Arne Vandendriessche Posted 7 September , 2023 Share Posted 7 September , 2023 Hello, when I was looking at a map of Proven in connection with transport and storage I came across the name GRUBHEM. I think the triangle with a line through it means there was an ammunition depot? Can anyone tell me more about what might have been there? Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 8 September , 2023 Share Posted 8 September , 2023 Hi Arne, this map is in TrenchMapper and the legend is shown just north of Proven. It looks more like a Supply railhead symbol to me. Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted 8 September , 2023 Share Posted 8 September , 2023 I agree, a Supply Railhead. The CWGC say “Mendinghem, like Dozinghem and Bandaghem, were the popular names given by the troops to groups of casualty clearing stations posted to this area during the First World War.” I vaguely remember a "Buryinghem" as well but cannot find the source. For those not familiar with British humour, Bandaghem=Bandaging them, Mendinghem=Mending them etc. so Buryinghem would be a cemetery. Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianmorris547 Posted 8 September , 2023 Share Posted 8 September , 2023 (edited) On the only NLS map which shows Proven from 1918 there is a Hospital in E 6. https://maps.nls.uk/view/101464879 Brian Edited 8 September , 2023 by brianmorris547 typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianmorris547 Posted 19 September , 2023 Share Posted 19 September , 2023 Bill is spot on. It was a Railhead. The WD of 14 Corps A&QMG July/August 1917 mentions it in the "Q" Summaries, each time under Railhead. I was reading about 20 Div in 1917. Courtesy TNA WO 95/914/4. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 9 January Share Posted 9 January On 07/09/2023 at 17:18, Arne Vandendriessche said: Hello, when I was looking at a map of Proven in connection with transport and storage I came across the name GRUBHEM. I think the triangle with a line through it means there was an ammunition depot? Can anyone tell me more about what might have been there? Ah, I now see you have visted GRUBHEM before! As recently discussed in your other more recent thread it might refer to the storage of food/rations or to a feeding point. 'Grub' being British slang for food. But it seems you have had an earlier answer here on this subject. I still think food was involved at GRUBHEM. Amazingly GRUBHEM does not have any other reference to date on GWF even though BANDAGEM, MENDINGHEM and DOSINGHEM do make several appearances I'm now wondering about STRAFFEHEM which appears nearby - an Ammunition railhead or dump? M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 10 January Share Posted 10 January The instances of Grubhem and Straffehem are certainly interesting and I'd agree that it seems odd they've not turned up on forum before. A google search brings up results for both from Australian WWI Train diaries and 'The US Army in the world war'. Forum searches bring up the DOSINGHEM, MENDINGHEM and BANDAGHEM instances along with references to Needinghem. The latter actually comes from the Ministry of Pensions letter for the locations of CCSs. The letter is full of errors and it's probably a poor rendition of Mendinghem. The Buryinghem mentioned by Howard seems to have been suggested by the US doctor Harvey Cushing who apparently may have come up with the Mendinghem etc. locations. For @Arne Vandendriessche You said in the other topic; Quote Yes there was a munition depot at straffehem. The soldiers made it end on HEM to let the Germans think it is a village. I don't think this is the reason for the Straffenhem name. I'd say it's more of a humorous play on word sounds. The hem part sounds in English( or American) like 'em which is an abbreviation of them , so it should read Straffing them. Possible that the area was strafed frequently. Incidentally, ham would be the English version of hem. I wonder if there are any more .......hem place names? TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 10 January Author Share Posted 10 January Hello, Thanks for the mentions of Straffeghem and Grubhem. That may indeed be intended as a joke, but in West Flanders "hem" is a suffix of a place (e.g. Alveringhem). And that's what they tell me in Proven. Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianmorris547 Posted 12 January Share Posted 12 January Given that Grubhem was near a hospital I did initially wonder if it was connected with medical care i.e. delousing (but that would probably be Scrubem) Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 12 January Share Posted 12 January I've recently seen raton train movements to Grubhem. I discovered that the original proposed joke name for the Proven CCS group was Endinghem. Too much gallows humour in that so it became Mendinghem. Story as told by Dr. Harvey Cushing. TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 12 January Author Share Posted 12 January Thanks both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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