187 Field Ambulance - War Diary October 1941

1st October 1941 Harley Street Camp

17:30 hours – The ADMS visited Casement Camp Skin Hospital –owing to wind and rain it has become impracticable to treat cases of scabies under canvas. There are now three huts for patients – two for scabies, one for impetigo and other skin conditions.

4th October 1941

Lt Heatherington (Quartermaster) and nine Other Ranks returned from leave in the UK. No absentees.

5th October 1941

Captain Needham and five Other Ranks proceeded on leave.

6th October 1941

Cpl Jackson, L/Cpl Lee and Pte Sheppard were posted to 81 General Hospital to be promoted to Sergeant, Corporal (General Duties) and Corporal (Nursing Orderly) respectively.

9th October 1941

Captain A.D. Newsholme RAMC, 81 General Hospital, was billeted with the unit while taking charge of 68 Other Ranks from 81 General Hospital in the Transit Camp.

11th October 1941

A ship carrying men from British Honduras, having been torpedoed, landed the men at REYKJAVIK and they were taken in to the Transit Camp. In consequence, the 68 Other Ranks from 81 General Hospital were transferred to our Camp. They slept in the Dining Hut and Canteen Hut.

14th October 1941

The 68 Other Ranks from 81 General Hospital left to embark at REYKJAVIK for AKUREYRI – Captain Newsholme with them.

15th October 1941

05:07 hours – Force Exercise No 12 commenced.

HQ Company and A Company took part and left Harley Street Camp for the assembly area. The exercise necessitated some troops marching over a mountain pass while there were two advanced mechanised detachments apart from the Main Body and B Echelon transport.

This enabled us to try out the new organisation of a Field Ambulance. A2 went out with one of the advanced mechanised detachments and A3 with the other. The Light Section of HQ was established near B Echelon and was available for giving assistance to the marching troops going across country if required. If the exercise had developed the Main Dressing Station would have taken over the position held by A3 and then A3 would have moved up to augment A2. However, continued rain and mist with mountain streams rapidly becoming rivers caused an early cessation of the exercise and this leapfrogging movement did not eventuate. It would appear that, in this country, the Liaison Officer would function better on a motorcycle than in a car. The roads and tracks being so narrow that travelling against a stream of traffic is difficult and overtaking traffic almost impossible.

17th October 1941

16:00 hours – Twenty-nine survivors landed at REYKJAVIK and all of them were taken by ambulances to No 50 General Hospital.

18th October 1941

12:00 hours - Lt Col Mcnamara, Sergeant Young and four Other Ranks arrived back from leave. Private Bell RAMC absent.

21st October 1941

13:00 hours – Saw ADMS regarding leave and pointed out that four Officers and 15 Other Ranks were still due to go on leave and asked that this be increased so that men could get away before Winter ended.

24th October 1941

12:00 hours – Saw the Education Officer and asked about Education Schemes – all men to have 15 hours a week. Corporal King and Corporal Charlton have been trained at the Army Education Corps and will do their best to carry it out. NCOs have already had courses in Map Reading and Military Law, NCO duties and new RAMC organisation and are now commencing British Military Imperial Geography.

Twelve men are also training in Semaphore and hope to push on after and treat ? nursing men in unit, also putting men through DH (?).

27th October 1941

Started wearing Gas Masks between 09:30 and 10:00 hours.  ? bring them back ??? also starting one ? day a week. Great increase in leave. Major Briscoe and ? joining on an increase of ten men also – next trips 25, 26 etc so that we may get the ? of January.

29th October 1941

Lt Col Ross RAMC called and asked CO 187 Field Ambulance to act as Umpire in a Scheme. It was later agreed that two units would work together. 187 Field Ambulance supplying Main Dressing Station and that this working together should be continued as a regular thing on Field Days. A very good idea as 187 Field Ambulance never put out a whole Field Ambulance, with its leave and other commitments.

31st October 1941

10:00 hours - On 30th October had held a day out with the 160 Field Ambulance. General idea to practice evacuation of casualties over mountainous and difficult country necessitating carrying by men of equipment for some distance without any transport - either animal or mechanised. A very interesting scheme which ?difficulties - ? discussed at Umpires Conferences. These were held on Monday 3rd November 1941. The Field Day proved very useful and brought out a great many points both in regard to organisation and running of Field Ambulance. These will be discussed at the Conference.

To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.