187 Field Ambulance - War Diary August 1941
2nd August 1941 Harley Street Camp.
15:00 hours. A very marked change in the weather in the last week – definitely wetter. Unfortunately it is only a few weeks since the sleeping bags were taken away for cleaning and the men are definitely feeling the loss of them.
5th August 1941
12:00 hours. On 4th August had another practice for HQ Company in loading and putting up the Main Dressing Station. Started loading at 18:00 hours, paraded at 20:00 hours and had the Main Dressing Station up and down by 22:00 hours.
Have also started to revise gas, the idea being that each Company on its duty day has half an hour lecture and ten minutes drill, the lecture to be given by an Officer and the Officers to attend the drill, OC lecturing HQ Company, Captain Needham B Company and Captain Smith A Company. This, it is hoped, will not bore the men who have had so much gas. In addition, all personal gas equipment is being checked up by Sergeant Farrow.
11th August 1941
15:00 hours. Leave boat in and first party back complete, leave goes very slowly. The position is that one Officer (Lt Greenhill) and ten Other Ranks (including RSM) left on 12th July 1941 and were back on 11th August. One Officer (Captain Cates) and 5 Other Ranks (including Sergeant Major RASC) left on 24th July 1941 and 5 Other Ranks (including Sergeant from 146 Field Ambulance) left on 11th August 1941.
15th August 1941
15:00 hours. The Commanding Officer, Captain Hanlan ADC Lt Greenhill and Lt ? RA went out and climbed Mount Hekla, the volcano in the South West of Iceland. The distance by car is about 80 miles and then a twelve-mile ? in the climb to the top ? ? Two of the other Officers – Major Briscoe and Captain Mashiter – had already done this trip the week previously. Officers of B Company going away for next week end.
It is very good for all concerned to get a local and certainly a good knowledge of the country ? ? has been acquired by marches and trips.
21st August 1941
The unit has started hockey and played its first match on 20th August 1941, taking a bad beating 10 goals to NIL, but only about four of the team had played before and our opponents were old stagers. Have also got a six-a-side football competition going – each hut providing a team. This is going well.
22nd August 1941
HQ Company has again practiced putting up the Advanced Dressing Station, this practice was done much better and more practice should suffice, then will change back HQ Company with A Company.
24th August 1941
Leave Party trip H arrived back. Corporal Jackson absent – think he must have got compassionate leave as Hull was bombed recently.
15:00 hours – 3 Officers and 32 Other Ranks have now gone on leave. This includes Trip I which left on 24th August.
26th August 1941
Sleeping bags have been issued but not brought into use as they apparently may have to go to ? The weather is so much wetter that I hope we will keep them.
28th August 1941
Practice Main Dressing Station again but went out this time to ? above Salmon Bridge. They did well but require more practice in tent pitching as some of the weaker ones are not too good. Will now change HQ Company back to their own job.
31st August 1941
Visit from ADMS who has just returned from leave. He sent us new layout of Field Ambulance. Hope to start practicing it next week.
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