Hello and welcome-Keep us posted on the book. If it mentions Dunkirk I'll have a copy Thanks for the welcome - nice place you have here I'll admit I haven't had a deep look around but do you know if anyone on here has any thoughts/knowledge/experience of Self Publishing? Can't see any other way of getting it out there at the moment but the thought fills me with dread (It definitely mentions Dunkirk!)
There's a few members on here that have published and are in the process of having books published etc. I'm not sure if there's a thread already running so perhaps you could start one on 'hints and tips' etc. Ps Its not my site-I just squat here
Ah ok - well nice squat you have here Yep, maybe I should do that - just need to switch off from work mode for a few days and focus!
There is a bit more to 131's story than originally meets the eye. They and the other 44th Div. field ambulances (132 & 133) had arrived in the vicinity of Godewaersvelde just below the Mont des Cats around dawn on the 28th May. Unfortunately they had parked themselves directly in the line of 6th Panzer (I think) and all three units were over run that morning. 131 and 133 were particularly badly hit and although only a few men were killed the majority were captured - about 50 odd from each making their way home via Dunkirk. 132 faired a little better, about 90 got back. 131's war diary for May 1940 was lost/destroyed, 133's appears to have been compiled with the help of an 'unofficial' Sergeants Mess diary. 132's - from about the middle of the month, made it home and is a great help - plus there are ADMS and DDMS diaries with notes attached. I guess it's possible our man managed to find his way to Hazebrouck - though technically speaking going the wrong way, not that he would know! Would explain his date of capture as the 29th? My father was a Sergeant in 133 and got home eventually. All in all a fascinating story, so good that I've written an absolutely brilliant book about it all which is just waiting to be published - the world doesn't know what it's missing! Hi I guess you know the markings on those ambulances? If not, and in case it helps in identifying pictures, there would have been a white oval (or possibly a red one) as the formation sign of 44th Division plus an Arm of Service plate with a black background and a white number on it. 27 for 131 Field Ambulance, 28 for 132 Field Ambulance and 29 for 133 Field Ambulance. Do you have any pictures and do you know exactly what type of ambulances they used? (I don't by the way.) Andrew
Hi I guess you know the markings on those ambulances? If not, and in case it helps in identifying pictures, there would have been a white oval (or possibly a red one) as the formation sign of 44th Division plus an Arm of Service plate with a black background and a white number on it. 27 for 131 Field Ambulance, 28 for 132 Field Ambulance and 29 for 133 Field Ambulance. Do you have any pictures and do you know exactly what type of ambulances they used? (I don't by the way.) Andrew I know next to nothing about the type/numbering/markings where ambulances are concerned Andrew. I'll have to dig through the various photos but to be honest, as is often the case, most of them are of personnel - though there is the odd vehicle in the back ground. I was told that they used a 'KT' something or other! I have a picture somewhere......
All I ever wanted to do was preserve the memories of the men involved Anyway, I'll sort that transcript out and see if i have any photos of 131 - maybe your grandfather will appear in them! Hi Pudders, well if you find anything on Sgt. Alan Percival Jessup of the 131st abulance, that would be amazing! I also know what you mean when you say about wanting to preserve their memories - it is so important and you have my upmost respect for doing so. Publishers say it's too specialized and local because they're thinking about mass marketing and making money, however, there are countless generalized books that cover events from the war. It's the stories that people such as yourself record that are sometimes the most precious. These personal accounts from the people that took part add a depth and perspective that can help future generations understand how being a part of these events would have actually felt. Thanks again and good luck!
Here are the bits I promised to transcribe - this (and the War Diary) is all I have really on 131 I'm afraid. No sign of Alan Jessup yet, but I'll plough through the War Diary next - but as I said earlier it is missing for May 1940..... Do you have any photos of him by the way? Sgt. R. Jeffrey. 131 Field Ambulance. “.....a further move was ordered and about 06.00 hrs on 28 May HQ Company set up a dressing station in a farmhouse near Godewaersvelde. ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies were somewhere in the area. German dive bombers plastered the area but we were fortunate in that no direct hits were scored on the unit. A French woman and child were brought in for treatment on account of wounds. Major Matthews, together with his walking stick and some RASC personnel sallied forth to ‘arrest’ some parachutists reported nearby, but soon returned persuaded by some German tanks and infantry. Lieut. Allen and most of HQ Company took shelter in the dressing station while the remainder of the officers and the Sergeant Major were in another building close by. A continuous barrage of machine gun and tank shell firing kept everyone lying low, all rather surprised that a medical unit should be subjected to such treatment. It was evident that no Red Cross flag was on show and an attempt to find out where it was met with no success. Smoke from the roof of the farm building which by now had caught light was penetrating inside and caused some additional alarm being mistakenly identified as poison gas. During all this confusion Pte Jack Palmer very gallantly exposed himself and tried to draw the attention of the Germans to the fact that they were firing on a medical unit. Eventually the firing stopped and the whole of the personnel were able to emerge and surrender to the enemy and were herded into a field and covered by infantry whilst a cursory search was made for weapons. Unit casualties in this attack were 1 RASC Driver, Private Allen, killed and 1 RASC Driver, Private Walker, wounded.” ‘A’ Company, 131 Field Ambulance “...had pulled off the road, having been in the rear of the convoy and HQ and ‘B’ companies went about a mile ahead. The breakfast meal was taken during which the farmer said that German troops were in a wood a short way off. The farmer was disbelieved as the whole brigade was in the area and it was possible that our own forces were mistaken for Germans, but at about 10.00 hrs ‘A’ company were attacked by rifle fire and within a few minutes the straw barns were on fire and the vehicles were receiving tracer bullets. Lieut. Harries was sent by by the Company Commander to contact HQ and was never seen again. The O.C., Lieut. Findlay and S/Sgt Mayger discussed whether to surrender or not and it was decided to make a run for it.” Not sure of the origin of the ‘A’ Company bit, but both are taken from an unpublished manuscript (The History of the Home Counties Medical Services of the Territorial Army, Volume Two, 1922-1989) lent to me by the author, the late Reg Barrett-Cross. I was in touch with his daughter for a while but then lost contact before I could return the MS to her – so if anyone happens to know her let me know!
I know next to nothing about the type/numbering/markings where ambulances are concerned Andrew. I'll have to dig through the various photos but to be honest, as is often the case, most of them are of personnel - though there is the odd vehicle in the back ground. I was told that they used a 'KT' something or other! I have a picture somewhere...... That would be an Austin K2 Ambulance. I believe it was the most common type of ambulance with the BEF. Andrew
J_L, 131 Fd Amb is now D(220) Med Sqn, 4 Med Regt located in the TA Centre in Ditton, Aylesford. If you need further information, I may be able to help.
