Help please I have just started to research the locations of RAMC units in Schleswig Holstein/8 Corps District in the immediate post war period using the WO 176 Series War Diaries as a source Unit titles can be written in full or as abbreviations (most of which I recognise) There are however a couple I am unsure of They are a. FDS RAMC Forward Dressing Station? or Field Dressing Station? b. MSU RAMC Can anyone interpret, briefly describe the role, size of the units please?
Info here http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/41604-what-was-the-role-of-a-field-dressing-station/?hl=%2Bmobile+%2Bsurgical+%2Bunit#entry498353
And from the 21 Army Group section FIELD DRESSING STATION War Establishment II/301/1. August 1944 Heavy Section Major, Officer Commanding 2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant Subaltern, non medical Quartermaster staff Serjeant serjeant clerk serjeant dispenser serjeant hospital cook 2 X serjeant nursing orderly serjeant nursing orderly for duty as storeman for stewards store. cook hospital cook lance corporal nursing orderly 12 X nursing orderly 2 X ambulance nursing orderly nursing orderly as barber 3 X nursing orderly as batman 2 X corporal general duties lance corporal general duties corporal passive air defence and anti gas duties private passive air defence and anti gas duties lance corporal linen storeman corporal pack storeman stewards storeman sanitary dutyman water dutyman attached carpenter and joiner RE 15 X driver IC RASC electrician RASC motorcyclist RASC transport serjeant RASC transport corporal RASC corporal vehicle mechanic RASC 2 X cook ACC Total 78 Vehicles 2 X bicycle 2 X motorcycle 1 X car 2seater 4 X 2 1 X car 4seater 4 X 2 1 X 15cwt water 7 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS 2 X ambulance 4 stretcher. Note: The Medical Officers are listed as Surgeons in the War Establishment Table. When the unit forms part of a Mountain Division the ambulances will be 2 stretcher 4 X 4 light ambulances instead of 4 stretcher 4 X 2 heavy ambulance. Motorcycle 1 transport serjeant Motorcycle 2 motorcyclist Car 2seater 4 X 2 driver IC Car 4seater 4 X 2 driver IC 15cwt water water dutyman, driver IC 3ton 4 X 2 GS 1 driver IC Carries mechanical stores, quartermaster stores and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 2 driver IC Carries mechanical stores, quartermaster stores and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 3 driver IC Carries mechanical stores, quartermaster stores and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 4 driver IC Carries mechanical stores, quartermaster stores and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 5 driver IC Carries baggage and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 6 driver IC Carries cooks and rations 3ton 4 X 2 GS 7 driver IC Carries artificers, personnel and tools. Ambulance 4 stretcher. nursing orderly, driver IC Ambulance 4 stretcher. nursing orderly, driver IC Light Section Major, Captain or Lieutenant serjeant nursing orderly cook corporal nursing orderly 5 X nursing orderly general dutyman 4 X stretcher bearer driver IC cook ACC Total 16 1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS Note that Field dressing Stations were also allocated on the scale of one per corps. FIELD SURGICAL UNIT War Establishment III/168/1. July 1942. Major, Specialist in Surgery Captain or Lieutenant, Graded Anaesthetist Lance corporal nursing orderly 2 X operation room assistant 2 X nursing orderly batman 3 X driver RASC 1 X Car 4 seater for officers kit, batmen and replenishment of surgical supplies. 1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS for theatre, technical equipment and supplies, fitted with half a penthouse. 1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS for beds, mattresses etc. Officers carry a pistol Drivers RASC carry rifle or sub machine gun Medical personnel are unarmed. Mike
Thank you very much for these detailed responses, very helpful. My researches confirm that in 8 Corps in Summer 1945 there was indeed one FDS per Division.plus an additional Corps.asset. I have also found a brief reference on the internet that MSU could stand for Medical Support Unit which had Special Forces implications (in Summer 1945 there were International SF units operating under British Army command still active in Schleswig Holstein)
Interesting. It is generally assumed that all military activity ceased on VE Day. My father was sent to Norway from Belgium with his Air Sea Rescue launch. They were to patrol the fjords and pick up stray Germans. They were ordered to carry pistols or Sten guns at all times when ashore. There was a considerable army presence also. Mike