Nearest ccs to wancourt rd March 28 1918

[Steviebullsatatter]

I'm trying to locate nearest ccs to wancourt rd March 1918 , nearest to 2nd suffolks.

Thanks Steve 

[kenf48]

6 hours ago, Steviebullsatatter said:

I'm trying to locate nearest ccs to wancourt rd March 1918 , nearest to 2nd suffolks.

Thanks Steve 

 

Not definitive by any means but the 7th FA diary records two officers returning from attachment to 20 CCS.  In March 1918 20 CCS was at Boisleux au Mont some 8km from Wancourt, moving later in the month to Gezaincourt some 50km from Wancourt.  (8th FA were also billeted at Boisleux au Mont).  I can find no dead from 2nd Suffolks associated with either cemetery at either of those locations.. 

 

The dairy of the ADMS 3rd Division notes casualties were evacuated from the RAP by the Field Ambulances to the Corps Main Dressing Station during this period. Most of the 2nd Suffolk dead have no known grave and are commemorated on the Arras Memorial. 

 

A little more information might help.

 

Ken

 

[TEW]

I only have info from VI Corps DDMS. This puts 3rd Div. on the northern limit of the corps. Orders dated 6th March for north sector are; wounded to evacuate via ADS Boiry-Becquerelle, to MDS Ficheux (Brickfields) S.2.b.7.4 then to 20 CCS or later to 43 CCS.

After 21/3/18 things changed as the ADS and later the MDS were rapidly abandoned. 23/3/18 all wounded were going to 43 CCS Bac-du-Sud.

TEW

[Steviebullsatatter]

Thank you both for your very informative replies!

[Steviebullsatatter]

My gt grandfather was most likely wounded in the spring offensive which would be anytime from 28th March but it looks like 43 ccs closed and moved from 28th March.like trying to find a needle in a haystack. 

 

[RobertBr]

The Mars Offensive of 28th March involved the 56th Division North of the R Scarpe, the 4th astride the river and to the south the 15th and 3rd Divisons, including the 2nd Suffolks.

The 3rd Divisions lines lay on the ridge behind Wancourt, Henin sur Cojouer and Boiry Becquerelle.  Boiry Becquerelle was beyond their front line

 

Beyond the 3rd Division the front line had bent Westwards as a result of the bulge in the line created by the offensive of 21st March. It was held by the Guards Division and their line was just North of Boisleux au Mont, putting the village beyond their front line.

 

The CCS at Bac-du-Sud is just too far away.

 

To the North of Arras the CCS which served the 56th Division was at Sainte Catherine. Assuming a similar disposition of CCS I would expect you to be looking for locations to the south of Arras, say arround the Achicourt/Agny/Beurains/Tilly area.

 

Have you looked intot the 3rd Divisions Field Ambulances, 7th/8th/142nd, which may help?

 

Bob

 

[Steviebullsatatter]

Bob..you are a star

I'll take a look later

Steve 

[kenf48]

15 hours ago, RobertBr said:

The CCS at Bac-du-Sud is just too far away

 

Have you looked intot the 3rd Divisions Field Ambulances, 7th/8th/142nd, which may help?

 

 Previously referred to the war diary of the ADMS 3rd Division.

 

Of interest the diary notes on the 14th March a request that officers and men 'from this Division' be returned from 20 CCS.  "This CCS is in the process of being withdrawn to Beaumetz. No 43 CCS has already been withdrawn".  

 

43  CCS was shelled on 23/24/25 March and on the 26th the Nursing Staff were sent to No 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Doullens.  They rejoined on the 31st when the CCS re-opened at Frevent.  The war diary of 43 CCS is available at TNA but as you are interested in the 28th I doubt it will be of much help to you.

 

On the 21st March the 3rd Division ADMS diary notes, after giving the disposition of the FAs and damage to the light railway, that, "Our (i.e. 3rd Division) casualties were extraordinarily light - wounded 6a.m. to 6p.m. Officers 3 O.R. 80. The railway line to Southampton was of great use in evacuation of walking wounded.  The ADMS and DDMS visited the M.D.S. at various times during the day.  There never was any congestion owing to the prompt way the cases were dressed and despatched to the CCS at Bac-du-Sud".

Which clearly identifies Bac-du-Sud was in use by the 3rd Division on the 21st March, as noted in TEW's post 3.

 

On 26th March the diary notes 'Rumour reached us 43 CCS Bac-du-Sud had cleared out' (official notification received later) Order received from DDMS that (3rd Division medical services) was to take over the site as soon as possible.  "All evacuation is being done to Doullens!"

The MDS for 3rd Division was located at Bac-du-Sud and evacuation was now to St Pol.

 

There is a very detailed entry for the 28th, of note is the fact 'evacuation proceeded satisfactorily', but the MO of the 2nd Suffolks was missing 'believed to have been captured by the enemy at his post'.

 

 No 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital (war diary online) at Doullens received over 2000 casualties on the 28th and 29th March.  In a very confused situation it's quite possible your casualty went there,  their diary indicates turnover and discharge of casualties was equally high.

 

The line was straightened on the 29th 'without incident'.

 

Ken

 

 

Edited 7 June , 2019 by kenf48

[TEW]

It's not clear when in March this man was wounded which makes a lot of difference, nor do we know if he ever made it to a CCS.

 

There are VI Corps Medical Arrangements dated; 6/3/18, 25/3/18, 29/3/18 and a report on Medical Arrangements 3rd Division 21st - 23rd March 1918. Things are quite straight forward and laid down in the orders where/how wounded from 3rd Division are dealt with up to 21/3/18, after that things get more complicated but are still laid down in orders.

 

From 1/3/18 3rd Division Medical were disposed as;

7 & 8 FA Boisleux-au-Mont

142 FA Ficheux S.2.b.7.4 (Brickfields) -3rd Division's MDS. Medical Arrangements 6/3/18 states All wounded via MDS at Brickfields then to 20 CCS or later 43 CCS.

 

Evacuated were taken to 20 CCS, this was located Sheet 51b. M.33.c admissions ceased 12/3/18 and it moved to Bac-du-Sud 24/3/1918 then it moved 28/3/18 to Vignacourt via Gezaincourt. In practise 20 CCS was closed for admissions 12/3/18 – 1/4/18.

 

43 CCS Bac-du-Sud 1/3/18 setting up. Not clear when they opened but they were evacuating wounded 21/3/18. Received 1056 cases 25/3/18. 26/3/18 orders received to pack up and move. 2.30pm 26/3/18 1200 ORs still in 43 CCS about 600 evacuated to 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital. 4.15am 27/3/18 43 CCS arrived at Frevent. Total admissions 21/3/18-26/3/18 = 6134, 130 deaths, mostly brought in dead.

 

21/3/18. 7 FA running ADS in Marliere Cave, 8 FA running ADS Henin. Wounded evacuated to Bac-du-Sud. Both ADSs abandoned 22/3/18. Both FAs convened a Rear ADS at Neuville Vitasses

 

22/3/1918. MDS at Ficheux still in operation. 23/3/1918 The MDS at Ficheux has been given up as such all wounded now going to 43 CCS. Total wounded 6am 21st March - 6 am 23rd 70 Officers 1589 ORs. 10 pm, New MDS set up Blairville. 9am 23/3/18 142 FA moved MDS to Bac-du-Sud. 2^nd Suffolks RAP located N.13.d.10.8

 

27/3/1918. Corps Main Dressing Station to be set up at Bac-du-Sud on site of 43 CCS, this will be run by 3FA (Guards). Tent division from each FA in the line will report to 3FA.

 

29/3/1918. 3 ADSs now at Cemetery NW of Wailly, Blairville, Monchy au Bois. All evacuations to CMDS at Bac-du-Sud. Walking wounded sent to Gouy then to Avesnes-le-Comte from there by light railway to 6 Stationary Hospital Frevent.

 

Canadian 2nd Div. relieved the 3rd Div. 30/3/1918.

TEW

Edited 7 June , 2019 by TEW
Formatting

[Steviebullsatatter]

Once again , your knowledge is incredible..many avenues more to try..

Thank you. 

He was wounded most likely by late March and letter from chaplain was dated 23 April with apologies for the delay in writing which most likely caused by either a large amount of wounded or by being on the move..not sure as dont have much more detail.

Thanks again