November 1917
17th Welsh
Diary Pages:
Nov_17_P1
Nov_17_P2
Nov_17_P3
Nov_17_P4

November 1917
135th FIeld Ambulance
Diary Pages
135FldAMb_P1
135FldAMb_P2
135FldAMb_P3
135FldAMb_P4
135FldAMb_P5
135FldAMb_P6

November 1917
Orders, Reports
& Casualty Lists etc.
Gough's Bourlon Wood
RAMC Report
Spcl DIv Order
Crozier's Special Order
Officer Casualties

Transcription of RAMC handwritten report on the
Medical Arrangements
in
Forward Area during Operation of 40th Division,
Period November: 22nd to November 26, 1917 inclusive

22^nd
11a.m.
Information gleaned unofficially somewhere in the forenoon that the 119th Infantry Brigade & and the 121 Infantry Brigade were likely to attack on the morrow, with the 120 Infantry Brigade in support.

Steps immediately taken to get into touch with the medical officers of the 119 & 121 Infantry Brigades.

Bearer Divisions consisting of 2 Medical Officers & 88 O.R.s with necessary medical equipment were detailed to be in readiness to move at once with Brigades.

2 p.m.
Bearer Officers received information from the 119th Infantry Brigade that the Brigade would move off at 3.30 p.m. from DOIGNIES.

3.15 p.m.
Without instructions from the ADMS, Bearer Division 119th Infantry Brigade moved off to join Brigade.

3.45 p.m.
Above joined Brigade west of DOIGNIES thence marching via HERMIES to GRAINCOURT, encountered great difficulty negotiating the swampy track through K.14 a & b and K9 c & b, one horse ambulance wagon being left stranded on the track.

10.30 pm
Arrived GRAINCOURT and immediately set out to find Dressing Station. Found Dressing Station belonging to Field Ambulance of 62 Division situated at E 30 C 3 .0 still in occupation.

This being already still working a search was made and another found that K 5 B 5 -- 4. This was cleaned up and opened for receiving cases.

Cases were received at about 12 Midnight 22nd - 23rd. These were treated & detained.

Two cars wired for to ADMS to come to K 14 a 3.0.

23^rd
4 a.m.
By this time one NCO & 8 bearers were attached to each Infantry Bttn of the 119 Infantry Bde.

22^nd
4 p.m.
Reverting to the movements

(1) Of the Bearer division details to be attached to the 121st Infantry Bde and

(2) The remainder of the personnel & equipment

One NCO & 8 bearers were attached to each Infantry Bttn of the 121 Infantry Bde

At the moment preparations were being made for the former to follow the Brigade, then on the move, the following orders were received from the ADMS

RAMC operation order number 38 detailing Field Ambulance complete to march behind 119 Infantry Bde to GRAINCOURT & establish an Advanced Dressing Station.

Route -- DOIGNIES, HERMIES HAVRINCOURT.

As this arrived at BEAUMETZ some 3/4 of an hour after he 119 Infantry Brigade were was scheduled to leave DOIGNIES, the Bearer Division, plus the rest of the Field Ambulance, faute de mieux followed the transport of the and 119 121 Infantry Bde to which they had been attached by a previous order of the ADMS which had never been rescinded.

4-15 pm.
This party moved off proceeding by march route via - DOIGNIES as far as the entrance to DEMICOURT. Here it was found that this route was impracticable.

Word was passed back from the infantry in front that the bridge over the canal of this road to GRAINCOURT was impassable for transport larger than half a G.S. Lumbar Wagon. So it was decided to turn round, & attempt to get to GRAINCOURT via HERMIES, & the route already described above as having been taken by the 119 Infantry Brigade.

On reaching the beginning of the Swampy Cross Country track through K. 14 A & B & K 9 c & b, it was found absolutely impassible for the Ambulance transport, so it was decided to park all the transport at HERMIES with the exception of one G. S. lumbar wagon loaded with medical equipment, & move on with all the RAMC personnel to GRAINCOURT.

In spite of heavy draft spare pairs of heavy draft horses being hitched on to this limber it had to be abandoned about half way across the cross country track.

On reaching the main road somewhere about K 9 D 6 -- 4 an attempt was made to reach GRAINCOURT, but owing to the absence of guides, the intense darkness, & the exhaustion of the men, a return was made to HAVRINCOURT where the personnel bivouaced for the night..

On the decision to proceed to HAVRINCOURT, an officer was detailed to proceed to GRAINCOURT via HAVRINCOURT & the road through K 22, K 1 6, K17, K 11, to ascertain the disposition of the 119 Infantry Bde Bearer Division.

23^rd
4 am
This officer arrived at GRAINCOURT to find an Advanced Dressing Station established at K. 5 b 5 -- 4, capable of dealing with the casualties of the Division.

Immediately the personnel were bivouaced at HAVRINCOURT. O.C. Field Ambulance, accompanied by the Sergt Major, also proceeded to GRAINCOURT.

5.15 am
O.C. Field Ambulance accompanied by SergtMajor arrived at A.D.S. GRAINCOURT.

Shortly after his arrival orders were sent to Officer in charge details at HAVRINCOURT to established relay bearer posts at K. 9 B 6 -- 9 and at K. 14 a 3.0. cases to be carried from the A.D.S. GRAINCOURT to the first mentioned bearer post, thence down the main HAVRINCOURT road to a point somewhere about K. 9. D 6.2, & is thence by cross country track to K. 14 a 3.0.

At the same time a wire was sent to the ADMS was in charge of the whole of the motor transport of the three Field ambulance is to ask for cars to be sent to K. 14 a 3.0, thence to proceed via HERMIES to IV Corps Major Dressing Station is BEUGNY LEBEQUERE the destination named in the RAMC 40 Divisional Operational order No 39 dated 22nd November 1917.

These posts were established immediately Orders were received by Officer I/C of Details, but owing to the kindness of O.C. 108 Field Ambulance, 36 Division relay post at K. 9 be 6.9, where there are was no cover, which ranged almost immediately in to the spare brick kilns used as and Advanced Dressing Station by his Ambulance at K. 9 be 6 -- to, and the post at K. 14 a 3.0 was move near HERMIES to K. 19 B2 -- 9 where there was another Advanced Dressing Station of the 36 Division Field Amb.

The full mode of the evacuation being as follows as far as K. 19 B 2 -- 9

(1) From our RAPs to A.D.S. GRAINCOURT (K. 5 - b 5.4 by carry on wheeled stretcher

(2) From A.D.S. to Bearer Post (K. 9 -b-6.2) by carry on wheeled stretcher

(3) From K. 9 b 6.2 along the canal bank can to bridge crossing at K. 15 82.6 & thence to relay post at K. 14 a .6.2 by carry

(4) From K. 14 a 6.2 again by carry to K. 19 b 2.9 where they were placed on Motor Ambulances & taken to M.D.S. of 108 Field Ambulance (36 Division)

(5) From 108 Field Ambulance M.D.S. to CC SS C. M.D.S.'s etc.

All posts save the A.D.S. were common to 157 Field Ambulance & 108 Field Ambulance cases were carried in their turn bearers of either Ambulance & the same procedure was adopted with cars

In view in of the fact however that No 14 Division cars arrived until 4 p.m., evacuation from this point were kindly taken over the by the Field Ambulance of the 36 Division.

This line of evacuation was a ready for use by 9.30 a.m. 23rd November 1917.

10-30 AM
The 40th Division assisted by Tanks attacked BOURLON WOOD & Village. Casualties arrived immediately and continued to be brought in incessantly until midnight 25 - 26 when the Division was relieved.

On the night of the 23rd the A.D.S. became congested. It was obvious that the number of bearers at the disposal of the O.C. bearers was inadequate & wires were sent immediately to the ADMS for extra assistance.

Owing to the almost impassable condition of the ground, the length of the carry, the total inability to bring the Motor Ambulance cars into the village, and for some time horse ambulance is, the exhaustion of the bearers owing to the prolonged marching which preceded the operations, it is impossible for anyone who was not present to imagine the difficulties encountered.

An alternative scheme of evacuation, utilised by the 2/3 West Riding Field Ambulance 62 Division, received from ADMS 40 Division directing that it should be adopted by the 137 Field Ambulance at once. This happened to be impossible at the time owing to pressure of casualties, & an officer was sent to ADMS 40 Division to explain the situation, & a written description of the present mode of evacuation in use was forwarded to ADMS 40 Division.

Owing to the non-arrival of reinforcements & cars, these were again demanded from the ADMS 40 Division by telegram. In the meantime the services of recently captured German prisoners were utilised for the purpose of carrying wounded.

6 pm.
Every man available from bearing had arrived from 137 Field Ambulance details, left at HERMIES.

10-30 pm
One officer, 24 O.R.s & six light horse ambulances arrived from an No 9 Cavalry Field Ambulance Metz, & assisted in the removal of wounded via the 51 Divisional Field Ambulance at FLESQUERES.

11-30 pm
An officer was sent to G.O.C 119 Infantry Bde to ask for assistance from the Brigade in the matter of bearers. This was not forthcoming so a telegram was sent to ADMS 40 Division asking for 500 bearers & 100 stretchers.

24^th
7 am
Somewhere about this time 3 officers & about 120 men of the 135 Field Ambulance arrived as reinforcements, after a forced march during the night from BEAULENCOURT.

These were followed at about 8 a.m. by 2 officers & about 50 men of the 136 Field Ambulance, who had also march through the night from TRESCAULT.

10 am
An officer of the 15 Motor Ambulance Convoy arrived at A.D.S. GRAINCOURT to acquaint us of the fact that he was able to bring cars to FLESQUERES & that if cases could be conveyed to the chateau in that village he would within 4 hours have 20 Motor Ambulance cars waiting there two clear them to YTRES.

Later an urgent wire was received from ADMS 40 Division saying that under instructions from DDMS Fourth Corps all Horse Ambulance wagons available were to be used to convey cases to FLESQUERES where the 15 Motor Ambulance convoy was waiting to evacuate cases.

By this time 7 Horse Ambulance wagons of 135-6-7 Field Ambulances would in use at GRAINCOURT & immediately commenced evacuating cases to barns at the north end of FLESQUERES, the chateau being absolutely demolished.

Of the bearers sent down One officer & 20 O.Rs. of the 135 Field Ambulance were detained at FLESQUERES to act as a loading party, sentries being posted around the village to await & direct the Motor Ambulance convoy.

No Motor Ambulance convoy arrived until 12 noon, 25th inst, in spite of repeated wires to ADMS & finally a direct wire to DDMS Fourth Corps was sent by O.C. 137 Field Ambulance at 8 -- 15 a.m. 25/11/17, as a result of the report of the deplorable conditions existing at FLESQUERES.

Before being evacuated some serious cases had been lying since 11-30 a.m. on the 24th inst until the arrival of the M.A.C. at 12 noon on the 25th. All had to endure terrible sufferings in open barns in the face of all conditions of weather.

11-30 AM.
ADMS 40 Division arrived at FLESQUERES & saw for himself the appalling state of affairs but would not accept any responsibility as all applications for Motor Ambulance Convoy had been forwarded by him.

12 noon
DDMS Fourth Corps arrived at FLESQUERES & saw the existing conditions. With him was O/c M.A.C.

The DDMS immediately gave instructions for all available Motor Ambulance cars of M.A.C.'s to be placed at the disposal of the the O/c 40 Divisional Advanced Dressing Station FLESQUERES.

Evacuation was started immediately & when once clear, evacuation from the A.D.S. GRAINCOURT via this route went without a hitch.

Additional bearers were sent to A.D.S. GRAINCOURT consisting of one officer & a party from the 121 Works Coy, who rendered great assistance in bearing from the A.D.S. to the horse Ambulance Wagons on the GRAINCOURT FLESQUERES Road.

1-30pm
Capt P GAFFIKEN 136 Fld Amb arrived under instructions from ADMS 40 Division to clear BOURLON WOOD with a party of bearers supplied from the personnel at A.D.S. GRAINCOURT. These were furnished the party proceeding en - route to the wood about 2 p.m.

10 pm
A message arrived from Capt GAFFIKEN requesting further bearers. These were again supplied & at the same time instructions were sent as to the destination of his party, should the Division be relieved prior to his return.

26^th

3 AM
Relieved by an Ambulance of the 62 Division, & handing over completed by 3 --30 a.m.

3-30 AM
Under instructions from ADMS 40th Division the personnel of 137 Field Ambulance proceeded to HERMIES and later to BERTINCOURT.

135 Field Ambulance personnel proceeded to TRESCAULT & the personnel of the 136 Field Ambulance together with all transport of the 3 Field Ambulances in use at GRAINCOURT & FLESQUERES proceeded to TRESCAULT.

Signed J. Minnett Capt RAMC

for Lieut Colonel RAMC

COMMANDING 137 FIELD AMBULANCE

[Transcribed by G. G. Davies MSc 1 March 1999 from a photocopy of the original hand written document held at the PRO Kew London.

Every effort has been made to produce an accurate transcription of this document. Crossings out and corrections are included.

Readers can access the copy of the original handwritten document from the CD Rom (when it becomes available) where they can themselves interpret the signature of the author of the report and other words that may have been misinterpreted.]