Extract from the War Diary of the 44th Field Ambulance a mobile army medical unit operating near the front line, February 1916, (Catalogue ref: WO 95/1892/1) and an extract from the War Diary of Divisional Field Ambulance Workshop Unit, July 1916, (Catalogue ref: WO 95/1892/3) which shows some of the problems of maintaining the medical vehicles.
Transcript
| WAR DIARY
or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY |
||||
| Place
POPERINGHE |
Date
1/1/16 |
Hour
10pm |
Summary of Events and Information
Adm. (1 Officer To C.C.S. 21 To D.R.S 91 To other F.A. 11 Duty 21 (120 [Ordinary Ranks] HAZEBROUCK 91 D.R.S. cases transferred to 12. C.C.S. Attended corps conference at 2.30-Discussion re. gas Regimental Medical Officers 11th Division gave experiences- helmets satisfactory if put on quickly- some cases recorded of men doing duty during day after gas attack and collapsing in morning. Phosgene suspected D.M.S 2nd Army stated that French had found atropine [treatment for gas poisoning] of little use unless given at once. Retrieved bearers [stretcher bearers] at aid posts tonight |
Remarks & references to appendices |
| Ditto | 2/1/16 | 9pm | South West wind, rain.
Adm. C.C.S. 2 Officers Officers 6 Duty 13 56 Ordinary ranks O.R. 22 43rd F.A. under instructions from A.D.M.S took over collection of left sector to night. Cars only proceeded to dugout near ESSEX FARM. 3 motor ambulances, 42nd F.A sent back. |
|
Adm: Admitted
C.C.S. Casualty Clearing Station
D.R.S. Divisional Rest Station
F.A. Field Ambulance
A.D.M.S. Assistant Director Medical Services
| WAR DIARY
or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY |
||||
| Place
|
Date
|
Hour
|
Summary of Events and Information
|
Remarks & references to appendices |
| July | ||||
| Hilhock | 22 | 4 cars in repair | ||
| 23 | 5 “ “ | |||
| 24 | 3 “ “ | |||
| 25 | 2 “ “ received orders from D.H.Q. to march on 26-7-15 to St Jean (Waton) | |||
| St. Jean | 26 | Marched at 12 noon to St. Jean-ta-Biezen (Waton) Arrived 12.30. One car in tow (under repair). Erected latrines & incinerator etc & arranged shelters for working under. Personnel went into billets. Wet day and some trouble was experienced in getting lorries out of field in which they were parked. | ||
| 27 | 1 car under repair | |||
| 28 | 1 ambulance, 2 drivers from No. 1 M.A.C. [motor Ambulance Convoy] to replace casualty of 8th instance. 2 cars for repair | |||
| 29 | 3 cars for repair. One Ambulance in collision with a tree owing to breakage of steering arm. Front of car very badly damaged & beyond loval repair. Towed it to Railhead & sent it to Paris repair shops. | |||
| 30 | 2 cars for repair. I ambulance & 2 drivers from No 1 M.A.C. to replace yesterday’s casualty | |||
| 31 | 6 Cars for repair, very busy. Heavy casualties last night & roads between Ypres & Aid posts in very bad condition, several Ambulances caught under shrapnel fire & bodies damaged all the cars in today have broken springs. | |||