76th Field Ambulance
RAMC
History
The 76th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corp was part of the battle order of the 25th Division which was established in September 1914 as part of Army Order 388 authorising Kitchener's Third New Army, K3. The 25th Division were inspected by Lord Kitchener on Thursday 12th August 1915.
The RAMC expanded greatly during the Great War. Beginning the campaign with only 9,000 other ranks it expanded to 13,000 RAMC officers and 154,000 other ranks by 1918.
The War Diaries of the 76th Field Ambulance start on Sunday 26th September 1915 as they embarked onto the steamers Empress Queen and Chybassa at Southampton. The Commanding officer (CO) at this time was Lt.-Col. A. B. Hinde, R.A.M.C. He was succeeded by Lt.-Col. W. Tyrrell, D.S.O., M.C., R.A.M.C. on the 15th March 1917. On the 15th September 1918 Lt.-Col. D. Large, DSO., M.C. is listed as the CO.
Each FA were made up of three Sections. 'A' Section being the HQ and 'B' and 'C' Sections forming the 'bearers' and tented sections. Each FA should have a strength of 10 officers and 224 other ranks. This in turn only allowed about 36 stretcher bearers in each of 'B' and 'C' Sections. By mid 1916 the 76th FA showed a strength of 8 officers and 121 other ranks and by June 1917 9 officers and 180 other ranks.
The 76th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corp was part of the battle order of the 25th Division which was established in September 1914 as part of Army Order 388 authorising Kitchener's Third New Army, K3. The 25th Division were inspected by Lord Kitchener on Thursday 12th August 1915.
The RAMC expanded greatly during the Great War. Beginning the campaign with only 9,000 other ranks it expanded to 13,000 RAMC officers and 154,000 other ranks by 1918.
The War Diaries of the 76th Field Ambulance start on Sunday 26th September 1915 as they embarked onto the steamers Empress Queen and Chybassa at Southampton. The Commanding officer (CO) at this time was Lt.-Col. A. B. Hinde, R.A.M.C. He was succeeded by Lt.-Col. W. Tyrrell, D.S.O., M.C., R.A.M.C. on the 15th March 1917. On the 15th September 1918 Lt.-Col. D. Large, DSO., M.C. is listed as the CO.
Each FA were made up of three Sections. 'A' Section being the HQ and 'B' and 'C' Sections forming the 'bearers' and tented sections. Each FA should have a strength of 10 officers and 224 other ranks. This in turn only allowed about 36 stretcher bearers in each of 'B' and 'C' Sections. By mid 1916 the 76th FA showed a strength of 8 officers and 121 other ranks and by June 1917 9 officers and 180 other ranks.
_Awards and Honours
The following officers and other ranks of the 76th FA where awarded for their bravery and commitment to duty. Citations for many of these awards have been lost. Other acts of bravery may never have been witnessed or lost in the fog of war. Anyone who risks their own life to save another, especially without means to defend themselves, should be honoured. Through fate or sheer good fortune the following gained recognition of their deeds.
This list is taken from 'The 25th Division in France and Flanders' by Lieut.-Col. M. Kincaid-Smith. The list may not be complete as only recipients listed as 76th FA and not just RAMC are listed. If you know of any errors to the list please contact me.
The following officers and other ranks of the 76th FA where awarded for their bravery and commitment to duty. Citations for many of these awards have been lost. Other acts of bravery may never have been witnessed or lost in the fog of war. Anyone who risks their own life to save another, especially without means to defend themselves, should be honoured. Through fate or sheer good fortune the following gained recognition of their deeds.
This list is taken from 'The 25th Division in France and Flanders' by Lieut.-Col. M. Kincaid-Smith. The list may not be complete as only recipients listed as 76th FA and not just RAMC are listed. If you know of any errors to the list please contact me.
_"Pip, Squeak and Wilfred"
The trio of medals awarded to all who served in the theatre of war. Nicknamed after a Daily Mirror cartoon of the time.
Bravery Awards and other Honours
To the end of 1916
Military Cross. Capt. A.G. Clark Capt. H.G. Oliver (Stuff Redoubt) Capt. H.S. Turner Military Medal. 41949 Sergt. A. Howson 42244 pte. G. Leyland 41759 Pte. J. Leigh 82338 Pte. H. Tomlinson 50781 Pte. J. Taylor 39227 Pte. Thomas Whiston (Stuff Redoubt) Messines Ridge, 1917 Military Cross. Sergt.-Major L.J. Richardson Distinguished Conduct Medal. 40658 Sergt. Henry Goodwin Bar to Military Medal. 41949 Sergt. A. Howson Ypres, 1917 Distinguished Service Order. Capt. T/Lt.-Col. W. Tyrrell Military Cross. Lieut. R.S. Kennedy Bar to Distinguished Conduct Medal. 40658 Sergt. Henry Goodwin New Year, 1918 Distinguished Service Order. Capt. T/Lt.-Col. W. Tyrrell Mentioned in Despatches. Capt. T/Lt.-Col. W. Tyrrell Belgian Croix De Guerre. T/Lt.-Col. W. Tyrrell Battle of Bapaume, 21st-29th March 1918 Bar to Distinguished Service Order. Capt. T/Lt.-Col. W. Tyrrell DSO Bar to Military Cross. T/Capt. R.S. Kennedy, MC Distinguished Conduct Medal. 42939 Pte. (A/Sergt.) Sydney Graydon Military Medal. 4166 Pte. (A/L.-Corpl.) W. Allen 92876 Corpl. (A/Sergt.) G. Trolley 9th April to 5th May 1918 Military Cross. Capt. C.C. Chance Military Medal. 78400 Pte. W.C. Bissmire 42310 Pte. H. Chilton 42231 Pte. J. Jones 24186 Pte. J.W. Pears 50817 Pte. J.R. Whittle Birthday Honours, June 1918 Meritorious Service Medal. 50971 S./Sergt. J. Dale September to November 1918 Military Medal. 54816 Pte. J.P. Forde 3529 Pte. J. Jamieson |
Lest We Forget
Members of the 76th Field Ambulance I have found who gave their lives for others.
In date order.
KIA ~ Killed in Action
DOW ~ Died of Wounds
Dd. ~ Died
All details are collated from the CWGC, National Archives and War Diaries. If there are any errors please contact me.
DOW ~ Died of Wounds
Dd. ~ Died
All details are collated from the CWGC, National Archives and War Diaries. If there are any errors please contact me.
_The Gas Mask.
Stretcher-bearer, RAMC, near Arras
by Sir William Orpen (RA) 1917
Stretcher-bearer, RAMC, near Arras
by Sir William Orpen (RA) 1917
© Alan Graham 2021