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Remembered Today:

Athol Nelson Nesbitt - wounds


pierssc

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Athol Nelson Nesbitt was an observer with 5 Squadron when he was wounded in an air fight on 9th February 1917.

 

The wounding is detailed on the second page of his casualty card at https://www.casualtyforms.org/form/17250 (he is filed as “Archie” but I believe that is a transcripton error and I have flagged it).

 

i can read that he was admitted to 91 Field Ambulance and that he suffered gun shot wounds to his elbow, left buttock, and right buttock.  After that I struggle.  It looks like ? Perf [line break] Pelvis & Spl H.P. a[indistinct]

 

Could anyone suggest what the further injuries were please?

 

Thanks

Piers

 

 

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The last line is To England per HS (Hospital Ship) Dieppe

 

I agree with ?perf (perforated) pelvis and app being either shrapnel or splint?

Edited by DavidOwen
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I’ve got that, thanks, and the later stuff, it’s just his injuries I’m after.

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1 minute ago, pierssc said:

I’ve got that, thanks, and the later stuff, it’s just his injuries I’m after.

Sorry realised after I had posted, edited my post to include thoughts on injuries, dratted predictive text slowing me down!

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No problem David.  My wife (who has a medical background) suggests that “? Perf” might mean that they were worried that his gut might have been perforated but weren’t sure.  Then possibly the words Pelvis and spleen... I’m not sure.   I think if we can work out H.P and the last bit it should make all clear.

Edited by pierssc
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The nurse sat next to me and I have struggled with that last bit.

But, as it is a field ambulance entry we think it might be "special to hospital authorised" or something to that effect?

Certainly puzzling!

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With several holes in him I don’t think there would be any problem with his qualifying for Blighty, but I think you may be on the right lines.  If “Spl” is “special” and “a-“ is “authorised”or “authority”, I wonder if we are talking about a mode of transport relevant to his injuries - in particular a suspected gut injury.

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Piers

 

At 02.47 it suddenly struck me what HP means - not hospital but High Priority.

 

So "Special High Priority  Authorised" would be my interpretation of the last bit now.

 

It makes sense due to the serious nature of his wounding.

 

All the best

 

David

 

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Thanks David.  Now that would make a lot of sense.  But (not to doubt you) did it exist as a term?  Has anyone seen other examples of this term being used?

 

If I don’t hear from anyone else, I’ll look up some other examples of people who suffered serious injuries and see if there’s anything similar when I’m back home.

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I've not had much luck finding other examples of flyers with abdominal wounds who survived! 

 

David, one of my reservations about your "High Priority" theory was that Nesbitt was wounded on the 9th February but not sent to England until the 25th.  If "H.P" means "High Priority", it wouldn't seem to refer to the speed of sending him to England - and indeed moving people with abdominal injuries around a lot doesn't seem a good idea!

 

I'm looked again at your earlier suggestion and wondering if the phrase "spl H.P. auth** " might not be "special to hospital authorised" but "special hospital authorised"?  Having dug around a bit on the forum, I've discovered that there WERE so-called "Special Hospitals" specialising in particular injuries such as  - abdominal wounds.  See this thread:

 

 

One can certainly imagine that a Field Ambulance unit would not be equipped to look after him and would be keen to push him on to specialists.  I think I'll go with that interpretation.

 

I see his AIR76 file is at the NA.  I may just look him up.... it might include some medical boards because if the injuries were what we think they were they would have taken some getting over, so we may find some more detail.  When he did get back to France it was initially to 2AD and then an "AS unit" - I can't remember what that is but I'm sure I'll work that one out!

 

To clarify my interest in him, Nesbitt frequently flew as observer with my grandfather.  Nesbitt was however flying with 2Lt H.V. Puckridge when their BE was attacked and they were both wounded.  The diary just says he was wounded, and that's the last we hear of him.  I was just wondering what happened to him.

 

Piers

 

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To clinch it, it appears that there was a Special Hospital at AUTHIE - which is what the “Auth**” word must be.  Easy when you know it!

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