Which Casualty Clearing Station?

[Mangoman]

2nd Lieutenant Ewaret Gladstone Blackmore received a shrapnel wound to the left eye during the attack by the 1st. Wiltshires' on the village of Ovillers on the Somme on 23.1.1914, which was recorded in the Battalions' War Diary.

However I am in something of a quandary as a researcher I hired informed me that he was sent to No. 34 CCS whereas the Forces War Records site states that it was No. 46 CCS that Ewart was sent to? Taking into consideration where he was wounded which of the two CCS's was he sent to as I am unable to establish this from my own research.

He was subsequently sent to No. 3 General Hospital at Le Treport roughly 20 miles north east of Dieppe before being repatriated vis the Hospital Ship Carisbrook Castle.

No. 26 Ambulance train now appears in the equation but was this used to take Ewart to his port of exit, or to take him from his point of entry (Southampton) to Bristol and the 2nd Southern Area Military Hospital?

[Chris_Baker]

Did your researcher send you a copy of Blackmore's service record? If so, it is likely that the detail is given in the "Casualty Form - Active Service" or hidden away in a medical report.

[Mangoman]

Yes, it states he was admitted to 34 CCS on 25.10.1918 but further research has found that this CCS was 'no longer on battle list' which is shown in its War Diary which also states "Wounded transferred from forward CCS's" so am at aloss to understand whether or not No. 34 CCS was in operation at the time?

[gem22]

Can we check the date of the wounding please? The original post says 1914 but later you mention 1918. An accurate date of the wounding might be helpful.

Garth

[clk]

It seems to be 23rd October 1918. 21 Division ADMS diary will probably say what the medical arrangements were.

Regards

Chris

[Mangoman]

Apologies it was indeed 23.10.1918. Sorry for trhe oversight.

[gem22]

The link that Chris gave you suggests that the action took place about 3 -4 miles north of Le Cateau at Ovillers not the Ovillers on the Somme near La Bassee. If that is the case then 46 CCS seems a good possibility as that CCS was operating at Beugny about 19 kilometres SW of Cambrai and about 40 kilometres W of the battle.

Hope that helps.

Garth

[Mangoman]

The Battalion's War Diary simply states OVILLERS. However on 22.10.1918 they were at NEUVILLY. Not sure if this clarifies the picture at all?

[gem22]

Neuvilly is about 2.5 miles SW of where I thought they were. Try Google Earth for locations.

Garth

[Mangoman]

Is Ovillers also known as Ovillers La Boiselle as that is on the Somme?

[TEW]

It sounds very similar to a previous FWR / CCS issue on the forum. It appears than in some cases men were admitted into a CCS from a previous CCS but the originating CCS does not show on the FWR transcription.

Nobody has the Admittance/Discharge books for 46 CCS, they don't exist. The entry for 46 CCS must have come from Admittance/Discharge book for 34 CCS. I can't say without seeing the dairy if he originated with 46 or 34. There are 31 hits on discovery for 34 CCS in 1918, for example MH106/754 is for British Officers admitted from 20th Oct 1918. They may have become an officers only CCS on that day and he was sent there from 46CCs.

Not being on battle list doesn't sound to me like it was shut, just not receiving battle casualties. Wounded transferred from forward CCS sounds like it was very much open for business as the forward CCSs (possibly including 46) were transferring men to 34CCS.

TNA should have a fair few entries for him, not available online. They seem to have ledgers for X-Rays, dangerously ill cases, and operations.

26 AT probably evacuated him from his final hospital stay to port of embarkation, they usually show up as loading men onto ships and that's their job done.

TEW

[gem22]

Is Ovillers also known as Ovillers La Boiselle as that is on the Somme?

They are two separate and distinct places. One near Le Cateau (Ovillers) one near La Boiselle (Ovillers La Boiselle but possibly just Ovillers).

[Mangoman]

His Casualty Form states that he was admitted to 34 CCS on 25.10.1918. At that time the CCS was sited at Grevillers. On 23.10.1918 its War Diary states that "34 CCS no longer on battle list. Wounded transferred from forward CCS's" but it still continued to take in the wounded.

On 25.10.1918 \No. 46 CCS was sited at Delsaux Farm but only makes reference to the number of admissions deaths etc.

As Ewart Blackmore was wounded by shrapnel on 23.10.1918 at Ovillers la Boiselle then I am confident that it was indeed 34 CCS where he was treated?

[clk]

The transcript of the diary says that the Battalion HQ was established at 57b.E.23.c.8.2. Hopefully this link will open up on square 57b.E.23.c, and you can zoom, change transparency levels, etc

The CCS war diaries are also available to download from the National Archives - 34 CCS and 46 CCS and should be able to confirm respective locations.

Regards

Chris

[TEW]

I had a look last night at 21 division ADMS and the relevant field ambulances. Not all images available so not a complete picture. Divisions were setting up their own ADSs and HQ bearers but beyond that things were ran at Corps level. Field ambulances were rotating duties with other FAs from 5 Corps with the CMDS located at Inchy.

21 Div had their ADS originally at Neuvilly but moved it forward to Vendegies on the 25th. That ADS would surely have been his first port of call but I can't say which location.

The 21 Div ADMS does have a 'Medical Arrangements' for forthcoming operations dated 21st. But studying that and the 21 Div FA diaries suggests either that the ADMS made a few typos or that it was superseded by a later version.

Either way, 63, 64 and 65 were responsible for evacuating wounded from the front line to the ADS, manning the CMDS and evacuating beyond that. The ADMS diary contradicts what you see in the FA diaries!

The other Corps divisions come into it as well as 64 FA were rotating with a FA from 33 Div and was relieved by 17 Div.

I saw nothing that mentioned the 2 CCSs as being part of the evacuation chain for specialised wounds or officers etc. Maybe the other ADMS diaries will have something or the 5th Corps DDMS, or one of the 12 FAs!!!!

Are both CCSs mentioned on railway lines??

TEW

[timbo58]

Just to let you know Mr Blackmore contacted our support desk this morning and the transcribed record was checked and found to be 100% accurate.

The mention of 46 CCS was the prior CCS to his present 'location' at 34 CCS.

After being alerted earlier to the present CCS/Unit not being shown on the transcribed record we have fixed this error and all records now state the present CCS/Unit and the exact MH106 reference in every case.

I also took the liberty of sending Mr Blackmore the image from the original register for his information and records.

Obviously we can only transcribe what is on the actual original document, so if for any reason the original documents information is suspect then the transcription will reflect this.

Edited 7 June , 2016 by timbo58