187 Field Ambulance - War Diary March 1943
1 March 1943 – High Wycombe
Unit remains in Concentration Area.
2 March 1943 – High Wycombe
Unit remains in Concentration Area.
3 March 1943 – High Wycombe
16:30 hours. A1, A2, A3 Sections detached to Battalions. Exercise Spartan commences 00:01 hours 4th March.
20:00 hours. Move to Primrose Hill – harbouring area.
4 March 1943 – High Wycombe
01:40 hours. Arrive Brigade Start Point.
08:00 hours. Arrive area Arlington Manor near Newbury. HQ Company opens Advanced Dressing Station, Home Farm, Arlington Manor. B Company in reserve at Arlington Grange Farm. Few Casualties.
22:35 hours. Warned of danger of capture. Retirement by Hampstead Harris, Goring. B Company separated.
5 March 1943 – Arlington Manor.
02:00 hours. Lying up near Little Stoke till 07:00 hours.
09:30 hours. Move to Ashwell, arrive 12:00 hours. B Company located at Chislehampton, where contact re-established.
14:30 hours. Chislehampton. Advanced Dressing Station established Chislehampton Lodge.
6 March 1943 – Chislehampton
Small number of exercise casualties treated and evacuated.
20:00 hours. Advanced Dressing Station closed 18:00 hours. Unit arrives Littleton Manor Farm.
7 March 1943
00:15 hours. Advanced Dressing Station established. A Company withdrawn from, B Company detached to Battalions.
8 March 1943
Canadian attack on Long Crendon and Chilton. 11th DLI and most of 1 TS cut off. Contact lost with 2 Sections of B Company.
20:00 hours. Unit leaves Littleton Manor, harbour Christmas Grove.
9 March 1943
08:00 Advanced Dressing Station established Hurdleygrove Farm.
09:00 hours. Advanced Dressing Station closed. Move to Strelsingwood Farm, arrive 10:00 hours and open Advanced Dressing Station. Advanced Dressing Station closed 20:00 hours.
23:00 hours. Move to area Telnorth. Lying up in field.
10 March 1943
12:00 hours. Move to Mill Farm, near Church End. Closed.
11 March 1943
Still ? Mill Farm. A Company detached and reports to DDMS 19:30 hours. Opens Advanced Dressing Station Woburn Park.
12 March 1943 Church End
11:00 hours. Cease Fire “Spartan”. B Company rejoins. A Company rejoins.
13 March 1943
Unit remains in Mill Farm awaiting orders. Day spent in routine administration – checking of equipment, baths etc.
14 March 1943
18:00 hours. Movement Orders for return received.
15 March 1943
Unit leaves Mill Farm, arrives Concentration Area near Ledbury 18:20 hours.
16 March 1943 – Pembrey.
08:05 hours. Unit leaves Concentration Area, arrived Pembrey 18:00 hours.
17 March 1943 – Pembrey.
Checking of equipment.
18 March 1943 – Pembrey.
15:00 hours. Conference ADMS’ office. Conference Brigade HQ with ADOS.
19 March 1943 – Pembrey.
11:00 hours. Lecture by representative A/G Branch War Office at Whitney. Warning of imminent mobilisation.
21 March 1943 – Pembrey.
15:15 hours. Mobilisation Order received.
22 March 1943 – Pembrey.
Action taken – returns etc. re. mobilisation.
24 March 1943 – Pembrey.
G1098 deficiency lists despatched.
25 March 1943 – Pembrey.
Vehicle classification returns prepared for despatch.
26 March 1943 – Pembrey.
11:00 hours. ADOS Conference Brigade HQ.
15:00 hours. Warning Order received re. move “Soudley”.
27 March 1943 – Pembrey.
10:00 hours. Visit from Captain Findlater RASC Western Command re. vehicles under new establishment.
15:00 hours. Posting instructions received re. non-medical Officers who are due to arrive about 3rd April.
28 March 1943 – Pembrey.
G1098, J1248 equipment inspected and checked again.
30 March 1943 – Pembrey.
11:00 hours. Visit from Major Standing, Infantry Record Office to advise on documentationetc. Supplementary G1098 indents sent off.
31 March 1943 – Pembrey.
Shuttle Return (new vehicle record system) despatched.
Some of the village names featuring in Exercise Spartan need to be confirmed as some of the manuscript entries in the War Diary are indistinct.
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