3/1 Lowland FA R.A.M.C TF

[Sjack91]

Good evening

 

The following is listed on a soldier of interest to myselfs' service records. 3/1 Lowland FA R.A.M.C TF

 

Could anyone assist with where there were based as between 11th of September 1914 and 4th of June 1915 he was based at home. I presume training before he embarked for Malta. Any information into the early service of the 3/1 Lowland would be greatly appreciated.

 

Regards

 

Stuart

[michaeldr]

Stuart,

 

Per the (52nd) Divisional history they were at Stirling as part of the South Scottish Infantry Brigade (later 155th)

which included 4th & 5th RSF and 4th & 5th KOSB

[Div HQ was at Bridge of Allan

Scottish Rifle Infantry Brigade (later 156th) was at Falkirk

Highland Light Infantry Brigade (later 157th) was at Dunfermline

The new Divisional and Infantry Brigade numbers were adopted 11th May 1915]

 

regards

Michael

Edited 6 December , 2018 by michaeldr

[michaeldr]

On 03/12/2018 at 21:05, Sjack91 said:

I presume training before he embarked for Malta. Any information into the early service of the 3/1 Lowland would be greatly appreciated.

 

From p.5 of the aforementioned divisional history
'The Division was billeted in all manner of buildings, including disused factories, schools, private houses, a gaol and a workhouse. During the end of 1914 and the early months of 1915 defensive positions were entrenched and wired, in view of the possible invasion; guards and patrols were provided, and rigorous training was in progress. Small arms ammunition was short, as a rule, but there was as much musketry training as possible. Of bombs, trench mortars, or rifle-grenades very little was known, and next to nothing was seen.'
The 3rd Lowland Field Ambulance were embarked at Devonport on the Karoa which sailed on 5th June 1915

Edited 7 December , 2018 by michaeldr

[sotonmate]

Stuart

 

When you say "embarked for Malta" do you know that he served there ? According to LLT the FA landed at Gallipoli in 1915 with 52 Division,moved to Egypt in 1916,Palestine later,and finally to France in 1918.

Edited 7 December , 2018 by sotonmate

[michaeldr]

Malta was probably a port of call on the way down the Med

The Karoa arrived at Port Said on 17th June

 

Edit - the above port & date is from the table on p.11 of the Div History

However, the text on p. 14 has

"...diembarked at Alexandria on the 16th, with the ambulances and other troops which had arrived the previous day in the Karoa."

I suggest checking the War Diary for clarification of this point

Edited 7 December , 2018 by michaeldr

[Sjack91]

Pals

 

This is fantastic information and sorry for the late response. 2 sources lead me to believe the Malta link.

 

His service record says 'en route Malta' 5/6/15 then arrive 12/6/15 = 8 days.

                                      'Malta' 13/6/15 to 9/9/15                             = 89 days.

                                       'en route uk (??) 10/9/15 to 17/9/15          =8 days

                                       'home' 18/9/15 to 4/8/17                            = 1 year 321 days

 

he took ill around this time as I have a newspaper article which states; UDDINGSTON TEACHER IN MALTA HOSPITAL

 

'is laid up with fever at Malta. He proceeded to the Dardanelles some time ago, and, falling victim to fever, was taken to hospital at Malta'

 

His service records also say 'Gallipoli 4 months'

 

After he was home he returned to France and received the Military Medal in 1918

 

Really appreciate the help here. It will be a major help when writing this article

 

Stuart

 

Edited 7 December , 2018 by Sjack91

[kenf48]

Assuming you mean the 1/3rd Lowland Field Ambulance, The Wellcome Library collection includes 'With the 52nd (Lowland) division in three continents, by James Young, RAMC, Lieutenant-Colonel commanding 1/3rd Lowland Field Ambulance in the Dardanelles, Egypt and Palestine during the First World War'.  In the introduction he notes (as previously described above) that the unit spent the first ten months of the war after mobilisation at Stirling.  Colonel Young notes the period 'tried us sorely, for we felt we were ready for foreign service long before the call came."   The full text is here

 

 

There is also a letter in the Scotsman dated 23 July 1915 written by 'an officer' of the 3rd Lowland Field Ambulance titled, 'On the Way to the Dardanelles / With the Edinburgh Field Ambulance' which describes the voyage in some detail and, as previously noted above confirms that Malta was their last port of call before Alexandria.  They did not, according to the accounts get off the boat but remained on board during coaling.  

They disembarked in Egypt on the 16th June and remained there for a few days before embarking for the Dardanelles.  

The description in the Scotsman is very similar to that in the above book!

 

Malta was also known as 'the Nurse of the Mediterranean' and before the voyage became too hazardous due to enemy submarine activity many men were evacuated from the Dardanelles for treatment. Dysentery and enteric fever were endemic on the Peninsula.

 

The war diary begins when the advance party of 8 officers and 5 men from the Transport as batmen landing on the 2nd July. 

The main body of the 1/3rd Lowland FA landed on V Beach between the 3- 6 July 1915. Shortly after they began to report cases of mild diarrohea in the unit.

 

The interpretation of the service record seems strange he could not have served 4 months at Gallipoli if he disembarked at Malta, en route.  As Malta was no a theatre of war he would not have been entitled to the 14-15 Star had he remained there but as we don't know his name can't confirm.

 

Ken

Edited 7 December , 2018 by kenf48

[Sjack91]

Ken 

 

thank you for the excellent resoonse. To confuse matters further I had never actually looked for his Medal index card. Had a look there and he did receive the 15 star however it says he served in the Balkans?  Seems to be a major conflict between his records.

 

Stuart

[rolt968]

3 hours ago, Sjack91 said:

Ken 

 

thank you for the excellent resoonse. To confuse matters further I had never actually looked for his Medal index card. Had a look there and he did receive the 15 star however it says he served in the Balkans?  Seems to be a major conflict between his records.

 

Stuart

Code 2B Included Gallipoli:

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/how-to-research-a-soldier/campaign-medal-records/how-to-interpret-a-campaign-medal-index-card/medal-roll-theatre-codes/

RM

[Sjack91]

Thanks RM

 

[kenf48]

It's a bit of a puzzle but my interpretation is:-

 

The mic and the Roll show he entered theatre on the 5th July 1915 and qualified for the 14- 15 Star (unsurprisingly the entry above him is 223 Johnstone who shares the same date of entry).  This date of entry is spot on for the 3rd Lowland FA as verified by the war diary. 

 

Army Form B.103 shows he was admitted to Imtarfa Hospital, Malta on the 14 July 1915 suffering from enteric fever, so just over a week on the Peninsula.  As you have seen the next entry shows he 'embarked for England' and was 'Invalided to England'  on the 10 September 1915.

 

The war diary shows 182 other ranks landed on Cape Helles on 3-5/7/1915.  It seems the unit soon began to lose men, on the 10th July they show a strength of 185 other ranks, by the 17th they were down to 165 (details of casualties not shown).  So it is feasible he was evacuated from the front line after a week, sadly many men did not last that long.

 However, the report of his admission was not recorded on Army For B.103  until September which seems a long delay.  He must have been very sick as he was not posted back to the Depot until November from where he was redeployed.  This is probably the 'Gallipoli four months' which he records on his Statement of Disability on demobilization.  The FA remained on the Peninsula until the evacuation, which is well recorded in the diary and is a fascinating account.

 

I think this is the most reasonable timeline, even though his Military History Sheet (which appears to be a cut and paste) and other documents shows  an apparent 13th June admission to the hospital in Malta.  This was probably the date the ship was coaling at Malta given they arrived in Egypt on the 16th.  This led to a clerical error carried through his surviving documents.

 

Information on Malta Hospitals can be found on the late Sue Light's site

http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/190.html

 

 

Ken

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 8 December , 2018 by kenf48

[Sjack91]

Ken

 

this really is amazing information. I really appreciate the time that you have taken to respond in such detail. I have started the article and once complete I will post here so those who have contributed so much can see the final result. He had abit of a War. 

 

Stuart

[Sjack91]

*Rough draft for those who have contributed here. Thank you.*

 

Alexander Junor

Member 757. Initiated 26th of January 1916 at the age of 23

Residing at Woodview, Uddingston he worked as a Teacher of Dancing.

EA Degree- 26th of January 1916

FC Degree- 12^th of November 1919

MM Degree- 10^th of December 1919

Mark Degree- 12^th of February 1919 

Alexander Junor was born in the New Kilpatrick area of Dumbartonshire on the 29^th of February 1892. He was the son of Francis Junor a Market Gardener from the Ross & Cromarty area in the North of Scotland. His Mother was Jane Junor (prev Munro) who was born in Nigg also in Ross & Cromarty. The couple who married at Edinburgh in 1884 are residing at Bearsden in Glasgow before settling in Bothwell. In the 1901 census the family are residing at Laurel Bank, Main Street, Bothwell where Francis (43) and Jane (42) are living with there 3 children John (15), Isabella (13) and Alexander (9). At this time Alexander was at school. Prior to the War the family move to Woodview in Uddingston and Alexander was employed as a Teacher of Dancing at Uddingston Grammar. He was one of four teachers from the School who were recorded in a report of the Bothwell Parish School Board (Bellshill Speaker of 19^th November 1915) where the article names Messrs. George Johnstone, W.B. Jarvie, W.G. Gracie and Alex Junor all teachers on Military Service.

At the outbreak of War, Alexander was serving with the Territorial Force. When he enlisted on the 10^th September 1914 he was serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps (R.A.M.C) who were part of the 3/1 Lowland Field Ambulance.  His service number was 224. Alexander spent the early months of the War on home soil. Being part of the 52^nd Division they prepared at Falkirk, Stirling and Dunfermline. Part of their training was to prepare as he and his regiment looked to embark to a theatre of War overseas; but also prepared for the potential threat of invasion.

On the 5^th of June 1915 the 3rd Lowland Field Ambulance who had been embarked at Devonport on the ship named ‘The Karoa’ set sail. They arrived at Malta on the 12^th of June 1916. Alexander, along with his comrades from the R.A.M.C Territorial Force were heading to the Dardanelles where the British were fighting the Ottoman Army, most notably at Gallipoli. He entered theatre on the 5th July 1915 and qualified for the 14- 15 Star.

They landed at Gallipoli and were involved in operations at Cape Hellas. It seems the unit soon began to lose men and on the 10th July they show a strength of 185 other ranks. By the 17th they were down to 165 men and although details of casualties are not shown in the War Diary it is feasible that he was evacuated from the front line after a week, sadly many other men did not last that long. Army Form B.103 shows Alexander was admitted to Imtarfa Hospital, Malta on the 14 July 1915 suffering from enteric fever, he had spent just over a week on the Peninsula, an operation which was a catastrophe for the British Forces. Alexander’s illness is reported in The Sunday Post newspaper article from the 22^nd of August 1915 and it notes that;

‘Mr Alex Junor, MA, who resides at Woodview, Uddingston, and who, previous to joining the R.A.M.C at the outbreak of the War, was a teacher in the Grammar School, is laid up with fever at Malta. He proceeded to the Dardanelles some time ago, and, falling a victim to fever, was taken to hospital at Malta.’

Alexander was sent home and the report of his admission to hospital was not recorded on Army For B.103 until September which seems a long delay.  He must have been very sick as he was not posted back to the Depot until November 1915 from where he was redeployed.  His records on his Statement of Disability on demobilization show that he was 4 months in Gallipoli and it should be noted that this is period includes Gallipoli as well as, illness in Malta, travelling home and at home recovering. His illness was severe and he recovered before being redeployed with the Forth Royal Garrison Artillery. Spending 1916 on home soil he was awarded a Good conduct badge in September 1916.

On the 5^th of August 1917 and presumably after making a full recovery Alexander returned to France. Embarking at Folkestone, he disembarked at Boulogne the same day, then entered Rouen, arriving on the 7^th of August, where he was posted to join the cyclist base depot at Rouen. Alexander now numbered 316104 entered the field of War on the 16^th of August 1917 with the 1/3 Highland Field Ambulance.  His job would have been to initially treat any wounded or ill man before they were transferred to a casualty clearing station or hospital. In late 1917 the men are South of Arras. The London Gazette from the 13^th of March 1918 records that Alexander was awarded the Military Medal for ‘Bravery in the field’. It is also recorded in the Edinburgh Gazette on the 14^th of March 1918. Although we are unsure as to why he received the Military Medal an entry in the War Diary by the Lieutenant Col of the R.A.M.C in March 1918 gives us an indication. The 1/3 Highland Field Ambulance who were South of Arras around the Greyvillers area are noted;

‘I cannot speak too rightly of the sterling work of the officers and all other ranks of the Ambulance during there trying days & nights when, though tired & worn out, they carried on amidst all the strain, their great consolation in this is that all the posts left behind were completely cleared so that not one wounded man was left behind.’

Alexander was allowed to return home for a few days leave. When he returned to France he was wounded in action on the 24^th of July 1917. Alexander returned to duty the same day. He was promoted to Corporal and transferred to an Officer Cadet unit in at Preston Barracks in Brighton, England from September 1918 to February 1919. On the 2^nd of February 1919 Alexander was demobilised. He returned to Uddingston to work again as a dancer teacher at the Grammar School. He joined the Lodge where his Brother was not only a member but very active in the construction of the temple in 1924. Not much else is known of Alexander after the War. No record of marriage, death or fathering any children can be found.

[kenf48]

 

 

I noticed a couple of errors in your rough draft, which states “At the outbreak of war Alexander was serving with the Territorial Force.  When he enlisted on the 10th September…”. As war was declared on the 4th August 1914 this is a non sequitur.

 

I therefore went back to his service record and realised I have misled you in that his service record shows he enlisted in the 1st Lowland Field Ambulance whose peace time station was at Yorkhill Parade Drill Hall Yorkhill Glasgow, (also the base of the 2nd Lowland Field Ambulance).  The 3rd Lowland Field Ambulance was based at Edinburgh.  All three units were attached to the 52nd (Lowland) Division.  The 3/1st Lowland Field Ambulance was the third line, or training/reserve unit.

The structure of the TF is explained on the LLT in more detail

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/the-territorial-force/

 

However as the 3rd Line was not formed until November 1914 he could not have enlisted in the 3/1st, though he was subsequently posted there.  Usually men who were sick or wounded were taken off the active service strength and posted to a reserve, home based unit.

 

Therefore perhaps we need to say something like,

 

“On the 4 August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany, large numbers of men decided to enlist though there was no initial ‘rush to enlist’.  Many men gave careful thought as to whether or not to volunteer but when the newspapers began to report the ‘Rape of Belgium’ and catalogue alleged German atrocities there was a surge in recruitment in September. 

Alexander Junor, age 22 volunteered to enlist in the 1st Lowland Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps on the 10th September 1914. He was allocated number 224.

 

The 1st Lowland Field Ambulance was a unit of the Territorial Force, originally intended for home service and was part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division.  Normally men enlisted in the TF for four years, Alexander noted on his attestation papers he was enlisting for the period of the war.  On the 14th November 1914 he signed the ‘Imperial Obligation’ volunteering to serve overseas.  He would be given a badge to wear denoting he had done so.  However the Division remained on home service as they prepared for war while billeted around Falkirk.  Alexander, who was stretchier bearer, was posted there on the 20th December 1914.  It was frustrating time for the officers and men of the Division who were anxious to join the fight.

 

Like most of the Territorial Force they expected to fight on the Western Front but instead the Division was warned to prepare for service in the Gallipoli Campaign.  On the 5th June 1915 the 1st Lowland Field Ambulance, and its sister units the 2nd and 3rd Lowland Field Ambulance embarked at Keyham Dock, Devonport on the S.S. Karoa bound for Egypt.  On the 12th June the ship arrived at Malta for coaling and arrived at Alexandria on the 16th June where the men disembarked.  They entrained to Abu-Kir where they waited under canvas for further orders.  Already men were becoming sick and three men were left at Alexandria.  On the 21st June the 1st Lowland Field Ambulance moved back to Alexandria and boarded the S.S. Seang Bee which was reported to be in a filthy condition.  Nevertheless the following day they sailed for the Dardanelles anchoring in Mudros bay on the 25th June.  Five more men were sent ashore to hospital.

 

Finally on the 27th June, late in the evening the unit sailed for Gallipoli, landing at Cape Helles ‘V’ Beach at 1.30a.m. on the 28th June.  Almost immediately the unit was in action with the men supporting other, established medical units on the Peninsula.  On the 5th July they were joined by the 3rd Lowland Field Ambulance who had remained in Egypt.  The Medal Roll for the 14-15 Star shows that Alexander Junor entered the theatre of war on that date.  We don’t know if this was a clerical error or this he was one of the men from the 1st who went sick earlier.  However what we do know is that on the 14th July 1915 Alexander was admitted to Imtarfa Hospital on Malta suffering from enteric fever.  His participation in the doomed Dardanelles Campaign was cut short by illness, as reported in the Sunday Post dated the 22nd August 1915:-

‘Mr Alex Junor MA, who resides at Woodview Uddingston and who etc..”

 

On the 10th September he was repatriated to England arriving on the 19th where he slowly recovered from his illness.  On the 13th November 1915 he was posted to the 3rd line or 3/1st Lowland Field Ambulance.  This was a reserve/training unit and he remained with them until the following year.  On the 10th September 1916 he was awarded his first Good Conduct Badge and the following month on the 10th October he was attached to the 1/1 Company Forth Royal Garrison Artillery at Queensferry.

His original unit remained in the Middle East after evacuation from Gallipoli, but Alexander did not rejoin them.  In common with the rest of the Territorial Force he was renumbered 316014 in March 1917.Finally fit once again for active service overseas on the 5th August 1917 he was posted to the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders.  He landed at Boulogne and was sent to the Infantry Base Depot at Rouen.  On the 16th August he was posted to the 1/3 Highland Field Ambulance who were serving with the 51st (Highland) Division.  The unit remained in France for the rest of the war.  In December 1917 they were stationed at Beugny.  On the 30th December the war diary noted that ‘Pte. 31604 Junor A and his comrade Pte 316069 McMillan N’ had been awarded the Military Medal for ‘gallantry displayed on the 11th December’.  Unfortunately we have not been able to establish the specific act but given his role as a stretcher bears in the front line we can guess it was tending to the wounded under fire.

 

The award appeared in the London Gazette etc…

 

In May 1918 he was attached to a unit of the Royal Field Artillery for training, rejoining the Field Ambulance on the 20th June.  On the 24th July he was slightly wounded but remained on duty.

 

He was promoted etc..”

 

 

Once again sorry for the earlier error, and apologies for what started out as a few amendments turned into a rewrite of your rough draft.  Still at least we discovered when his MM was awarded.  The diary is pretty unhelpful on this but bearers were being detached all the time and sent to the front line.

 

I’ll leave you to find a photo and polish the account of his service.

 

Ken

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sjack91]

Ken this is incredible. As you are probably aware I am an absolute amateur when it comes to this and trying to piece these stories together can be very difficult for me. I am giving it my best shot though and hopefully with assistance from the guys on the Forum I can leave these some sort of memory in a book I hope to publish locally.

 

Unfortunately I have no Photograph of Alexander but I do have one of his brother who I will be working in in later time.

 

I really am stunned and delighted with the response you have gave.

 

Stuart

[Guest]

I have been trying to trace service details of Alexander Junor, born 29 February 1892 (acc. to Glasgow University where he received an MA in 1912) . He served in Gallipoli and France and was  awarded a M.M. In 1925 he emigrated to South Africa and to a teaching post at SACS (South African College High School) in Cape Town and finished his teaching career as the headmaster of Graeme College Grahamstown from 1941 - 1952. His wife, Madalain, was a doctor and I don't think there were any children. His retirement was spent in Grahamstown and he died at the beginning of the 70s though I still need to confirm this. Could this be the same Alexander Junor?

PeterB

[Sjack91]

peter I have a fair amount of information on him as he was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Uddingston. I will send you a message.

 

regards 

 

Stuart