187 Field Ambulance - War Diary August 1944
1 August 1944 – Le Bas de Ranville
Divisional front quiet. Locations unchanged.
5 August 1944 – Le Bas de Ranville
Field Returns dated 5th August filed with the War Diary – for details see below.
7 August 1944 – Le Bas de Ranville
Two Battalions of 146 Brigade go into reserve. 1 TS to replace KOYLI in Sannerville at 080600. 70th Infantry Brigade now has three Battalions in the line.
8 August 1944 – Le Bas de Ranville
Front quiet.
10 August 1944 – Le Bas de Ranville
18:00 hours. Advanced Dressing Station closes on the opening of an Advanced Dressing Station by 146 Field Ambulance, B Company remains at their present location at Giberville, maintaining the Casualty Clearing Post for 70th Infantry Brigade.
11 August 1944 – Le Bas de Ranville
HQ and A Company remain in present location. Brigade front quiet.
15 August 1944 – Le Bas de Ranville
70th Infantry Brigade move to the right of the Divisional front – to the area of woods between Secqueville la Campagne 0959 and Chicheboville 1360.
A Company moves to concentration area with them.
20:30 hours. HQ opens Advanced Dressing Station at St Honorine 096711.
16 August 1944 – St Honorine
70th Infantry Brigade moves forward in the direction of Mezidon-Canon. A Company Casualty Clearing Post established at Le Mesnil 197537. 1 TS send two Companies over the river at Mezidon-Canon to hold bridges. 11th DLI advance to secure high ground west of Mezidon-Canon.
No casualties in 11th DLI, small number from 1 TS.
20:30 hours. Advanced Dressing Station closes. Casualty Clearing Post at Giberville closes.
17 August 1944 – St Honorine
11:00 hours. HQ moves to Le Mesnil Fremental 102658 to harbour.
20:30 hours. A Company Casualty Clearing Post at Le Mesnil 197537 closes. Evacuation of Battalions ? ? post to Advanced Dressing Station 160 Field Ambulance at Cesny Aux Vignes 201575.
18 August 1944 – Moult
08:00 hours. HQ moves to the area of Moult, harbouring 174609.
11:00 hours. B Company opens Casualty Clearing Post at Le Breuil near Mezidon-Canon 846557.
17:00 hours. B Company opens Casualty Clearing Post over River Dives at 286563, leaving one Section at 246557. A Company move to harbour at 208578. Both Casualty Clearing Posts fully occupied during the night with casualties from 10th DLI and 6th Lincolnshires.
19 August 1944 – Moult
16:00 hours. A Company returns to join HQ at 174609.
16:30 hours. B Company rejoins HQ.
20 August 1944 – Moult
90:00 hours. Information received that 70th Infantry Brigade is leaving the Division and being replaced by 56 Infantry Brigade.
21 August 1944 – Moult/Crevecoeur
16:15 hours. 70th Infantry Brigade leaves the Division, moves to Thierry Harcourt.
18:30 hours. Unit moves to 304606 near Crevecoeur en Auge. A2 Section left in old location to evacuate casualties of 56 Infantry Brigade.
21:00 hours. Advanced Dressing Station opened 304606. A and B Companies in reserve.
22 August 1944 – Crevecoeur
56 Brigade moves into area Bonnebosq. A Company forms Casualty Clearing Post in Brigade area. Advanced Dressing Station holds light sick.
23 August 1944 – Crevecoeur
11:00 hours. Brigade begins approach march to area Le Torquesne 4996.
20:30 hours. Night attack planned against Le Breuil. Bridgehead secured and River Touque bridged.
24 August 1944 – Crevecoeur
08:00 hours. Brigade resumes approach march over River Touque at Le Breuil en Auge.
22:00 hours. Attack on Cormeilles. Bridgehead secured. Advanced Dressing Station closes.
25 August 1944 – Le Bas Faulo
Bridge completed. Expansion of bridgehead towards Epaignes begun.
07:15 hours. HQ moves to 618978 and remains on wheels.
20:30 hours. HQ moves to 695948 near Montaignu and opens Advanced Dressing Station.
26 August 1944 – Montaignu
08:15 hours. Brigade begins approach march towards Pont Audemer and reaches River Risle by 12:00 HOURS. Casualty Clearing Post 695016 near les Papaguay.
21:00 hours – Epaignes. HQ opens advanced Dressing Station near Epaignes 711022. Casualty Clearing Post at 695016 closes down.
A Company opens Casualty Clearing Post at 717058 at 18:00 hours.
B Company Casualty Clearing Post opens at 746062 at 19:00 hours.
These dispositions are to cover the attack across the River Risle at Pont Audemer.
Field Returns dated 26th August filed with the War Diary – for details see below.
27 August 1944 – Epaignes.
Bridgehead secured at Pont Audemer.
28 August 1944 – Epaignes.
07:00 hours. 56 Brigade moves across the river. A Company are in support of the Brigade.
17:45 hours – Routot. Unit moves across river and opens Advanced Dressing Station South of Routot 921097.
The Brigade is given the role of clearing Foret de Brotonne.
29 August 1944 – Routot.
07:30 hours. The Battalions commence clearing of the wood. Many mines and booby traps.
Isolated enemy Spandau posts – few casualties.
20:15 hours. South Wales Borderers move along left flank up 146 Brigade areas and reach Mailleraye sur Seine at 22:00 hours. A3 Section establish Casualty Clearing Post at 933200.
30 August 1944 - Routot
07:00 hours. 2nd Gloucesters and 2nd Essex move through Foret de Bretonne on their original ?
11:30 hours. A 1 Section join A2 Section and form Brigade Casualty Clearing Post. A3 Section remains with HQ.
No casualties admitted overnight. Many prisoners taken and much equipment and transport found abandoned.
31 August 1944 – Routot.
Brigade resting. Locations unchanged.
Appendices attached to the War Diary for August 1944.
Field Returns dated 5th August 1944.
The Other Ranks Return shows a complement of 226 men – a net result of four surplus and ten short of War Establishment. A Staff Sergeant and a Private are still shown as attached to 35 Field Hygiene Section in excess of establishment.
The list of men requested to be returned to the Unit remains the same at seven – all of whom had been evacuated wounded or sick.
The Officer Return shows the same 13 personnel – all with the Unit.
Field Returns dated 26th August 1944.
The Other Ranks Return shows 227 against the required 232 – with one surplus and six short of establishment.
The men attached to the Field Hygiene Section remain the same and the evacuated required to be returned now totals eight – the additional man being Driver Salthouse of the RASC, who had been evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station on 16th August.
The Quarterly Report for the period ending 30th June – shown as part of that month’s War Diary – also included a page which refers to activity beyond 30th June. For completeness it is included below and will also be attached to the War Diary of later months.
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