33rd Field Hygiene Section War Diary - April 1940
1 April 1940 – Eaglescliffe.
Personnel still on sick list.
First mobilisation report returned to ADMS.
Dental inspection.
2 April 1940
Technical training.
Officer Commanding to Darlington for interview with ADMS.
3 April 1940
Technical training continued.
4 April 1940
Technical training continued.
Officer Commanding visited DADOS 23rd Division.
5 April 1940
Technical training continued.
Pte Golding RAMC posted to Unit.
Cpl Donaldson T H and Cpl Lewis E G promoted Sergeants.
6 April 1940
Remainder of personnel returned from Embarkation Leave.
Pte Appleby returned from Cooks’ Course.
7 April 1940
Final T.A.B inoculation given.
Officer Commanding on 36 hours leave to BELFAST.
8 April 1940
Technical training.
9 April 1940
War Scale Stationery arrived.
10 April 1940
Staff Sergeant Barratt W. posted to Number 7 Company, RAMC, Catterick – Medical Grade B5 and unfit for Overseas Service. 3 men from Divisional HQ attached to Unit for Courses of Instruction on Water Duties and Sanitation.
Sgt Donaldson T H departed to Advance Party, 23rd Division, B.E.F.
11 April 1940
ADMS 23rd Division visited Unit and wished it “God Speed”. He stated that this and the 186th Field Ambulance were the first “second-line” divisional medical units to proceed overseas. He expressed his satisfaction with the training of the units and with the behaviour of the troops whilst in Eaglescliffe.
First consignment of G1098 Scale of equipment arrived.
12 April 1940
Checking and issuing equipment. Tools etc. arrived until 19:30 hours.
13 April 1940
10:00 hours. Officer Commanding to Darlington – interview with DADOS 23rd Division re G1098 equipment, and with ADMS – then to SCORTON RAOC to draw clothing and necessaries.
13:00 hours. Transport arrived – one 2-seater car, two 15cwt vans, one Lorry Disinfector, RASC personnel – 5 Other Ranks and more G1098 equipment. Unit engaged in packing, crating and marking equipment – NO anti-gas equipment has yet arrived. ADMS visited to see progress.
14 April 1940
09:30 hours. Packing of vehicles, marking with Serial Numbers proceeded with. Lorry to Catterick for equipment.
14:00 hours. Lorry returned with anti-gas equipment, bleach etc. This was unpacked and placed in lorry. Vehicles were weighed and prepared for convoy.
ADMS visited to watch start. War Equipment almost complete.
16:00 hours. Convoy moved off.
15 April 1940
Assembling respirators and checking webbing equipment. Half –day granted in view of hard work on past 2 days.
16 April 1940
Route march in full equipment – 2 miles whole Unit.
Passive Air Defence training with respirators.
Officer Commanding got first dose of T.A.B.
17 April 1940
Passive Air Defence training – further issues of equipment.
Final movement orders received. 23rd Division Administrative Order No. 14. Warning Order for movement on Saturday 20 April 1940. (See Appendices attached to War Diary).
18 April 1940
P.A.D. Drill in the morning. Lectures afternoon.
Full G1098 equipment not yet arrived.
Packing of office equipment.
19 April 1940
Bicycles and rifles – remainder of G1098 essential equipment arrived.
Corporal Lindsey to O.O. at Catterick with remainder of returned equipment.
Office staff closing accounts.
20 April 1940
(From this point to the 28 April part of the War Diary page has been accidentally obscured when being photographed. Sections of text unable to be seen are represented by ….).
09:00 hours. Unit paraded. Fatigues carried out and equipment accounts closed.
14:00 hours. Fatigues – clearing up of Wilton House. Packing of unit baggage in train.
20:00 hours. Unit paraded and roll called – one Officer and 22 Other Ranks on parade.
22:30 hours. Unit entrained for port of embarkation with 186th Field Ambulance. (23rd Division)….
Night spent travelling by train.
21 April 1940
09:30 hours. Unit arrived and detrained – Roll called, all present and correct.
09:30 – 11:00 hours. Occupied by embarking with baggage on H.M.T. “Ben-my-Chree”.
14:00 hours. H.M.T. “Ben –my-Chree” with 186th Field Ambulance, RAMC, 33rd Field Hygiene Section…. R.E. and 6th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment and details RAOC aboard. Proceeded….
Remainder of day spent in rest. 33rd Field Hygiene Section detailed personnel….
22 April 1940
02:00 hours. H.M.T. “Ben –my-Chree” proceeded for LE HAVRE in convoy with 6 other ships and ….
09:00 hours. Unit disembarked and proceeded to “du Gare Translantique” where a hot meal was….
13:00 hours. Unit entrained with 186th Field Ambulance, Divisional HQs and detail of Divisional R.E. ….
15:30 hours. Unit detrained and proceeded to billets of 186th Field Ambulance where a meal….
17:30 hours. Unit’s own billets occupied and found to be in possession of unit transport.
Billets extremely satisfactory. FERME COLUMBE. Men in large barn with straw…. House, also used as Orderly Room. Information received shows that stay at BOLBEC…. and to await assembly of 23rd Division. This is “No. 3 (LE HAVRE) Assembly Area…. are satisfactory, water is fairly good but must be carted.
23 April 1940
09:00 hours. Unit went for breakfast with 186th Field Ambulance – arrangements for feeding…. to march one mile and food is cold and scarce when they get there. Major Neill visited…. Arrangements whereby unit’s rations would be drawn independently. First rations…. Pte Appleby. Food now plentiful and satisfactory. Day spent in settling in.
24 April 1940
09:00 hours. Further time spent in “settling in”. Consultations with Lt Col McNally Officer Commanding 186th Field Ambulance…. agreement for Unit to be self-accounting owing to distance separating it from Field ….
14:00 hours. Major Neill to LE HAVRE to open Imprest Account with Base Paymaster.
Workshop Section to Divisional HQ to arrange means of chlorinating water supply.
Divisional Administrative Instructions received for move to Divisional Area at …. (see Appendices attached to War Diary).
25 April 1940
Day spent in packing lorries and general tidying up.
26 April 1940
Major Neill at conference at BOLBEC regarding move.
14:00 hours. Unit’s first Pay Parade.
18:00 hours. Reconnaissance by Major Neill and Sergeant Lewis for rendezvous for move of road party.
28 April 1940
Convoy of 4 vehicles dispatched for MIRAUMONT in charge of Sergeant Lewis.
Sunday – Unit resting. Fatigues only duty of day. Major Neill visited conference.
Army Forms W 3008 and 3009 returned. See Appendix II attached to War Diary.
29 April 1940
12:00 hours. Unit embussed in 3-ton lorry en route for MIRAUMONT to entrain at YVETOT.
13:00 hours. Unit de-bussed and unpacked baggage from lorry. Baggage stacked for entrainment.
14:30 hours. Rain – personnel and baggage thoroughly wet.
17:00 hours. Baggage packed into railway truck and tea and rations distributed to troops.
30 April 1940 – Bolbec.
01:45 hours. Unit entrained in train composed of goods trucks and roll called.
01:45 – 10:30 hours. Train journey BOLBEC to MIRAUMONT.
10:30 – Miraumont.
Arrival at Miraumont. Troops taken to camp by lorry and hot meal provided by advance part: Unit occupied camp site at side of River Ancre. Full camp equipment not provided but best use possible made of what was available.
Appendices attached to the April 1940 War Diary of 33rd Field Hygiene Section.
More documents than those referenced within the War Diary pages were included in the file for April and these are listed below.
Lines of Communication Standing Instructions for movement from Assembly Area to Concentration Area – dated 18 January 1940.
This document provided the framework within which the detailed Movement Orders and Instructions were to be issued. It firstly clarified the differentiation between what and who was to be carried by rail as against road transport. Staging areas were identified for road parties and vehicle densities and speeds were included. The importance of keeping the French authorities advised of planned movements was stressed.
Fuel availability and location was set out and arrangements regarding supplies, ammunition and medical facilities were described. Billeting was also covered in detail and traffic control was also described. Facilities to cope with breakdowns and recovery were spelled out.
23rd Division Administrative Order No 5 – issued 1 April 1940.
This Order covered equipment for Armourers and Accounting arrangements for Ordnance Stores. Pistols .45 were to be returned to stores at Catterick.
23rd Division Administrative Order No. 6 – issued 2 April 1940.
This Order dealt with the size of Advance and Rear Parties from each of the Units in the Division, and the entrainment arrangements. Ammunition to be taken, or returned to depots, was specifically set out, as were the arrangements for returning hired vehicles.
23rd Division Administrative Order No. 7 – issued 4 April 1940.
This document set out what was to be done, in the context of joining the B.E.F, in respect of; Potential Officers, those Officers and Men awaiting Medical Boards, those on Courses, the need for Nominal Rolls, attachments to other Units, the arrangements for listing Officers going overseas and explanations for any not accompanying the Main Body.
23rd Division Administrative Order No. 8 – issued 4 April 1940.
This document covered; the taking overseas of Soyer stoves, stationery boxes, the return of grenades and fireworks to Finchale Ammo Dump.
23rd Division Administrative Order No. 9 – issued 6 April 1940.
This document dealt with the decision that “Immatures” – those soldiers under 19 years of age – would not accompany the Division overseas and, in respect of the Infantry, would, instead, be formed into a 23rd Division Details Battalion under the command of Major F Taylor of 11th Bn DLI. The Order set out the numbers from each of the Division’s Battalions and the creation of Platoons and Companies – keeping the Battalions individual identities through the Platoon organisation. One Company was designated to incorporate the unfit personnel. Each of the Brigades was required to provide men as supervisory and HQ staff, generally utilising unfit men first.
In respect of the Royal Engineer Units in the Division, their Immatures were to be sent to No 3 Training Battalion, Ripon, together with those who were unfit, or to No 6 Training Battalion, Elgin.
RAMC Immatures and unfit men would be attached to 187th Field Ambulance – which was not going to France.
Military policemen would be attached to the Corps Depot.
23rd Division Administrative Order No. 10 – issued 8 April 1940.
This Order dealt with the details and staffing of the Advance Parties to precede the Division to France. Major C H R Gee, 11th Bn DLI, would command the Advance Parties, supported by Captain R E Izod as Staff Officer.
Road Moves – Most Secret Orders issued by Northern Command on 9 April 1940
These documents were the Road Movement Tables for the Main Bodies of 23rd and 46th Divisions and 8th and 9th Battalions of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
The 33rd Field Hygiene Section was to move from Eaglescliffe to Catterick – four vehicles and five Other Ranks. The next stage was from Catterick to Lutterworth (routing via Doncaster, Bawtry, Ollerton, Orton and Leicester) and then on to Southampton (via Rugby, Banbury, Witney, Bagpuirze, Kingston, Abingdon, Newbury, Andover and Stocksbridge).
The density was 20 Vehicles to the mile at a speed of 20 mph.
23rd Division Administrative Order No. 12 – issued 10 April 1940.
This Order described the arrangements for accounting for personnel of the Division, including the movement of Units’ Orderly Room Sergeants to 2nd Echelon GHQ, taking with them the files on the personnel of their units, and nominal rolls of those embarking. (Sadly, these seem not to have survived to be included in the War Diary files). This HQ was situated in Margate.
Drafts to make up any shortfalls in Unit establishments were to be due on 18th April 1940.
23rd Division Administrative Order No. 13 – issued 11 April 1940.
This Order contained the detailed instructions for the move of the Road Parties and was distributed by despatch rider. The first party was due to leave Catterick, under Captain Magnall, at 17:00 hours on 14 April 1940 and included two vehicles and three Other Ranks from the Field Hygiene Section. The Disinfector Lorry and Major Neill’s two-seater car were being delivered direct to Southampton from Guildford.
Rail Move of 23rd Division to Southampton – issued by Northern Command 16 April 1940.
The documents describe the identification of Officers commanding trains and again referred to baggage allowances.
Instructions were given about marking vehicles and the permitted weights of baggage.
23rd Division Administrative Order No. 14 – issued 17 April 1940.
This Order set out the details of the plan for the entrainment of the Main Body of the Division, showing each Unit and the Station at which it was to join the troop train concerned. Most of the departures were in the late evenings or early mornings of 20th, 23rd and 24th April. Instructions were given on reporting exact numbers for travel.
The Order also set out arrangements for the Rear Parties – who, after completing their tasks, would report to 23rd Division HQ on the afternoon of 28 April.
Train Commanders were identified and the rations details were also set out.
The final section of the document included the train timetables and loading arrangements, including the detailed numbers to be carried from each unit.
23rd Division Administrative Order No. 15 – issued 24 April 1940.
This Order concerned the details of the move to France by both the Road Party and the Rail Party. The destinations in France of each of the Division’s Units were listed, together with their Code Names. The annotations in pencil on the Unit’s copy of this document referred to the names of the men accompanying individual Units, who were linked to location destinations, rather than specific Units.
The Unit’s Road Party were part of the Second Flight routed from Amiens to Miraumont, via Hedauville.
Arrangements were spelt out for anti-aircraft protection of the vehicle groups.
Field Return of Officers – dated 27 April 1940
This return confirmed that Acting Major Neill was the only Officer in the Unit and had been in post since 27 January 1940.
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