187 Field Ambulance - War Diary June 1941

1st June 1941 HARLEY STREET CAMP

10:00 hours. B Company left at fullest possible strength for their Route march.

Transport – two 30cwt and one 3-ton lorry and Despatch Rider, one 4-seater and a water cart trailer.

Route ?vatn Lake 15.7 miles, Pingvellir 15.8 miles, ?foss 11 miles, a day’s rest and take men to see waterfall at GULLFOSS, then KOTSTROND 16 miles, then SANSKEID Mountain 16 miles and into Camp 12 ½ miles – total 86 ½ miles.

Lt McGowan left to act as Medical Officer to 1/5 West Yorks during the absence of Lt ?Cowan on leave.

7th June 1941

13:30 hours. B Company arrived back at 13:30 hours having had a very good march, with the exception of one day in which they had rain until 17:00 hours but they then marched on. Company could always have been got back in four hours in transport if necessary.

12th June 1941

HQ Company left for Route March, the Officer Commanding and Captain Hanlan, Army Dental Corps, took the march, which was the same as that for B Company.

13th June 1941

Reached ?vatn Lake after 15.7 miles at 15:30 hours, men marched well and Camp was ready pitched when we arrived, near Lake and River. All men, though tired, were ready to play football after dinner and a wash.

14th June 1941

18:00 hours. Rain has been pouring down all night and day and all have been confined to their tents.

15th June 1941

16:00 hours. Reached Pingvellir Lake at about 15:30 hours after a march of 15.8.miles and a beautiful march right along the lake shore and very pretty Camp in ? ? Next door to Tyneside Scottish detachment. Again, men marched well, though usual grumbles. Sent party in ? ? ? Pingvellir and also told men the history of the place.

16th June 1941

17:00 hours. Camped about 1 ½ miles from turning to GULLFOSS a march of 16.4 miles. Camp badly sited as although I had given situation, Sergeant in charge of Camp Party picked a very wet spot instead of ? dry ground a few yards away. Captain Hanlan, Pte Knowles and Sergeant Pickering ? out of marching with ? Wet for a large part of March.

17th June 1941

23:00 hours. Took 36 men in lorries to see waterfall at GULLFOSS. I think they were interested, these are the largest falls in Europe and a very fine sight.

On return we left Camp at 17:30 hours and marched to REKJA. Camped about 3 miles from ? ? which are full of hot springs. Marched all the way in gas capes as it was raining. Company did 10.2 miles in 3 hours – a good rate of marching.

18th June 1941

17:00 hours. Marched 17 miles, about 3 miles from Camp road climbs very steeply up from REKJA to plateau, as it was raining again had to march in gas capes, men did well and reached top of plateau – 5 miles in 1 ½ hours. Rain was very heavy all during this march – camped on the main KOTSTROND – Reykjavik road.

19th June 1941

14:00 hours. Arrived back in Camp 13:30 hours – distance 12 miles. Total distance about 86 miles, an average of 14 miles a day.

Taking March as a whole it was a great success in spite of bad weather and men had their first experience of continuous camping and marching.

20th June 1941 HARLEY STREET CAMP.

While on March the Unit heard that a leave allotment of one Officer, one Sergeant and ten men had been given to it – this was a very good bit of news.

24th June 1941

20:00 hours. A Company left for a Route March, this Company has chosen a different route – this is alright as long as too much competition is not indulged in.

27th June 1941

12:00 hours. A Company have reached the Head of the HVALFJORD after having wet weather most of the way, they have had a fair crop of blisters but otherwise things have gone smoothly.

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