187 Field Ambulance - War Diary April 1942

2nd April 1942 In Camp near Portmadoc

15:30 hours - Unit moved to Camp at “Dolfriog” near PORTMADOC by rail on the night of 31st March 1942. Rear Party moved by road 1st April 1942.

Lt Col J.P. Mcnamara was summoned to the War Office for interview 31st March 1942. Major R. Phillipson, who joined the unit on 26th March 1942 from the supernumerary strength of No 1 Depot RAMC, assumed temporary command in absence of OC.

All unit in Camp by 16:00 hours 1st April 1942 – remainder of this day and whole of 2nd April devoted to settling in as this is a new camp site and a lot of preliminary work is necessary.

Captain Smith and Lieutenant Slater left for Winter Warfare Course in Iceland a.m. 28th March 1942.

Some difficulty in obtaining permission to enter house proposed for accommodation for Camp Reception Station, Dental Centre and Officers’ Mess. Eventually obtained permission from SAQC.

4th April 1942 Cae Ddafydd.

18:00 hours – OC arrived back from War Office where was told he was going to be promoted.

Went round Camp, sites on Nantmore river with Camp Reception Station in ? ? Hospital. 257 Company Royal Engineers and 10th DLI upstream, Brigade HQ opposite side river with 25th and part 29th Mule Companies and, one mile downstream, Tyneside Scottish. Rest of Brigade several miles away on Portmadoc road e.g. 11th DLI, 32nd Mule Company and 454 Battery.

Camp reasonably good but weather terrible, Mules of 25 and 29 Companies very much too near river bank and the ? Tyneside Scottish one mile downstream still danger of contamination. Water at present drawn from river in canvas buckets, will chlorinate ? food but urine troughs drain to ? and all waste has to be buried.

Cookhouses and washing-up places should be covered. Incinerators are ridiculously small and must have several people in attendance in Camp.  ? Manure will be a big ? ? problem in wet weather, advise light packing until farmers can take it away.

5th April 1942 13:00 hours

Conference Brigade re training and raising problems, first week’s Company training, second week Battalion, third week Brigade. Saturdays to be observed as administration day. Was a considerable difference of opinion but eventually laid down. Leather ? to be discontinued, Gas Cape to be worn below haversack. Ground sheet and cardigan in haversacks, battledress in haversacks – if fine – short-sleeve order. Rucksacks and windproof clothes to be issued on trial, also short puttees.

6th April 1942

18:00 hours – Unit started training – the general idea is to follow the scheme put up by another Field Ambulance in regard to Mountain Warfare. This entails sorting out equipment and putting it up as near as possible but cannot follow exactly as Field Ambulances are not really the same. There are several special articles such as ? stretchers, bicycles etc which we have not yet got but we have asked for them.

Am also following establishment of other Field Ambulances, as must give it a fair trial, new organisation divides each Company into two Bearer Sections and an Advanced Dressing Station with two Medical Officers at the Advanced Dressing Station. HQ is not so much changed. Each Bearer Section has six stretchers carried by twelve men. HQ has also six stretchers carried by twelve men. HQ has six wheeled stretchers and the riding Mules and ? with special skeleton saddles. Six Mules are supposed to draw wheeled stretchers but first trial was very unsatisfactory and special harness will have to be provided.  ? ? rapidly and two Companies ready.

7th April 1942

13:00 hours – HQ still sorting out but Companies have been out on hills for long marches, weather is terrible – raining all day and as there is no coke men are very wet also floorboards have not arrived.

8th April 1942

18:00 hours – The Companies were out for day – this means from ten or eleven until five o’clock with haversack rations. The men in spite of bad weather stick up to marching well and have now got used to loading and dealing with Mules. Part of the unit has ? horses and these are more ? and more easily frightened.

9th April 1942

18:00 hours - OC and Major Phillipson went round all Camps to see sanitation. As a result have divided area up into three and placed a Medical Officer in charge of sanitation in each area.

Captain Cates 11th DLI has 11th DLI, 454 Battery and 32 Mule Company – all these units are in one Camp.

Captain Forrester, Tyneside Scottish, has to look after Tyneside Scottish and a detachment of 29 Mule Company.

Captain ?Newham 187 Field Ambulance to look after Brigade HQ, Mule Companies 25 and 29, 756 Company Royal Engineers and Field Ambulance.

Manure will be a difficulty in the wet also incinerations ? ?

Special reports on all Camps to Brigade HQ and to Camps and ADMS also special sanitary orders on the sanitary areas, manure chlorination, incineration drying tents etc also asked ADMS to send up a hygiene specialist.

Captain Robinson RAMC from 159 Field Ambulance arrived on Tuesday 7th April for training in Mountain Warfare.

29 Mule Corps are to move higher up river thus allowing Mules of 25 Mule Company to get away from river as recommended.  ? box test for Camps’ water supply so far ? ? all water being chlorinated.

10th April 1942

18:00 hours – All Companies which had three days of stretcher work over hills ? ? cheering up, still raining.

11th April 1942

14:00 hours – Administration day.  ? ? work from 09:00 hours to 12:00 hours. Still very wet, half holiday. Went out to see ? Camps for another Brigade ? site but all agreed the ? second site at Dolgelly was best.

12th April 1942

16:00 hours. Scheme prepared for whole unit – very simple – along main BEDDGELERT road with two Bearer Sections and one Advanced Dressing Station and one Main Dressing Station up with Company in vehicles. ADMS arriving 13th to see Camps.

13th April 1942

19:00 hours. ADMS North Wales District visited Camps – seemed quite satisfied and agreed with CO recommendation regarding manure, bathing water etc. Did not seem to think water required chlorination.

29 Mule Company moving upstream to opposite 10th DLI thus leaving much more room for 25 Mule Company away from the river.

After ADMS left, went to see how Field Day was getting on – things were in a bit of a ? owing to the fact that A Company had come out without Stretcher Bearers and when no news came of one MDS operating post they did no training despite the fact that Major Philippson, the senior Officer present had a whole Company at the MDS that he could have used. However it did good in this way that a decision has now been made as work at the ? Stretcher Bearers in the Advanced Dressing Station do what the OC of the unit thought was that they should have carried back to a relay post formed by the Main Dressing Station wheeled stretchers, but other Officers thought that they were on reserve for Bearer Sections, OC does not agree.

14th April 1942

16:00 hours. OC and Company Commanders went out to reconnoitre place for 36 hour scheme.

16th April 1942

21:00 hours. Returned from 36 hour unit scheme, this worked out very well and the unit learned a great deal. Left Camp with 25 Mules including 14 for riding and marched to the bottom of ? on Beddgelert with MDS set up about 500 yards off road. ADS 1½ miles away up a mountain track with two Bearer Sections and a Regimental Aid Post about 1000 yards in front.

General idea – attack on mountains on either side of valley leading up to Snowdon. MDS in position by 12:00 hours. Sent up Stretcher Bearers to contact ADS. First casualty back at 15:15 hours. Scheme went well and 30 casualties, including 21 stretcher cases, in by 16:00 hours.

11th DLI were the ? reserve with attack on hills in front of two Battalions. After ? Battalions had captured their objectives OC sent up a Bearer Section from A Company with them.

Started at 08:30 hours on 16th April with MDS picking up A Company and B Company as it marched along. Idea being to march round the base of Snowdon then West up pass and ? ? at South Snowdon Station on Caenarvon – Beddgelert Road and then home.

March was terribly slow due to bad roads and bog and eventually, after doing four miles in four hours, OC and Officer in charge of Mules decided to return as slope towards the pass was too boggy. Once again it was proved beyond doubt that reconnaissance of route is essential when dealing with animals. Turned round and marched back to Camp arriving 18:00 hours.  ? a poor exercise men stuck it well.

Rucksacks - OC does not think much of. If it is used it should be full. If full it is too heavy. CO carried 50lbs for five hours – it cannot be used on a horse as practically impossible to mount and ? into a weight - cannot ? troops charging as it used ? ? it would be lost. OC would prefer blanket and greatcoat in pack ? ? ? and waterproof sheet one only requires to be sure they (casualties?) were warm at night and blanket cases wrapped right round the body.

17th April 1942

18:00 hours. Ambulance resting. Conference all Officers and NCOs 15:30 hours regarding the Scheme. Captain Mellor RAMC who arrived two days ago has to be sent to 1st Tyneside Scottish to relieve Captain Forrester on leave.

18th April 1942

20:00 hours. CO, Major Brown and Captain Mashiter on Signal Exercise. Major Philippson with Tyneside Scottish arranging exercise for Monday or Tuesday. Signal Exercise done at fast pace.

As Ambulance unit has no signallers difficult to do much but one or two projects thought out. Difficulties of medical arrangements on present system of having on widely separated sites, the danger of sending too many messages as often move before message arrives.

20th April 1942

19:00 hours. A Company left for Field Day with Tyneside Scottish. B Company doing one for 48 hours with 11th DLI and A Company again on 23rd April for 36 hours with 10th DLI so unit is busy.

A Company returned and reported that they had wasted their time as (corner of page folded so as to be unreadable).

21st April 1942

20:00 hours. B Company were also having trouble with 11th DLI as casualties. British Army always seems to ? at 100% which is very bad practice for actual battle as subordinates never take over and effects of shortage is not practiced, also medical side do not get a chance.

22nd April 1942

15:00 hours. Major Philippson ordered to report at once to 167 Field Ambulance as its commander – a great loss – he would have made a good Officer I think. Major Brown has persuaded 11th DLI who now have casualties for practice.

26th April 1942

10:00 hours. Both A and B Companies have been out on 36 hour and 48 hour Field Days.

B Company has had a disappointing day as although 50 casualty slips were given out, only one casualty actually came in.

A Company, with which we went as Umpire, did better but here again out of 35 casualty slips only three came in, but a certain number of good points came out and the OC was able to Umpire, on one casualty, the importance and difficulties of casualties.

The days were again a test of endurance as the marches were reasonably long, the mules ? ? ?

Points – some of the Regimental skeleton bearers had very little idea where the R.A.P. was – the carrying appeared to tire the Regimental skeleton a great deal – liaison between Battalion HQ and Ambulance was not good – guides ? ? ? were absent ? ? ? be supplied and all have to go by map reference.

Further points – the old fault of not keeping in touch was very evident – Field Ambulance were late in starting one morning, must check up on them – no guard ? but this must be changed – wheeled stretchers drawn by Mules could not ? the whole way – will not be too much use on hilly ground.

27th April 1942

18:00 hours. All Companies doing Company training. A Company being inspected both for kit training ? ? ? ? B Company and HQ out on our scheme.

28th April 1942

18:00 hours. Company training ? ? Brigade manoeuvres have been put off so work will be done on a Company and Unit basis.

29th April 1942

18:00 hours. HQ Company out on March practice. A Company out on Field Day. Col ?Rushby, ADMS 49 Division arrived states HQ Div back and also stated that Ambulance was reported to have done very well in Mule Training. Told me Lt Col ?Morgan, late OC 160th Field Ambulance now ? Isle of Wight but not up in rank.

Was arranging to do Field Day when told 11th DLI would like to practice casualties also. G.o.C. 49 Div would visit Camp at 11:00 hours.

Cancelled Unit Scheme and decided to put out B Company and Advanced Dressing Station with 11th DLI.

30th April 1942

20:00 hours. B Company and HQ went out with 11th DLI to practise casualties. B Company put up Advanced Dressing Station and HQ Main Dressing Station, the best day we have had.

General Curtis visited the Unit and seemed very pleased with everyone again, and we were all pleased to see him.

Signed Lt Col Mcnamara RAMC

Appendix A attached to 187 Field Ambulance War Diary April 1942.

This Appendix is a single page giving the content of the month’s training programme for March 1942 (it appears to have been mis-filed) as follows:-

Monday 23rd March 1942.

Route March to CRUMLIN 6519. Number of Pack animals required – 24. Time required – 08:45 hours. Place – Mule Corps Lines. Anticipated time of return – 15:30 hours.

Tuesday 24th March 1942.

Route March to ABERCAIRN 6516 – BIRD MOUNTAIN 6919 then back to Mule Corps Lines. Number of Pack animals required – 24. Riding horses – 6. Time required – 08:45 hours. Place – Mule Corps Lines. Anticipated time of return – 15:30 hours.

Wednesday 25th March 1942.

Conference in Mule Corps Lines. Suggested time – 10:00 hours. All Ambulance Officers and NCOs, necessary Mule Corps Officers.

Thursday 26th March 1942.

Route March to ABERBEEG 6523. Bivouac and prepare dinner. Return from ABERBEEG 20:00 hours across mountains to PONTYPOOL. Number of Pack animals required – 24. Time required – 10:45 hours. Place – Mule Corps Lines. Anticipated time of return – 23:59 hours.

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