad secondary road. Vehicles bogged. The Exercise was chiefly of value in giving the Unit practice in setting up the Main Dressing Station and Advanced Dressing Station. Clerking has improved considerably as a result of the recent tuition but there are many things to be corrected.
Gas training is poor, the NCO’s do not know their work properly. Air defence is poor; it was necessary to remind men constantly that they must wear steel helmets and eyeshields all the time. It is very difficult to instil into the Unit the necessity for realism and for behaving as if they were in action. Of course it has had no battle experience as yet. Intensive internal training is required for some time yet.
10th July 1942 - KINGTON
08:00 hours – Exercise Appendix ends. Captain W.D.L. Smith leaves the Unit. He is to report at Leeds at 16:00 hours, 16th July.
During Exercise Appendix we were watched by Major-General Curtis, Colonel Young and Lt Col Dudgeon. In addition, a Public Relations Officer from Western Command brought down a War Correspondent and a Photographer – several photographs were taken.
11th July 1942 – KINGTON
Routine – maintenance of equipment and vehicles.
12th July 1942 – KINGTON
Routine.
13th July 1942
15:00 hours – Conference on Exercise Appendix.
14th July 1942
Routine.
15th July 1942
Exercise “Freddie”.
16th July 1942
Exercise “Freddie” – Brigade carried out an advance over hilly country against weak resistance. Very few casualties were collected by Field Ambulance as Regimental Aid Posts were kept on the roads too far away from the actual battle area.
17th July 1942 – KINGTON.
05:15 hours. Exercise Freddie – dawn river crossing in assault boats. Advanced Dressing Stations were established on near bank of river for casualties to be brought back by boat until bridge was established.
08:00 hours – Exercise finished.
18th July 1942 – KINGTON.
Conference on Exercise Freddie – it was impressed in Infantry Commanders that Regimental Aid Posts must move with advanced Battalion HQ when transport is left on roads some miles away in advances over hilly country.
C.O. attended demonstration of new stretcher at BETWS-Y-COED. Stretcher seemed to be marked improvement on present Army stretcher and very useful for evacuation of casualties in mountainous country. Demonstration was attended by ADMS's within Western Command, ADMS N W District and ADMS 49th Division.
20th July 1942 – KINGTON.
Exercise Frisk – 49th Division Exercise.
21st July 1942 – KINGTON.
Exercise Frisk – good liaison was kept between Regimental Aid Posts and Field Ambulance. Main Dressing Station was established in excellent farm and well laid out. Regimental Umpires do not seem to be handing out casualty slips and only seven casualties were evacuated to Field Ambulance.
22nd July 1942 – KINGTON.
10:00 hours - Exercise Frisk ended.
23rd July 1942 – KINGTON.
17:15 hours – Conference on Exercise Frisk.
Transport inspected by RASC Workshops – no criticism.
24th July 1942 – KINGTON
Routine. Preparation for Divisional Exercise “George”.
21:30 hours – Conference at ADMS’s office re. Exercise “George”.
25th July 1942 – KINGTON.
05:30 hours - Exercise George begins. OC 187th Field Ambulance acting as ADMS. Captain Mashiter Acting OC of 187th Field Ambulance. Unit moved to concentration area.
26th July 1942.
05:45 hours – Attack of Division begins. Each Field Ambulance opened an Advanced Dressing Station. 187th Field Ambulance opened a Main Dressing Station. RAMC personnel were attached to Battalion Umpires to assist in handing out casualty slips. They were to keep counterfoils and return them to OC Field Ambulance . Some improvement noted in marking of casualties. By 24:00 hours 59 casualties had been admitted to the Main Dressing Station.
27th July 1942.
Infiltration tactics by the enemy revealed lack of protection of medical units and medical personnel. Three Medical Officers were captured and one Company of 160th Field Ambulance had all their equipment captured and used by the enemy.
Liaison with Regimental Aid Posts requires improvement. Some obscurity still prevails regarding the administration of Field Ambulances regarding movement and march halts etc. It appears to CO 187th Field Ambulance that the Companies should throughout Exercises be in Brigade March Tables and that Main Dressing Station should move independently (of course with Divisional consent). and not return to Brigade control till the close of the Exercise. ADMS has been informed of the obscurity regarding administration of Field Ambulances.
Further, during this exercise, G1 ordered a Light Section to be in support of each Brigade. The role of this Light Section and its subsequent control requires definition. Is it to remain in support of Brigade throughout exercise or could it be withdrawn to its Company as the situation demands?
14:30 hours – Exercise George ends.
11:30 hours – Unit returned to Camp.
17:15 hours – Conference on “George” at Divisional HQ.
28th July 1942 – KINGTON.
Routine. Checking of stores began.
29th July 1942 – KINGTON.
Routine. ADMS 49th Division has ordered a ceremonial parade and full kit inspection for the visit of Major-General C.A. Blake on Saturday.
30th July 1942 - KINGTON.
Checking of stores continued.
31st July 1942 - KINGTON.
14:00 hours. Rehearsal of arrangements for visit of DDMS. General turnout not satisfactory – equipment requires adjusting. State of equipment reveals insufficient interest taken by Company Officers.
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