To War
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Field Ambulance He joined the Royal Army Medical Corp (RAMC) and after an intense training period he found himself attached to the 25th Division, part of The New Army (or Kitchener) Divisions, K3. The 25th Division had an Order of Battle of the 74th Brigade, 75th Brigade and the 7th Brigade. The 25th Division also had three Field Ambulances (FA), one for each Brigade, the 75th, 76th and 77th Field Ambulance. Thomas became a member of the 76th Field Ambulance. |
_The role of the Field Ambulance was to relay the injured from the front line
back to safety, providing life saving treatment along the way. This procedure of removing the wounded was known as the Chain of Evacuation. Each
member would have undergone an intense training programme that included squad
and company drill, stretcher and carrying exercises, detailed first aid and
evacuation procedures, sanitation and water purification methods plus field
kitchen and general equipment training.
The Royal Army Medical Corp Training
Pathe News Films Showing RAMC Training
(Clicking on the image links you to Pathe News)
CHELSEA R.A.M.C. IN TRAINING |
THE RAMC OF THE WESTERN COMMAND |
The 1914 reprint of the 1911 edition of the "Royal Army Medical Corp Training" manual
The book covers basic drill and carry techniques
The human body is covered in great detail
Off To The Western Front
The War Diary for the 76th FA states they departed Southampton on the two steamers, Empress Queen and Chybassa at 6:45pm on Sunday 26th September 1915. They arrived at le Havre the following morning and marched and trained via Buchy, Castre and Strazeele until they reached Pont de Nieppe on the afternoon of Friday 1st October. See the Map page for an overview of his locations. |
The Empress Queen
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_First Action
The only way to follow where or what Thomas did during the war is to follow the War Diaries of the 25th Div. and more importantly that of the 76th Field Ambulance. This task is not an easy one. These diaries were written in the trenches, often under battle conditions. Pencils were mostly used and some have failed in time. Each scribe had his own style of handwriting and view as to what was important or not. It is clear it was standard practice to a) comment on the weather and b) use capitals for names. This often results in you knowing that “Capt Bloggs” did something on a “fine but windy day”...
The 25th Division began to see action in 1916. First came the German attack at Vimy Ridge on Sunday 21st May. The 76th FA where stationed just 10 miles to the west at Villers-Châtel. The next action was the beginning of the Battles of the Somme in July. Brigades from the 25th were involved at the Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Pozieres and the Battle of Ancre Heights. On the first day of the Battles of the Somme, 1st July 1916, the 76th Field Ambulance was moved from Harponville to Contay then onto Warloy where they stayed until the 17th. During the following months they moved around the battlefields until late September when they based themselves in Aveluy just north of Albert. Here they supported units trying to capture the area known as the Ancre Heights.
The only way to follow where or what Thomas did during the war is to follow the War Diaries of the 25th Div. and more importantly that of the 76th Field Ambulance. This task is not an easy one. These diaries were written in the trenches, often under battle conditions. Pencils were mostly used and some have failed in time. Each scribe had his own style of handwriting and view as to what was important or not. It is clear it was standard practice to a) comment on the weather and b) use capitals for names. This often results in you knowing that “Capt Bloggs” did something on a “fine but windy day”...
The 25th Division began to see action in 1916. First came the German attack at Vimy Ridge on Sunday 21st May. The 76th FA where stationed just 10 miles to the west at Villers-Châtel. The next action was the beginning of the Battles of the Somme in July. Brigades from the 25th were involved at the Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Pozieres and the Battle of Ancre Heights. On the first day of the Battles of the Somme, 1st July 1916, the 76th Field Ambulance was moved from Harponville to Contay then onto Warloy where they stayed until the 17th. During the following months they moved around the battlefields until late September when they based themselves in Aveluy just north of Albert. Here they supported units trying to capture the area known as the Ancre Heights.
Above: A modern map location important locations. The red X is the location of Stuff Redoubt. The blue box is roughtly the left hand side covered by the trench map below.
_The Battle for Thiepval 26th - 29th Sept. 1916
During this battle Brigades from the 25th Div. were held in reserve and later took over the line held by the 11th Div.
During this battle Brigades from the 25th Div. were held in reserve and later took over the line held by the 11th Div.
_Stuff Redoubt and a Medal Won
By September the village of Thiepval had seen some bitter and bloody fighting. Together with neighbouring Schwaben and Stuff Redoubts it was one of the strong points in the German first line. In late September the Germans became outflanked to the east, Thiepval, on its commanding heights fell to an efficiently executed attack.
Early October only sections of the Redoubts were controlled by the British. Both sides held onto sections of linked trenches. Plans where put into place to take the remaining sections and push toward the important Ancre heights, just north of Thiepval. The 10th Cheshires, 7th Brigade, 25th Division had been placed in line to attack Stuff Redoubt on the early morning (12:50 am) of the 9th October 1916. The attack had already been delayed by some days. Heavy rain in the morning forced another postponement and they were stood down. By the time they had marched back to safe dugouts and settled in for the evening their Brigade Major, Major A. Johnston, was told to have his men ready for a 12:35 pm attack the next day.
By September the village of Thiepval had seen some bitter and bloody fighting. Together with neighbouring Schwaben and Stuff Redoubts it was one of the strong points in the German first line. In late September the Germans became outflanked to the east, Thiepval, on its commanding heights fell to an efficiently executed attack.
Early October only sections of the Redoubts were controlled by the British. Both sides held onto sections of linked trenches. Plans where put into place to take the remaining sections and push toward the important Ancre heights, just north of Thiepval. The 10th Cheshires, 7th Brigade, 25th Division had been placed in line to attack Stuff Redoubt on the early morning (12:50 am) of the 9th October 1916. The attack had already been delayed by some days. Heavy rain in the morning forced another postponement and they were stood down. By the time they had marched back to safe dugouts and settled in for the evening their Brigade Major, Major A. Johnston, was told to have his men ready for a 12:35 pm attack the next day.
Although the attack was postponed, the 76th FA remained in line waiting for the push.
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In the meantime preparations were under way by the 76th FA who were to support the 10th Cheshires. Lt.-Col. A.B. Hinde, RAMC had over seen the manning of the Advanced Dressing Station. His entry in the 76th FA War Diary reports:
"AVELUY 9.10.16
9am: Heavy shelling all around and over Chateau in the night - Only a matter of time before a hit is served. Hurrying up completion of sandbagging in front of main dressing shed but men working very slowly.. Fine but misty. Received orders that attack of yesterday on STUFF Redoubt would take place to-day at 12:36 am Immediately proceeded to front line going to 88 post outside OVILLIERS ordering all stretcher bearers there except 2 corps To proceed ..... arrive at 12 am at our A.D.S. at Danube Trench and report to O.C. these taking all available stretchers and extra blankets and waterproof sheets - . Walked across to A.D.S. At Danube Trench receiving fair dose of shrapnel on the way – Gave full instructions to O.C. there sending up their stretcher squads at once to ....... M.O. i/c Xth Cheshires.
11am: Have five special lorries fitted up for taking 4 wounded lying^ at time on use of tramway line-. Have posted these on line about 100 yards from ADS- Returned by this line – walking - . Posting 1 horse ambulance wagon, 2 Ford Cars and 1 Sunbeam at end of metalled road to take off wounded and sending extra loading party of 4 men with N.C.O to assist there in offloading.
12:30pm Returned to main dressing station having met D.A.D.M.S. on road who went on to OVILLERS. Everything nicely arranged at CHATEAU for speedy evacuation. Separating sitting wounded cases and laying down cases by having separate rooms and different ways of evacuation..." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
(^As shown in Pathe News footage, above left.)
In the meantime preparations were under way by the 76th FA who were to support the 10th Cheshires. Lt.-Col. A.B. Hinde, RAMC had over seen the manning of the Advanced Dressing Station. His entry in the 76th FA War Diary reports:
"AVELUY 9.10.16
9am: Heavy shelling all around and over Chateau in the night - Only a matter of time before a hit is served. Hurrying up completion of sandbagging in front of main dressing shed but men working very slowly.. Fine but misty. Received orders that attack of yesterday on STUFF Redoubt would take place to-day at 12:36 am Immediately proceeded to front line going to 88 post outside OVILLIERS ordering all stretcher bearers there except 2 corps To proceed ..... arrive at 12 am at our A.D.S. at Danube Trench and report to O.C. these taking all available stretchers and extra blankets and waterproof sheets - . Walked across to A.D.S. At Danube Trench receiving fair dose of shrapnel on the way – Gave full instructions to O.C. there sending up their stretcher squads at once to ....... M.O. i/c Xth Cheshires.
11am: Have five special lorries fitted up for taking 4 wounded lying^ at time on use of tramway line-. Have posted these on line about 100 yards from ADS- Returned by this line – walking - . Posting 1 horse ambulance wagon, 2 Ford Cars and 1 Sunbeam at end of metalled road to take off wounded and sending extra loading party of 4 men with N.C.O to assist there in offloading.
12:30pm Returned to main dressing station having met D.A.D.M.S. on road who went on to OVILLERS. Everything nicely arranged at CHATEAU for speedy evacuation. Separating sitting wounded cases and laying down cases by having separate rooms and different ways of evacuation..." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
(^As shown in Pathe News footage, above left.)
_Soldiers of 'A' Company, 11th Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment, occupy a captured German trench at
Ovillers-la-Boisselle, July 1916
Ovillers-la-Boisselle, July 1916
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Major Johnston continues the story in Edwin Astill's book, 'The Great War Diaries of Brigadier General Alexander Johnston 1914 - 1917':
"By 12:20 pm everything was ready and all the men in their places... At 12:35 pm we put in an intense barrage on to the German front line...
... At the same time our fellows climbed out of our trenches and formed up in No Mans Land. For a moment I was a bit anxious as out barrage, instead of being on the German front line, was over it...
The men were splendid, there was no faltering, they were straight over without bunching or losing direction, and went into the German trench before the Bosche could get his machine guns into action..." © Edwin Astill
Major Johnston continues the story in Edwin Astill's book, 'The Great War Diaries of Brigadier General Alexander Johnston 1914 - 1917':
"By 12:20 pm everything was ready and all the men in their places... At 12:35 pm we put in an intense barrage on to the German front line...
... At the same time our fellows climbed out of our trenches and formed up in No Mans Land. For a moment I was a bit anxious as out barrage, instead of being on the German front line, was over it...
The men were splendid, there was no faltering, they were straight over without bunching or losing direction, and went into the German trench before the Bosche could get his machine guns into action..." © Edwin Astill
_The swift attack had taken the Redoubt, which up to then, 'at a trifling
cost' according to Johnston. A second and third wave of troops passed
the first objective and made their way towards the higher ground across
Stump Road.
Back in Aueluy the 76th FA were getting their first wounded and experiencing some flack themselves:
"AVELUY 9.10.16
12:30pm cont... Everything has gone very satisfactory. Wounded being evacuated speedily - . The only drawback has been the constant shelling of place – several shells falling in garden of Chateau ..... within 40 to fifty yards of main dressing station and numerous passing close over, one narrowly missing the char à banc full of sitting wounded. Colonel FOUXS being (Russian Staff) killed by shell wound in back...
... Steady stream of wounded all day. Hear operation successful STUFF Redoubt being completely captured-." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
Back in Aueluy the 76th FA were getting their first wounded and experiencing some flack themselves:
"AVELUY 9.10.16
12:30pm cont... Everything has gone very satisfactory. Wounded being evacuated speedily - . The only drawback has been the constant shelling of place – several shells falling in garden of Chateau ..... within 40 to fifty yards of main dressing station and numerous passing close over, one narrowly missing the char à banc full of sitting wounded. Colonel FOUXS being (Russian Staff) killed by shell wound in back...
... Steady stream of wounded all day. Hear operation successful STUFF Redoubt being completely captured-." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
© 'Feldpost 14' Postcard collector, Belgium.
A postcard of Château d'Aveluy showing the destruction around it.
It was reduced to rubble by the end of the war.
A postcard of Château d'Aveluy showing the destruction around it.
It was reduced to rubble by the end of the war.
Back at Stuff Redoubt and the Stump Road a bomb fight checked the advance for two hours as each side tried to out throw each other with their grenades. The German egg bombs and cylindrical stick bombs could be thrown further and the Cheshires withdrew 50 yards. Johnston began to bemoan the experience of his officers:
"Another difficulty was that I had exactly one officer only above the rank of 2nd Lieut with only a few days experience in the trenches; fortunately he was not wounded till about 7 pm..." © Edwin Astill By 5 pm the Germans had started to carry out fierce counter attacks. "The enemy counter attacked alongside of and up the Stump Road, and we had just a bad moment when 3 officers got knocked out. However the men as a whole were splendid and easily repulsed the attack with rifle and Lewis gun fire..." © Edwin Astill The Germans continued to counter attack until just after 7 pm. Shelling continued but the Redoubt was secured. The Cheshires had lost 7 officers and 150 men. Between 70 and 80 Germans where seen to have been killed. Many more were killed and lost during the bombing or buried in their dugouts. Five German officers and about 120 men were taken prisoner. The following afternoon the 10th Cheshires where relieved by the 8th Loyal North Lancs.
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_"With Our Heroes on the Somme"
_A German Film poster. The film was produced as a response to the British film 'The Battle of the Somme'
(1916).
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Circled is the location of Chateau Aveluy in 1916 and the arrow points to the crucifix
© 'Feldpost 14' Postcard collector, Belgium.
Another postcard of Château d'Aveluy showing temporary graves. Sandbagging can just be made out against the lower wall.
Another postcard of Château d'Aveluy showing temporary graves. Sandbagging can just be made out against the lower wall.
In Aueluy the 76th Field Ambulance continued to be bombarded by the German artillery. Their War Diary continues:
"AVELUY 10.10.16
9am: Very heavy shelling continues all night. Corner ... front of building struck – Also one shell striking foot of wall in front of dressing room used for sitting wounded several patents and MO being inside but mercifully no casualties – Shells in constant stream just missing the building – Rang up A.D.M.S. informing him of same and my fear of heavy casualties to wounded sooner or later, asking him to come over and decide about same. ..... he had already made arrangements for our leaving to go to BOUZINCOURT....
... Beautiful day." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
"AVELUY 10.10.16
9am: Very heavy shelling continues all night. Corner ... front of building struck – Also one shell striking foot of wall in front of dressing room used for sitting wounded several patents and MO being inside but mercifully no casualties – Shells in constant stream just missing the building – Rang up A.D.M.S. informing him of same and my fear of heavy casualties to wounded sooner or later, asking him to come over and decide about same. ..... he had already made arrangements for our leaving to go to BOUZINCOURT....
... Beautiful day." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
Although the 10th Cheshires had been relieved on the afternoon of the 10th the 76th FA continuned to provide support to the continued push and containment of Stuff Redoubt and the adjoining trenches. From the War Diary it appears the officers at the A.D.S. had been in the front line for two days. It appears the other ranks covered a similar period. No mention is given to stretcher bearers being given downtime. Later reports throughout the Diary shows 8 hour shifts with NCO's covering 12 hour tour.
By mid afternoon on the 10th October the Main Dressing Station for the 76th FA had been moved to Bouzincourt:
"BOUZINCOURT 11.10.16 9am
Several wounded passed through last night 54 cases. All ..... Captain TURNER and LIEUT. GOODMAN relieved Captains OLIVER and CLARK at A.D.S... I proceeded up there – pointing out places to make dug out and general improvements going round with D.A.D.M.S. Steady stream of wounded and sick all day long. One ambulance wagon with horses to be retained at AVELUY and sent up there. Working all afternoon arranging matters here..." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
By mid afternoon on the 10th October the Main Dressing Station for the 76th FA had been moved to Bouzincourt:
"BOUZINCOURT 11.10.16 9am
Several wounded passed through last night 54 cases. All ..... Captain TURNER and LIEUT. GOODMAN relieved Captains OLIVER and CLARK at A.D.S... I proceeded up there – pointing out places to make dug out and general improvements going round with D.A.D.M.S. Steady stream of wounded and sick all day long. One ambulance wagon with horses to be retained at AVELUY and sent up there. Working all afternoon arranging matters here..." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
With Captains Oliver and Clark back at the MDS in Bouzincourt they must have been able to discuss the events of the past two days. No doubt they would have been given a debriefing. Lt.-Col. A.B. Hinde continued to seek ways to improve the Chain of Evacuation:
"BOUZINCOURT 12.10.16 9am
....Recommends Capt. OLIVER & Pte WHISTON for work at attack on STOFFEL REDOUBT – immediate reward." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
"BOUZINCOURT 12.10.16 9am
....Recommends Capt. OLIVER & Pte WHISTON for work at attack on STOFFEL REDOUBT – immediate reward." Extract from the 76th FA War Diary
_Extract from the 76th FA War Diary 12th October 1916
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Capt. Oliver was awarded the Military Cross and Thomas Whiston was awarded the Military Medal. Unfortunately the citations for the MM were lost during a WW2 bombing. No other mention is made within the War Diary other than to say the MM was granted. Family folklore say Thomas had saved a wounded officer from No Mans Land. Considering the number of RAMC on duty over the two days I'm surprised more hadn't been singled out. Records show at least 16 MMs being won by members of the 76th FA during the war, six of those being won before the end of 1916. Medal Index Card
Note the +MM, a brief mention of a bravery award
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Above: Capt. Oliver's entry in the London Gazette of 25-11-1916
Below: Thomas is one of a long list in the London Gazette on the 9th December 1916, page 12054. |
Thomas Whiston's genuineTrio of WW1 medals. The location of the MM is not known. This one is a copy.
Looking across Stuff Redoubt towards Thiepval. January 2012
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100 Years On
100 Years On
On the 100th anniversary of the attack on Stuff Redoubt on Sunday 9th October 2016 I returned to pay my respect to my Great Grandfather and to those how died. Arriving shortly before the time of the advance at 12:35 hrs I visited the Grandcourt Road Cemetery which is sited just next to where Stuff Redoubt was. Below are the images I took during my visit.
Those who did not return
Whilst visiting Grandcourt Road Cemetery I meet a family from Liverpool who where visiting the grave of a distant relative, Albert Shaw. Private 13330 A Shaw was a member of the 10th Cheshire Regiment and the son of William and Jane Arm Shaw, of 57, Ivy Cottage, Turncroft Lane, Stockport.
He had not survived the attack and was buried with other members of the Cheshires who fell that day, he was just 23 years old. They showed me a photograph of him and immediately I saw that he had a Red Cross badge on his sleeve. He must have been a regimental stretcher bearer, something the family wasn't aware of. This is his grave with the potted plant and a rose they had left.
Whilst visiting Grandcourt Road Cemetery I meet a family from Liverpool who where visiting the grave of a distant relative, Albert Shaw. Private 13330 A Shaw was a member of the 10th Cheshire Regiment and the son of William and Jane Arm Shaw, of 57, Ivy Cottage, Turncroft Lane, Stockport.
He had not survived the attack and was buried with other members of the Cheshires who fell that day, he was just 23 years old. They showed me a photograph of him and immediately I saw that he had a Red Cross badge on his sleeve. He must have been a regimental stretcher bearer, something the family wasn't aware of. This is his grave with the potted plant and a rose they had left.
© Alan Graham 2021