2/4 West Riding Field Ambulance and CCS?

[Friedland]

As part of my research into my Great Grandfather, I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me to which Casualty Clearing stations the 2/4 West Riding Field Ambulance may have used in Feb/March/April of 1917?

I've tried reading through the lists provided on the main website and others on the internet but can't quite understand them.

He was a gas casualty, and his regiment was 2/4th York and Lancs, 187 Brigade, 62nd Division. He'd disembarked in Jan 1917 and was declared unfit for War Service on 23rd April 1917.

I also heard that Gas Casualties may have been treated at specialist stations and/or hospitals?

Hopefully I've got the right Field Ambulance. Please feel free to correct me if I haven't!!

Thanks in advance.

[sotonmate]

2/1,2/2 and 2/3 WRFAs served the Brigades of 62 Division. Not necessarily would one of these FAs be specifically supporting one of the Brigades,so you might have to see each War Diary to determine if they mention a specific CCS as the destination of their casualties.Refs are WO95/:

3078/1 for 2/1

3078/2 for 2/2,and,

3078/3 for 2/3.viz.all in the same box,and not yet digital.

You might find that it is beyond the CCS chain where specialist treatments are administered.

[Friedland]

Thanks for the info.

I'll try and check the diaries when possible.

As per the specialist treatments I heard there was a Canadian hospital where some of the men from 2/4 York and Lancs suffering gas had been sent around the same time? I'll keep searching anyway.

If anyone has access to the War Diaries of 2/4 and can confirm roughly where they were around Feb-April 1917 it would also be much appreciated.

A web search said that the Division camped at Beauval (or Bus) late January. Then between 13th and 15th February 62nd Div. relieved 32 Division in line at Beamont Hamel near the river Ancre, before following up the German withdrawl to the Hindenburg Line during 14th March - 5th April.

I have very vague recollections of my elderly relatives saying "he was on the Somme", which I'm assuming was an allusion to Beamont Hamel during the above time (and not actually taking part in what's commonly known as The Somme battle).

The Gas wound itself gave him severe breathing problems later on, and hence not ever knowing of any skin irritations or disorders etc, can only assume it was either chlorine or phosgene gas that was used rather than the later Mustard Gas.

[spof]

Mr Swan

62 Div was in V Corps as part of 5th Army http://www.1914-1918.net/bat17.htm

[Friedland]

Friedland,

I'm having a little trouble working out the exact details from the Official Medical History, because the descriptions of medical services in the advance to the Hindenberg line/battle of Arras (which fits in with your timeframe) are at Corps level. Your West Ridings were 62nd Division but I can't which out Corps they were in - whichever Corps it was, formed part of the 3rd Army.

If someone can help with this, I can provide some suggestions for CCS.

Another point, by this stage of the war it was not uncommon for CCS and indeed elements of field ambulances to provide special services such as gas treatment. In the Ypres sector the gas treatment centre at Brandhoek is a good example.

Thanks MrSwan.

I've just checked over what I already have and confirm what SPOF says - they were V Corps, 5th Army.

The numbering and dates of CCS are confusing me no end, so I appreciate any help with this.

[Friedland]

Thanks, SPOF.

In the spring of 1917 the Fifth Army CCSs were at:

Achiet-Le-Grand Nos 45 and 49

Grevillers Nos 3, 29 and 56

Varennes Nos 4 and 11

Edgehill ???

Aveluy No 3

Colincamps No 44

Gezaincourt No 29 (Lightly Wounded and Sick)

During the ensuing battles of Arras the Fifth Army medical services were also organising advanced and main dressing stations, divisional and corps rest stations, and special centres for treatment of scabies, nervous disorders, and dentistry.

This is from the Official Medical History, and Locations of Hospitals and CCS. Usually reliable sources (less so the latter) so happy to be corrected.

Fantastic. Very much appreciated!!

[petestarling]

Look in the ADMS war diary for bothe the Division and the Corps around the relevent dates. You very often find the exact locations for all medical units within the division and the CCS' the field ambulances are evacuating to. If there are Operation Orders included (very often there are) it may say where different types of cases are to be evacuated to such as abdominal wounds, gas cases etc.

I am on holiday in Scotland so afraid I can not give you the exact war diary references.

Pete Starling

[Friedland]

Once again, my sincere thanks to you all!

I've located the ADMS diary in the National Archives and will make a request for the dates I need.