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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

1 London Sanitary Section


eagleeye

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Hi,

i am trying to trace where my grandfather served during the Great War.

He served with the RAMC from the outset of the conflict and was awarded the Mons Star.

I have checked with the records office at Kew on on his citation it shows that at the time of being awarded the Star he was serving with the 1 London Sanitary Section.

As I understand it the sanitary sections did not come into play until 1915?

If that is right where was he from August 1914 to 1915?

Also does '1 London' indicate that he was part of the sanitary section attached to the 1st London Division?

Any clues would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Rod

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If that is right where was he from August 1914 to 1915?

Also does '1 London' indicate that he was part of the sanitary section attached to the 1st London Division?

The 56th (1st London) Division was not formed until January 1916. Your unit is not mentioned in the Divisional history.

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This unit existed pre-war in the territorials

The 1st London Division existed pre-Great War

Territorial Divisions were numbered as they were despatched for overseas service. The units of the 56th Division were despatched overseas in dribs and drabs and the number was granted when they were assembled as a division.

This procedure gave rise to the anomaly of the 2nd London Division being the 47th and the second line 45th Division (duplicate to the 43rd), which was depatched to India in a gripping hurry, being senior to most of the first line divisions

This was a very specialist (and small)unit, the officers mostly being public health/cleansing specialists

I believe they were rushed into the line during an emegency at Ypres and all 19 then with the unit were killed, they are all buried together in the salient

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References I can remember

1) Soldiers of London by Major RM Barnes has an appendix showing the units of the City and County of London at the formation of the TA in 1908 - I am sure they are on there

2) His Majestys Territorial Army by Walter Richards gives an account of the unit

3) I am sorry I cannot remember title or author but there is a black covered A4 size book which describes all the CWGC cemeteries in the salient published in the 1980s or 1990s (hopefully some Pal knows this book). It gives the story of their demise. It may also be in the "Battle Book of Ypres" which is a very good read anyway.

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There was a 56th Sanitary Section, which were Divisional troops in 56th (London) Division, and joined from England on 11/2/16 before transfer to VII Corps Sanitary Area on 1/4/17.

However, I don't think this is the same unit as being discussed here and from memory I think there is a unit history of it. I also remember there are graves from a London Sanitary Section in Brandhoek New Mil Cemetery (where Chavasse is buried). Not sure of it is the same unit?

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Thanks for the replies everyone,

I believe that my grandfather was a 'Terrier' at the outbreak of the war and may have been with the original 1st London (Territorial) Division. It seems that some elements of the division were dispatched to France and Belgium in 1914.

It may well be that he was amongst those as he was in the RAMC and would have been sent as a support unit.

What unit he was then attached to I have no idea.

It seems then that elements of the original 1st London (Territorial) Division were reformed to make the 56th London Division in 1916.

I will check out the cemetary that is mentioned, that may give a clue or two

Thanks

Rod

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