Location of Royal Army Veterinary Corps during WWI

[dazwilson]

I am looking for some help.

I am trying to organise a battlefield study of locations that the Mobile Veterinary Sections of my corps would have been through the war.

I have had a look at the website long long trail - http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/army-veterinary-corps-in-the-first-world-war/

Hwever I seem to get no where whilst trying to find the actual location of the MVS and their movements, as well as any stories from the soldiers or Veterinary Officers that served.

I have managed to find the location of the fallen through the CWGC but have no other information on the soldiers.

I have contacted the AMS museum but they have not yet got back to me and I am unable to get to the museum due to my current posting location.

I hope someone can help or at least stear me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance

Daz

[Old Tom]

Welcome to the forum. While I know nothing of MVS,it may be useful to note that each division had a DADVS - Deputy Assistant Director VS, a Major, in its headquarters.

Old Tom

[dazwilson]

Welcome to the forum. While I know nothing of MVS,it may be useful to note that each division had a DADVS - Deputy Assistant Director VS, a Major, in its headquarters.Old Tom

Thanks.

I was not aware of the DADVS however I have just read something that my current Veterinary Officers has just sent, and as far as I can make out he would have been the equivalent of the commanding officer or even chief Veterinary Surgeon acting on behalf of DAVRS.

[EDWARD1]

If you have a subscription oraccess to a local library, the War Diaries are available on Ancestry. Army Veterinary Corps-Division-Mobile Veterinary Section

Do you have the Division or number of the MVS?

Eddie

[dazwilson]

If you have a subscription oraccess to a local library, the War Diaries are available on Ancestry. Army Veterinary Corps-Division-Mobile Veterinary Section

Do you have the Division or number of the MVS?

Eddie

I have managed to find the actual location for a couple

No 1 MVS att. 1st cavalry div at la Chapelle-aux-Pots until Nov 1917

No 2 MVS att. 1st div at Le Havre

No 6 MVS att. 6th div at Rouen

No 9 MVS att. 1st cavalry div then 2nd cavalry div at Abbeville

It's just a shame that my corps is not as in touch with is history as much as other arms of the Army.

I am unable to reach a library until I go on leave due to me being posted to Germany. I will have a look at ancestory in the mean time

[alf mcm]

Hello Daz,

Welcome to the forum. A number of War Diaries for Mobile Veterinary Sections are available for download from the National Archives website. Some are not yet available.Just looking at the website at http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r/3?_q=mobile%20veterinary%20section%20war%20diaries&_p=1900 will give you a rough idea of the location of each MVS {i.e. which Country} for a certain period of time. These war diaries will show where each MVS was on a daily basis.

You may already know, but I can recommend the book .'Theirs Not To Reason Why' by Graham Winton, published by Helion and Company. This is a study of the Army Veterinary Corps between 1875 and 1925. There are some references to individual MVS's.

Regards,

Alf McM

[dazwilson]

Alf,

I have heard of that book but getting to my corps museum who do hold copies of it is rather hard at the moment. I at the moment trying to decifer the war Diaries on ancestory but I never ever thought vets hand writing would be as bad as doctors

[David26]

Daz,

this maybe slightly off topic, but I was intrigued to see that members of the Army Veterinary Corps were attached to specific units, so for example, Lt Charles Henry Lambert was attached to 58 Bde RFA and landed with them in Gallipoli in August 1915, but was sadly to die from wounds just a few days after landing. (http://ourheroes.southdublinlibraries.ie/node/16266).

Good luck with your research!

David.

[Guest]

Mate,

The Austrailans published a book called "Vets at War" by Ian Parsonson a history of the AAVC 1909 to 1946, which details the AAVC during the war including some on the British Vet units.

While I record your units in my DB that's is only in relation to our soldiers being attached to them during the war, this ,may give you some idea on some of them;

ABERDEEN Thomas Edward 847 Dvr 3 LHFA Driver A Sect to 17Co AASC 2 Div Trn (6736) 8-15 remain Egypt to Cpl 2-17 to L/Sgt T/att 8 BVH 11-18 F&B later WWII related Ken & Arthur
BISHOP George Edward Agustus 46 Pte 1 VS to Vet/Sgt 3-16 to 2 BVH Le Havre 6-16 to HQ/25 FAB 8-16 to 54Bty/14 FAB 1-17 WIA 31-1-17 L/Leg fractured accident fell off wagon and ran over near Montauban to AASC Trg depot UK 4-17 rtn 1 AVH Calais 6-18 to 2 MG Bn 8-18 F&B related C Bayliss
BOLAND Leslie John 1149 Pte 12 LHR 6R tos C Sqn 3-16 to S/Smith 5-17 ( to 26 BVH 11-17 to T/S/Smith Cpl 2-19
BOOTH Henry William 777 Pte AVC 3R Tos 2 BVH Le Havre 11-16 F&B disch 19-9-17 MU Ex 2 Remts (4324) DNE
BRANLEY Reginald John 242 Pte 10 LHR B Sqn (G) att B Troop BSqn/Comp LHR 11-15 att 20 BVH 8-17 to S/Smith 12-17 revert 8-18 later WWII
BRIDGES Walter Throsby 676 Pte 1+2 MVS 18R tos 2 BVH Le Havre 11-16 to 1 AVH Calais 4-17 to Cpl 8-17 F&B disch 11-6-18 MU hernia (Boer War ECo/NSWIB (855)
BRUCE Walter 616 Pte 40Bn CCo to S/Smith 2 BVH Le Havre 11-16 to AVH Calais 3-17 to 5 MVS 7-17 to T/Cpl 1-19 to T/Sgt 1-19 F&B
CLARKE Raleigh Vet Capt AAVC 17R to AASC Depot UK 7-17 to AVHosp 8-17 att 10 BVHosp 9-17 to 5 Div HQ 10-17 to 5 MVS 1-18 att 13 FAB 5-18 to 14 FAB 1-19 to A/OC 5 MVS 4-19 F&B to NME UK
COOPER William George 796 Pte 4+5 MVS 18R to 2 BVH Le Havre 11-16 tos 4 MVS 11-16 to Dvr 10-18 F&B (CMF 14 months)
CURTIS Thomas Trahey 1058 Pte AVC 16R tos batman to Vet Capt Wardle cable Sect B Troop 1 LH Sig Sqn 7-17 att 9 MVS 8-17 to HQ/AMDT 9-17 T/att 21 BVH 7-18 to batman to Vet Capt Wardle 8 MVS 11-18
DODDS Francis Edward 797 Pte 4+5 MVS 19R to 2 BVH Le Havre 11-16 tos 4 MVS 11-16 to Dvr 10-18 (CMF 14 months)
DRUMMOND John James 1215 Far/QMS 2 Remts HQ to 2 Anzac Corps HQ 2-16 to 2 BVH Le Havre 1-17 to Vet/Sgt 15 FAB 2-17 T/att 8 Bde 6-17 att 8 Bde 7-18 recom MSM & MID - for his work during the advance from Aug to Oct 1918 awarded MID - for his work with 5 FAB (15 FAB) during 1919 F&B
DUFF John Charles 1281 Pte 2 Remts 5 Sqn to Cpl 11-15 to AAVC 5-16 to AASC Trg unit UK 9-16 to No 2 BVH Le Havre 2-17 to AVH Calais 4-17 to Vet/Sgt 7-17 to S/Sgt 12-18
EWINGS Henry Percy 716 Pte 3 MVS tos 2 BVH Le Havre 11-16 F&B to AIF depots UK 2-17 disch 19-3-18 MU age (British 13th (County of London) Bn (Kensington) London Regt to 3rd (King's Own) Hussars 4 years)
FAHEY Michael 248 Pte 2 VS RTA MU VD relist 4+ 5 MVS (800) to 2 BVH Le Havre 11-16 to 4 MVS 11-16 to 1 AVH 11-17 to 5 MVS 2-18 to 1 AVE (Aust Vet Evac) Sect 5-18 F&B Ex 3 Sect/1 DAC (2841) DNE disch 9-10-14 MU
FANNING Alfred Albert 1387 Pte 10 LHR 11R Tos 2-16 att 20 BVH 8-17 rtn 11-17 to S/Smith 12-17 later WWII brother HA Fanning 46Bn
FERGUSON John 246 Pte 2 VS tos CSqn/05 LHR 8-15 WIA 1-9-15 minor at Chathams Post (G) to 2 BVH Le Havre 11-16 to 2 MVS 1-17 to 1 AVE (Aust Vet Evac) Sect 9-18 WIA 23-9-18 head concussion accident F&B to NME UK shearing (BSqn CMF 3 years)
FINNEY William Henry Vet Capt 2 DAC 9R to HQ/22 FAB 3-16 WIA 15-4-16 head accident kicked by mule near Steenwerck RTA 7 months leave tos 2 BVH Le Havre 3-17 to 4 VH at Calais 3-17 to 3 Div HQ 5-17 att 867Co ASC 6-17 to AVH 7-17 to 2 Div HQ 11-18 att 4 FAB 4-19 F&B Ex Sea Transport Officer HMAT "Argyllshire" disch 19-7-15
FULLER Melville Thomas 2269 Pte 9 LHR 16R to 3 LH MGS 8-16 Tos A Sqn 8-16 WIA 19-4-17 L/shoulder shot at 2nd Gaza rtn 6-17 att S/Smith cse 21 BVH 8-17 rtn S/Smith 11-17 (CMF later WWII )
FURBER Roy Melrose 1211 Pte AVC 22R tos 6 MVS 5-18 att 21 BVH 9-18 rtn 10-18
GLASSON William Henry 626 Pte 1+2 MVS 16R to ADVS 3 Div Larkhill UK 9-16 to 2 BVH Le Havre 2-17 to 3 MVS 3-17 to 2 MVS 4-17 to Cpl 9-18 to 1 AVH 12-18 F&B
GRANT Ross Vet Capt 1 Remts HQ to RVO 2 Remts 4-16 to 2 BVH Le Havre 12-16 to 5 Div HQ 12-16 to 5 MVS 10-17 F&B
GREGORY Harold Charles 1433 Pte 11 LHR 7R To DSqn/9 LHR 1-16 Tos C Sqn 3-16 att S/Smith school 16 BVH El Fukhari 8-17 rtn S/Smith 11-17 T/att 9 MVS 8-18 to S/Smith Cpl 1-19
GRIFFITS Henry 807 Pte 1 Remts 3 Sqn att S/Smith test 21 BVH 3-17 to S/Smith 1 LH Sig Sqn 5-17 disch 26-4-18 MU lumbago (LH CMF 3 years)
HARRISON Ronald Leslie 312 Pte 12 LHR B Sqn att DSqn/7 LHR 8-15 (G) RTA MU reemb 11R att Shoe/Smith training 21 BVH 3-17 Tos 9-18 to NME UK stock AKA Roland Leslie Harrison later WWII
HARVEY George Kelynack 1697 Pte 4 LHFA 4R Tos Dvr 12-15 to 14 FAmb 4-16 to L/Cpl 2-17 to Transport Sgt 8-17 T/att 10 BVH 12-17 recom MSM awarded MID - for his work as C Sect Transport Sgt in 16/17-9-18 WIA 3-10-18 L/shoulder near Bellicourt F&B (CMF 4 years)
HEATLEY Robert William 254 Pte 2 VS to 4 MVS 3-16 to 2 BVH Le Havre 2-17 to 1 AVH Calais 3-17 to Cpl 5-17 to A/Sgt 10-17 to T/Vet/Sgt 4 FAB 6-18 F&B (CMF 3 years later WWII Pte Garr Bn)
HINDMARSH William Lloyd Vet Capt 20Co AASC HQ RVO att 11 LHR 2-16 to HQ/1 FAB 6-16 WIA 1-12-16 R/arm shrapnel at Flers to 2 BVH Havre 4-17 att 4 Div HQ 6-17 att 11 FAB 6-17 MID - reason not stated F&B to NME UK Veterinary
IBBOTT John Hellmann 1202 Pte 7 LHR 8R Tos 12-15 to 20 BVH 2-17 to 9 MVS 6-17 att 8 MVS 5-18 rtn 6-18 att 8 MVS 4-19 rtn 5-19 brother Roger 7 LHR
JOHNSON James 2675 Pte ICC 10R tos 17Co/4Bn ICC 8-17 to 21 BVH 8-18 to 10 MVS 11-18
JONES George 91 Pte 1 VS to 1 MVS 3-16 to Dvr 11-16 T/att cold shoeing 22 BVH 4-17 to 2 MVS 5-18 F&B disch 12-12-18 (St Georges Rifles CMF)
KEANE Thomas Patrick 842 Pte 4+5 MVS 20R to 2 BVH Le Havre 3-17 to AVH Calais 4-17 F&B
KELLEHER John Francis 207 Pte 1 Remts 1 Sqn to AAVC Dtls 5-16 to 2 BVH Le Havre 6-16 to 1 MVS 9-18 att 1 AVH 9-17 rtn 11-17 F&B
KNOX Edward Lawrence 1591 Pte 04 LHR 12R tos D Sqn 3-16 to 2 Anzac LHR 7-16 to 2 BVH Le Havre 5-17 rtn 2 Anzac LHR 8-17 to Gnr 25Bty/7 FAB 11-17 WIA 27-6-18 R/leg accident F&B later WWII
LAMOND Allan Ernest Albert 302 Pte 10 LHR B Sqn (G) to 3 LH MGS 8-16 att S/Smith training 21 BVH 8-17 WIA 17-11-17 chest injury accident training as S/Smith RTA MU mental buried Apsley Cemetery Vic brother Edgar 8 LHR
LEITCH John Black Vet Capt AAVC tos Remts 4-15 to 1 Div HQ 7-16 to 2 BVH Le Havre 8-16 rtn 1 MVS 9-16 att 2 FAB 10-16 att 1 DAC 12-16 F&B to AIF depots UK 4-17 to NME UK (Lt Hon/Capt 3MD 3-4-11 to VetO Hon/Capt RHQ CMF) (Boer War Vet/Lt 4 VIB and Vet/Capt 3 ACH)
LONG Henry 602 Dvr 42Bn BHQ Transport T/att No 4 BVH 7-17 F&B reported killed carrying ammo up to front lines with mules at Messines Ridge buried Kandahar Farm Cemetery Neuve-Eglise Belgium (CSqn CMF 2 years)
LUCAS Herbert Samuel Vet Capt AAVC 1R Tos 2 BVH Le Havre to 2 Div HQ 10-16 att RVO 1 DAC 10-16 to 1 Div HQ 12-16 att 1 FAB 12-16 att 1 MVS 4-17 to RVO 1 FAB 5-17 to DADVS 1 Div Trn 10-18 to DADVS 1 Div HQ 10-18 F&B to NME UK Ex AVC voyage only disch 10-6-16 AKA Herbert Sammons Lucas (Gnr to Lt AFA to SU Scouts CMF 4 years)

Cheers

​S.B

[dazwilson]

Daz,

this maybe slightly off topic, but I was intrigued to see that members of the Army Veterinary Corps were attached to specific units, so for example, Lt Charles Henry Lambert was attached to 58 Bde RFA and landed with them in Gallipoli in August 1915, but was sadly to die from wounds just a few days after landing. (http://ourheroes.southdublinlibraries.ie/node/16266).

Good luck with your research!

David.

Dave, that's interesting I will have a dog about thanks.

S.B, I had no idea the Austrian forces had a veterinary Corps this might make things easier (hopefully)