Private Diary: 125th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., April 1940 incl nominal roll

WO 217/11

Context: Private War Diaries of Various Army Personnel, Second World War, British Expeditionary Force
Scope and content: Private Diary of Lt. Col. R I Poston, 125 Field Amb.
Covering dates: 1940 Apr.

Courtesy of Drew

 

Nominal Roll of 125th Field Ambulance,
All Ranks proceeding from NEWBURY to join the B.E.F.

Lieutenant-Colonel R.I. POSTON - Officer Commanding
Major H. SISSONS
Major P. MAY
Captain A. McARTHUR (Advance Party)
Lieutenant J. ANNAND (Road Party)
Lieutenant H. CHAPMAN
Lieutenant D. CUSITER
Lieutenant J.K. LUCAS
Lieutenant G. PICKERING (Road Party)
Lieutenant Quartermaster G. BEARDWELL
Lieutenant I.S. MacDONALD, A.D. CORPS - Dental Officer
2/Lieutenant J. DIGGLE, R.A.S.C. - Transport Officer (Road Party)
Reverend S. RODGERS - Chaplain to the Forces

R.S.M. T.J. CUNLIFFE
Q.M.S. P.L. RICHARDS
S. Sergeant A. PARTINGTON
S. Sergeant C.A. TIMPERLEY

7343713 Sergeant N. RYDER
7344283 Sergeant A.W. MAIL
7345389 Sergeant S. BENNETT
7347191 Sergeant S BOARDMAN
7345470 Sergeant T. GARRATT
7344896 Sergeant J. GREEN
7344526 Sergeant H. PEET
7519041 Sergeant J.W. RUBERY
7522026 Sergeant A. CAMERON

7345969 Unpaid Acting Sergeant F. BENNETT
7356150 Unpaid Acting Lance-Sergeant E. YOUNG
7347317 Unpaid Acting Lance-Sergeant J.R. DOBSON

7358824 Corporal R. CURRIE
7347324 Corporal H.L. HORSFALL
7346844 Corporal A. QUINN
7344183 Corporal W. ROBERTSON
7344476 Corporal J.H. SUTTON
7347326 Corporal J. SHELMERDINE
7347190 Corporal T. TAYLOR
7347325 Corporal C.C. ROUGH
7349386 Corporal L. GASKELL (Advance Party)

7348360 Unpaid Acting Corporal H. BOARDMAN
7343296 Unpaid Acting Corporal W. MOOR
7358740 Unpaid Acting Corporal J.E. JAYES
7349367 Unpaid Acting Corporal A. WAINWRIGHT
7346159 Unpaid Acting Corporal F.C. WHITNEY

7344500 Lance-Corporal J.E. LONGDEN
4125990 Lance-Corporal A. BOOTH
7344184 Lance-Corporal J. ROBERTSON
3648274 Lance-Corporal J.P. LOMAS
7344501 Lance-Corporal K.E. RAGGETT

7346180 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal A. GARRATT
7346183 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal J.F. SYKES
7346843 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal F. WALKDEN
7346154 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal G. JAMES

7347522 Private R.V AITKENHEAD
7356062 Private W.K. ANDERSON
7356062 Private E.S. BARKER
7356061 Private R.B. BENTLEY
7356060 Private W.R. BLACKWELL
7356059 Private J. BOOTH
7346615 Private T. BOWDEN
7349391 Private E.J. BRAIN
7520886 Private A. BRICKLES
7520868 Private W. BROMLEY
7349389 Private C.E. BROOM
7520868 Private F. BUCK
7356058 Private D. BURKILL
7361837 Private J. BAINBRIDGE
7361665 Private J.A.A. BATH
7361840 Private J.R. BILSBOROUGH
7361183 Private T. BLAKE
7362511 Private J.S. BLEACKLEY
7361783 Private F. BURTON
7361786 Private S. BUTTERS
7370491 Private R.D. BATTY
7365459 Private G.E. BROWN
7356057 Private R.L CARBINE
7346616 Private C. COLLETON
7345231 Private J. CROMPTON
7361672 Private W. CARNEY
7361195 Private R. COOK
7370493 Private H.W.R. COLLINS
7356064 Private K.W. DAGGETT
7356056 Private H. DALTON
7356064 Private W. DAVIDSON
7356056 Private E. DOYLE
7357402 Private J.G. ELLIS
2214505 Private D. EMBURY
7348349 Private W. J. ERRINGTON
7361662 Private J. ELBOURNE
7345102 Private R. FORSHAW
7520579 Private H. FOSTER
7349387 Private L. FURNESS
891434 Private G.E. GATES
7346760 Private R. GIBBONS
7356055 Private W. GRAYSON
7520886 Private H. GREENHALGH
7348353 Private D. GUNBY
7349384 Private J. GUNBY
7348365 Private T. GUNBY
7360322 Private J. GREENHOW
7345051 Private H. GREENWOOD
7347192 Private V. HACKETT
7346570 Private C. HALLIWELL
7347322 Private W. HAMMOND
7347524 Private F. HOBSON
7346985 Private J.R. HOWSON
7362508 Private H. HAMER
7361192 Private D. HOULSTON
7366112 Private G. HICKLIN
7365854 Private J. HARRISON
7365466 Private K. HOPKINS
7365460 Private E.D. HADAWAY
7365461 Private J. HUGGAN
7356053 Private G.M. JAMESON
7356052 Private M.F. JONES
7349380 Private R. JONES
7347520 Private E.H JOHNSTON
7363845 Private L. JOHNSON
7365465 Private T. JOHNSTON
7346214 Private W. KANE
7520741 Private N. KAY
7360292 Private J.H. KELLY
7360319 Private J. KIRK
7363679 Private N.F. KENDALL
7361834 Private A. LEARY
7361826 Private R. LEE
7360295 Private E. LITTLER
7361812 Private H. LOMAS
7346986 Private H.A. McCONVILLE
7347319 Private A.E. McCOY
7348082 Private A. McGARTY
7347318 Private H. MARSDEN
7347194 Private C. MATTHEWS
7349396 Private N. MAYERS
7360309 Private H. MARTIN
7363342 Private J. MILLS
7362001 Private J. MAYOH
7365464 Private P. MARTIN
7346329 Private J. O'DONNELL
7349375 Private H.T. OGDEN
7356049 Private R. OGDEN
7347196 Private G. PALMER
7348081 Private R.W. POSTLE
7356063 Private E.H. PROCTOR
7360312 Private K.H. PHILLIPS
7343305 Private T.H.L. ROBERTS
7344763 Private G. ROCK
902518 Private A. SAUNDERS
7349372 Private C.D. SCAMMELL
7344475 Private J.L. SIMMONDS
7346333 Private A. SKELHORN
7347523 Private A. SMITH
7520869 Private J. SMITHSON
7347321 Private H.P. STEWART
7349370 Private H. STUBBS
7360325 Private L.J. SNOWDEN
7361789 Private P.A. STRETCH
7361205 Private F. SWEENY
7363970 Private H. STEEN
7367451 Private S.G. SURRIDGE
7367931 Private C.A. SEARLE
7367882 Private A.R. SOUTO
7366463 Private R. SPOWART
7346585 Private J.H. TAYLOR
7346628 Private L. THOMAS
7346629 Private H. THOMPSON
7348351 Private T. TYMON
7362253 Private D.S. TYRER
7362504 Private J. THORPE
7347197 Private S. WHITEHEAD
7349368 Private J.A. WHITTAKER
7346586 Private A.E. WATKINS
7520871 Private W. WHITTAKER
7346587 Private L. WILLIAMS
7346588 Private H. WRENCH
7348079 Private J.E. WRIGHT
7360301 Private F. WALDRON
7360315 Private J. WALKER
7361182 Private R. WELDING
7362220 Private D. WHYATT
7361832 Private T.E. WOOD
7363683 Private W.F. WARING
7363558 Private W. WEIGHTMAN
7363389 Private D. WHITEMAN
7365467 Private T.C. WILSON


A.D. CORPS attached
5610416 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal L.S. PARKER


ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS attached, all road party except where marked
T.79146 Sergeant G.E. RATCLIFFE
T.79480 Corporal H. GOODEN
T.69673 Corporal J. DEAN
T.4028400 Corporal J.N. YATES
T.81496 Lance-Corporal G. CROASDALE
T. 81684 Lance-Corporal A. HOLT
T.79937 Lance-Corporal J. FOXCROFT
T.81606 Lance-Corporal F. SMITH
T.69675 Lance-Corporal F. GRIFFITHS
T.80807 Lance-Corporal J.H. HILLARY (By Rail)

DRIVERS
T.79461 J. ARSCOTT
T.72050 J.A. BURWIN
T.77775 E. BRACEGIRDLE
Recruit S.W. CREES (By Rail)
T.79941 A. CHANTLER
T.79942 J.H. DAVIES
T.81685 A.K. DUERDEN
T.80774 A. EDGE
Recruit E. HITCHEN
S.113980 N.H. HOLGATE
Recruit L.M. HOLLISTER
T.79934 W.H. KINSON
T.79929 F. MARSH
T.113999 E.A. McGUIRE (By Rail)
T.81488 G.S. MELLOR
T.69667 S. MITCHELL (By Rail)
T.65063 F.L. NIXON
T.112718 J.D. OVERTON (By Rail)
T.112725 T.M. PATTISON (By Rail)
T.112722 W. PEEL (By Rail)
T.77772 C.H. PERCY
T.112728 T. RIDYARD
T.80801 G. ROSSINGTON
T.81596 K. SHARWIN
Recruit E.S. SMITH
T.75850 J.A. SOUTHWARD
T.3439072 W. PICKERING
T.77776 R. SWIRE
T.80778 R. TILLYER
T.81604 C. TOMLINSON
T.79386 W. VERITY (Advance Party)
T.79386 T.N. VOSPER
T.59777 E. WALKDEN (By Rail)
T.81675 A.J. WEBB (By Rail)
T.80781 J.C. WIGNALL
T.62505 A. WILLIAMS
T.62772 W. YARD
T.82126 E. IDDLES
T. 152773 D.D. EVANS
T.146789 J. FLOYD
T.146608 W.A. GRIBBIN
T.152771 W.H. BLACKBURN
T.146607 J.W.J. TURNER
T.152772 F.S. CRAWLEY
T.81595 C. PRICE
T.110910 K. CLARKE

 

In alphabetical order:
Nominal Roll of 125th Field Ambulance,
All Ranks proceeding from NEWBURY to join the B.E.F.


7347522 Private R.V AITKENHEAD
7356062 Private W.K. ANDERSON
Lieutenant J. ANNAND (Road Party)
T.79461 J. ARSCOTT


7361837 Private J. BAINBRIDGE
7356062 Private E.S. BARKER
7361665 Private J.A.A. BATH
7370491 Private R.D. BATTY
Lieutenant Quartermaster G. BEARDWELL
7345969 Unpaid Acting Sergeant F. BENNETT
7345389 Sergeant S. BENNETT
7356061 Private R.B. BENTLEY
7361840 Private J.R. BILSBOROUGH
T.152771 W.H. BLACKBURN
7356060 Private W.R. BLACKWELL
7361183 Private T. BLAKE
7362511 Private J.S. BLEACKLEY
7348360 Unpaid Acting Corporal H. BOARDMAN
7347191 Sergeant S BOARDMAN
4125990 Lance-Corporal A. BOOTH
7356059 Private J. BOOTH
7346615 Private T. BOWDEN
T.77775 E. BRACEGIRDLE
7349391 Private E.J. BRAIN
7520886 Private A. BRICKLES
7520868 Private W. BROMLEY
7349389 Private C.E. BROOM
7365459 Private G.E. BROWN
7520868 Private F. BUCK
7356058 Private D. BURKILL
7361783 Private F. BURTON
T.72050 J.A. BURWIN
7361786 Private S. BUTTERS


7522026 Sergeant A. CAMERON
7356057 Private R.L CARBINE
7361672 Private W. CARNEY
T.79941 A. CHANTLER
Lieutenant H. CHAPMAN
T.110910 K. CLARKE
7346616 Private C. COLLETON
7370493 Private H.W.R. COLLINS
7361195 Private R. COOK
T.152772 F.S. CRAWLEY
Recruit S.W. CREES (By Rail)
T.81496 Lance-Corporal G. CROASDALE
7345231 Private J. CROMPTON
R.S.M. T.J. CUNLIFFE
7358824 Corporal R. CURRIE
Lieutenant D. CUSITER


7356064 Private K.W. DAGGETT
7356056 Private H. DALTON
7356064 Private W. DAVIDSON
T.79942 J.H. DAVIES
T.69673 Corporal J. DEAN
2/Lieutenant J. DIGGLE, R.A.S.C. - Transport Officer (Road Party)
7347317 Unpaid Acting Lance-Sergeant J.R. DOBSON
7356056 Private E. DOYLE
T.81685 A.K. DUERDEN


T.80774 A. EDGE
7361662 Private J. ELBOURNE
7357402 Private J.G. ELLIS
2214505 Private D. EMBURY
7348349 Private W. J. ERRINGTON
T. 152773 D.D. EVANS


T.146789 J. FLOYD
7345102 Private R. FORSHAW
7520579 Private H. FOSTER
T.79937 Lance-Corporal J. FOXCROFT
7349387 Private L. FURNESS


7346180 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal A. GARRATT
7345470 Sergeant T. GARRATT
7349386 Corporal L. GASKELL (Advance Party)
891434 Private G.E. GATES
7346760 Private R. GIBBONS
T.79480 Corporal H. GOODEN
7356055 Private W. GRAYSON
7344896 Sergeant J. GREEN
7520886 Private H. GREENHALGH
7360322 Private J. GREENHOW
7345051 Private H. GREENWOOD
T.146608 W.A. GRIBBIN
T.69675 Lance-Corporal F. GRIFFITHS
7348353 Private D. GUNBY
7349384 Private J. GUNBY
7348365 Private T. GUNBY


7347192 Private V. HACKETT
7365460 Private E.D. HADAWAY
7346570 Private C. HALLIWELL
7362508 Private H. HAMER
7347322 Private W. HAMMOND
7365854 Private J. HARRISON
7366112 Private G. HICKLIN
T.80807 Lance-Corporal J.H. HILLARY (By Rail)
Recruit E. HITCHEN
7347524 Private F. HOBSON
S.113980 N.H. HOLGATE
Recruit L.M. HOLLISTER
T. 81684 Lance-Corporal A. HOLT
7365466 Private K. HOPKINS
7347324 Corporal H.L. HORSFALL
7361192 Private D. HOULSTON
7346985 Private J.R. HOWSON
7365461 Private J. HUGGAN


T.82126 E. IDDLES


7346154 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal G. JAMES
7356053 Private G.M. JAMESON
7358740 Unpaid Acting Corporal J.E. JAYES
7356052 Private M.F. JONES
7349380 Private R. JONES
7363845 Private L. JOHNSON
7347520 Private E.H JOHNSTON
7365465 Private T. JOHNSTON


7346214 Private W. KANE
7520741 Private N. KAY
7360292 Private J.H. KELLY
7363679 Private N.F. KENDALL
T.79934 W.H. KINSON
7360319 Private J. KIRK


7361834 Private A. LEARY
7361826 Private R. LEE
7360295 Private E. LITTLER
7361812 Private H. LOMAS
3648274 Lance-Corporal J.P. LOMAS
7344500 Lance-Corporal J.E. LONGDEN
Lieutenant J.K. LUCAS


Lieutenant I.S. MacDONALD, A.D. CORPS - Dental Officer
7344283 Sergeant A.W. MAIL
Major P. MAY
Captain A. McARTHUR (Advance Party)
7347318 Private H. MARSDEN
T.79929 F. MARSH
7347194 Private C. MATTHEWS
7349396 Private N. MAYERS
7360309 Private H. MARTIN
7365464 Private P. MARTIN
7346986 Private H.A. McCONVILLE
7347319 Private A.E. McCOY
7348082 Private A. McGARTY
T.113999 E.A. McGUIRE (By Rail)
7362001 Private J. MAYOH
T.81488 G.S. MELLOR
7363342 Private J. MILLS
T.69667 S. MITCHELL (By Rail)
7343296 Unpaid Acting Corporal W. MOOR


T.65063 F.L. NIXON


7346329 Private J. O'DONNELL
7349375 Private H.T. OGDEN
7356049 Private R. OGDEN
T.112718 J.D. OVERTON (By Rail)


7347196 Private G. PALMER
5610416 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal L.S. PARKER
S. Sergeant A. PARTINGTON
T.112725 T.M. PATTISON (By Rail)
T.112722 W. PEEL (By Rail)
7344526 Sergeant H. PEET
T.77772 C.H. PERCY
7360312 Private K.H. PHILLIPS
Lieutenant G. PICKERING (Road Party)
T.3439072 W. PICKERING
7348081 Private R.W. POSTLE
Lieutenant-Colonel R.I. POSTON - Officer Commanding
T.81595 C. PRICE
7356063 Private E.H. PROCTOR


7346844 Corporal A. QUINN


7344501 Lance-Corporal K.E. RAGGETT
T.79146 Sergeant G.E. RATCLIFFE
Q.M.S. P.L. RICHARDS
T.112728 T. RIDYARD
7343305 Private T.H.L. ROBERTS
7344184 Lance-Corporal J. ROBERTSON
7344183 Corporal W. ROBERTSON
7344763 Private G. ROCK
Reverend S. RODGERS - Chaplain to the Forces
T.80801 G. ROSSINGTON
7347325 Corporal C.C. ROUGH
7519041 Sergeant J.W. RUBERY
7343713 Sergeant N. RYDER


902518 Private A. SAUNDERS
7349372 Private C.D. SCAMMELL
7367931 Private C.A. SEARLE
T.81596 K. SHARWIN
7347326 Corporal J. SHELMERDINE
7344475 Private J.L. SIMMONDS
Major H. SISSONS
7346333 Private A. SKELHORN
7347523 Private A. SMITH
Recruit E.S. SMITH
T.81606 Lance-Corporal F. SMITH
7520869 Private J. SMITHSON
7360325 Private L.J. SNOWDEN
T.75850 J.A. SOUTHWARD
7367882 Private A.R. SOUTO
7366463 Private R. SPOWART
7363970 Private H. STEEN
7347321 Private H.P. STEWART
7361789 Private P.A. STRETCH
7349370 Private H. STUBBS
7367451 Private S.G. SURRIDGE
7344476 Corporal J.H. SUTTON
7361205 Private F. SWEENY
T.77776 R. SWIRE
7346183 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal J.F. SYKES


7346585 Private J.H. TAYLOR
7347190 Corporal T. TAYLOR
7346628 Private L. THOMAS
7346629 Private H. THOMPSON
7362504 Private J. THORPE
S. Sergeant C.A. TIMPERLEY
T.80778 R. TILLYER
T.81604 C. TOMLINSON
T.146607 J.W.J. TURNER
7348351 Private T. TYMON
7362253 Private D.S. TYRER


T.79386 W. VERITY (Advance Party)
T.79386 T.N. VOSPER


7349367 Unpaid Acting Corporal A. WAINWRIGHT
7360301 Private F. WALDRON
T.59777 E. WALKDEN (By Rail)
7346843 Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal F. WALKDEN
7360315 Private J. WALKER
7363683 Private W.F. WARING
7346586 Private A.E. WATKINS
T.81675 A.J. WEBB (By Rail)
7363558 Private W. WEIGHTMAN
7361182 Private R. WELDING
7347197 Private S. WHITEHEAD
7363389 Private D. WHITEMAN
7346159 Unpaid Acting Corporal F.C. WHITNEY
7349368 Private J.A. WHITTAKER
7520871 Private W. WHITTAKER
7362220 Private D. WHYATT
T.80781 J.C. WIGNALL
T.62505 A. WILLIAMS
7346587 Private L. WILLIAMS
7365467 Private T.C. WILSON
7361832 Private T.E. WOOD
7346588 Private H. WRENCH
7348079 Private J.E. WRIGHT


T.62772 W. YARD
T.4028400 Corporal J.N. YATES
7356150 Unpaid Acting Lance-Sergeant E. YOUNG

 

Newbury,
BERKS,
7th April 1940 [sic]

Herewith, at the Request of Lieutenant-Colonel R.I. POSTON, a less formal account of the experiences of the 125th Field Ambulance than that demanded by the official War Diary, from the time of passing from ENGLAND to the B.E.F.


8th April
This morning the Road Party left NEWBURY for FRANCE, and here is an account of this journey written by Corporal H. GOODEN, ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS, attached to the Field Ambulance.

"After arriving at the Reception Depot outside SOUTHAMPTON we were guided by one of the Military Police to the Docks. There we emptied our own tanks and tins of whatever petrol they held and stowed them in the huge sheds which were being used as garages. We had not long to wait before buses rolled up to take us to the Camp. I don't think on any part of our trip were we more agreeably surprised than when we entered the Camp. After handing over our ammo the R.S.M. showed us to our room where we dumped our kit and then had a lovely hot wash. After waiting for the baggage party to arrive we entered the dining room and sat down to a marvellous hot "late" dinner. The camp, I might mention, was a very up-to-date school which had been built for occupation last September but was never occupied and consequently there was plenty of hot water and washing accommodation. The "dorm' was a class room, lovely and airy. After our meal we had a rest and we were then asked if we would like a hot shower (I was nearly killed in the rush). Feeling very refreshed most of the lads wandered down to the local village of TOTTON, some to the pictures and some to the local tavern, but night soon feel and the call of bed was very strong to us all.

The following morning we had a ground breakfast and then, as we had to provide a Working Party at the Docks, off we went, again in buses. We were driven to the sheds in which we had left our vehicles on the previous day. Cargo steamers were alongside the Dock waiting for us to start loading, ours being the "KOMISTAN". The lorries had to be manhandled into steel slings and then lifted by a 5-ton crane into the ship's hold. After an hour for dinner we started again and it wasn't very long before we had loaded all our vehicles. As we were the Loading Party for the day we then started on the vehicles of the LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS. At 4.30 we knocked off and were conveyed in buses back to the camp. Tea was waiting for us and as the boys were all feeling rather tired after their day's work the village was again the only call of us all.

Another unit found the Loading Party for the following day so we had a day off, but were confined to billets until after lunch. An adjoining field made an excellent football pitch and we set about a game (twenty men a side) with gusto. We were more than pleased to stop the game for a Pay Parade through the thoughtfulness of Headquarters in sending us some money down to tide us over. After dinner we were free to go to town and with money in our pockets to town we went. Most of the men felt the call of the theatre after such a long break and I can tell you they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. On arriving back at Camp we found we were down to sail on the following day. The excitement was intense, each one making his own guess as to our ultimate destination, considering the startling news we had heard during the day about NORWAY.


*The morning broke and, after doing various small duties and drawing rations, we left the Camp with a feeling of regret. We had been made to feel at home from the moment we arrived until the moment we left. Everything possible had been done for our own comfort and I cannot speak too highly of the staff at the Camp.

* Extract sent to Camp Commandant.


On arrival at the Docks we embarked on an Isle of Man steamer, much to the delight of our six Isle of Man comrades, who soon found friends and even relatives in the crew. Our journey across was uneventful and we slept most of the way, the water being like a millpond. I must say we were a little surprised to land at CHERBOURG where it was not long before we were marched to the Reception Camp in the Customs House; the rows of bunks there were reminiscent of a Chinese opium den. We then went down to the Docks to unload, and unload we did, the job being done in half the time it took to load.

We were allowed out at night until 9.30 (or should I say 2130 now we are on the Continent?) and so everyone went into town to air their French or to make their first attack on our Ally's language. I personally soon found that my three years at French stood me in good stead; I managed to get what I wanted in every case, even to a flint for my petrol lighter.

The following day we had to work on our vehicles turning the lamps round, etc, and generally seeing that they were fit for the road. Then Sunday came, up at 3.30, breakfast at 5 o'clock, zero at 6.30 and off for LAVAL we went. Never in my life have I seen such enthusiasm as was shown by the French people on the road down. In the town of VIRE I was directing the convoy through and the Gendarmes had to hold the crowd back on else I would have been smothered, all of them firing rapid questions at me. Sometimes I grasped some and tried to answer, but mostly "non comprenes". The Military Police did not police the roads and the 125th led the whole convoy. I am happy to know we arrived in time with no losses of any description. 160 miles, starting at 0630 hours, with an hour off for dinner, and arriving at our destination at 1615 hours. We were very pleased to see Captain McARTHUR greeting us in LAVAL to lead us to ANDOUILLE, where we soon settled down to cooking our unexpired rations and to wait for the arrival of the main body."

 

Our time in ENGLAND is drawing in. This afternoon we had an Officers' meeting where arrangement for the depression were completed and the Fatal Hour announced. It was ready very dramatic as Mr. CHURCHILL, First Lord of the Admiralty was speaking in Parliament, and we twice interrupted our meeting to turn on the wireless and listen to his words. Great words, some of them, coming immediately after the German invasion of NORWAY and DENMARK.

So now we are ready to leave NEWBURY. I believe most of us have enjoyed our stay here and if all tales be true the Unit has been popular enough. For instance, for some days now we have head a Holding Party for the 146th Field Ambulance, [STRIKE]61st[/STRIKE] 40 DIVISION, with us to take over the billets etc when we leave. Now they are YORKSHIRE people, and to mark that they wear the White Rose of YORK on their sleeves, in the form of an attractive metal rose about the size of a two shilling piece. Young GEOFFREY, a boy who had played in and about A Company billets during our stay, and who was a keen collector of Army Badges, was offered one of the White Roses by the Staff Sergeant with the Holding Party, and on learning that it was not a Lancashire badge, declined to accept it. A touching little tribute to the EAST LANCS DIVISION.

 

Everything is packed and ready for leaving now. The Officers' Mess has been closed down completely now we are living in the QUEENS HOTEL. All our baggage is loaded, except the personal kit, and totals 1 cwt over the ton. Some of the unit are off to bed early as Reveille is at 0400 hours; the rest don't intend going to bed at all.

 

Nominal Roll of 125th Field Ambulance, All Ranks proceeding from NEWBURY to join the B.E.F. [See post no. 3]

Reveille on the 14th was at 0400 hours and after breakfast in the improvised Dining room behind the Conservative Club the unit marched to the Racecourse Station where the baggage party was completing the loading. The train was shared with the 125th Anti-Tank Company, and drew out of the station at 0710 hours. It was a lovely Spring morning and excited as we were, we were probably all sorry to see the primroses on the embankments and remember that we were leaving ENGLAND. The run down to SOUTHAMPTON did not take long and we detrained in the long dock sheds. As soon as the baggage was on board our ship, the "VIKING", of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, the unit embarked and with mixed feelings we exchanged our web equipment for life jackets.

We shared the ship with the 98th Squadron, AUXILIARY AIR FORCE, they being aft and the Field Ambulance forward, which inspired Brigadier SUTTON (who had come across the quay to wish us "bon voyage") to make the remark "Field Ambulance to the fore as usual." It was a strange coincidence that the Unit should be embarked on the "VIKING" as she had taken them to camp at RAMSEY, Isle of Man, in 1932. The Docks were busy, and everyone was on deck when, in the afternoon, we slipped our moorings and steamed out into the Channel and so to PORTSMOUTH. On each side of us we could see factories so camouflaged as to be hardly noticeable, ships painted grey like ourselves, an occasional Hospital Ship in white with a green flare round the hull and red crosses on sides and funnel, different types of flying boats, both English and French, and above in the sky an occasional barrage balloon moored to a barge.

Soon after midnight the convoy was formed and we were obviously waiting to move off. All was dark on deck, a slight sea running, and the wind was freshening from the SouthWest. There would be at least a score of us pacing the dark decks and once a gruff voice from the bridge called down "No whistling there." Now and again the wind would whip the top off a wave and a spatter of spray would sling over the windward side of the deck. The whole world was black except where, here and there, a marking buoy winked at intervals. Suddenly, at 0100 hours the masthead lights of the rest of the convoy appeared, then augmented by a signal on the foremost of the two red upon two white lamps, and a little later ours were switched on as well. One by one the ships picked up their anchors and swung off while we waited, anchor chain taut, smoke billowing over the grey funnels and across the deck throwing great rolling shadows in the coloured lights, until at last out went our lights and we also took out our position in the line.

What a dreary sight it was at dawn, grey heaving seas all round, five grey neglected-looking vessels of assorted sizes and appearance, labouring along through rain, and our attendant Destroyer D69 lurching and heaving up and down. And so to CHERBOURG where were all arrived safely, "BEN MY CHREE" "TYNWILD" "DUKE OF ARGYLE" and "ARCHANGEL" being the others with us.

 

Southampton, "VIKING", Isle of Man Steam Packet Company

 

It was raining heavily in CHERBOURG when we arrived, and while the Baggage Party transferred the baggage from the ship to our train in the GARE MARITIME, the rest of the Unit marched to a Transit Camp nearby. There everyone had a rest and a meal by which time the sun had come out. Then came the experience of changing our money into Francs, the rate being 11/4d per 100 F. And just as interesting, the sending ohm of our Field Service Postcards, soulless things but welcome news at home. And all the strange sights of a foreign country; French pools, cars driving on the right hand side of the road, the little handcarts with the dogs underneath, the unusual shops, and finally, as we passed the docks on our way to the train, the sight of our own Divisional Transport being offloaded from the "BEN LAWYERS".

The train moved off at 2006 hours and as night fell we all got settled down. The old cattletrucks or horsetrucks of last war fame were there again, marked with the classic Hommes 40, Chevaux 8. At 0007 hours the train halted for 50 minutes at CAEN where we all had biscuits and cheese and hot tea, then off again.

 

Morning found us puffing through a pleasantly wooded land sprinkled with cowslips, violets, primroses, and even daffodils here and there, with an occasional little village near the railway, all looking very far from War. At MONSURES our BRIGADE, who had been sharing the train with us, detrained, and there on the platform we were pleased to see once more Captain McARTHUR awaiting us. Just a little further and at 0852 hours we reached LAVAL where we left the train. As we stood in the station awaiting our transport we watched a big French circus being detrained, and then everyone piled into the trucks and off to ANDOUILLE where our new home was to be.

ANDOUILLE was a lovely introduction to FRANCE. The Officers' Mess was in the CHATEAU du LATTAY, the one time residence of Madame la Comtesse de la Roch Courbon, a farily modern chateau in spacious grounds with a group of Magnolia trees in full blossom in the lawn and a large variety of flowering shrubs and trees around. Spring thrust itself upon you everywhere you went. The men were billeted in farmhouses round, cuckoo's calls resounded through the woods, and the weather was delightful. The people in the village were cheerfully friendly and lightly exhilarating drinks were plentiful.

In the Chateau itself there was a very continental salon with a gold centrepiece in the ceiling, walls papered with vertical swathes of pink and beige, window heavily curtained with pink brocade, pink rugs on the stained floor, woodwork of doors and windows of white and gold, chairs covered with pink striped satin and mirrors everywhere. There were four double windows and two double doors, inlaid card tables and a piano, a huge glass chandelier hanging in the centre of the room and two smaller ones on the mantlepiece, designed for scores of candles and all carefully shrouded in muslin.

The dining room was entirely different: dark wood stain on the four sets of double doors, french windows opening on the lawn, a dark grey marble fireplace, walls covered with tapestried panels and round the long table fourteen tapestried chairs to match.

The Commanding Officers' bedroom with its old style canopied bed was worth seeing, also the backroom with a boiler under which a wood fire had to be lighted to give hot water.

In the Chateau we had our introduction to censoring letters, something of a sad business to us all.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=69884&stc=1&d=1323510605

 

Sketch of Chateau du Lattay, Andouille , then


Photo, now

 

To LAVAL to the Circus and a very good one too. Outstanding items were the performing seals, the shadows in the marquee roof of the three trapeze artistes and an elephant stand on one leg.

 

Circus leaflet - "AMAR, Le plus important de tous les Cirques de France"

 

Circus leaflet - "AMAR, Le plus important de tous les Cirques de France"

 

The old peacetime £sd Mess was wound up today and a new Franc Mess started. The Mess at the Chateau was closed to allow for careful packing of all our Mess equipment and for the remainder of our stay in ANDOUILLE we mess at the Hotel du Pigeon Blanc.

 

Sunday morning and a special children's Sunday in MAYENNE. We saw the children today in their Sunday best walking in procession to the Church; little boys in sailor suits, little girls all in white. How beautiful the Church is inside for so tiny a village; richly coloured life size figures round the walls, lovely stained glass windows and a cool, religious atmosphere about everything that must be very impressive to the simple country folks who attend here.

Our service in the morning was held on the lawn of the Chateau, near the Magnolia trees, with the warm, drowsy hum of the bees around and away in the distance the cuckoos calling.

 

"In the heat of this particular Sunday morning, at 10.30 a.m., the Unit assembled in the grounds of an old Chateau at ANDROUILLE. The hum of the bees and wasps, busy at their respective jobs, was clearly heard whilst we stoke in silence prior to the Service.

The quiet, subdued voice of our PADRE asked us to begin the Service, and to the accompaniment of two cornets, played by Staff Sergeant TIMPERLEY and Private SCAMMEL, the Unit began singing.

It was then that I realised that the Unit had not entirely forgotten the awe that we gave to the Service in the Churches which we were accustomed to visit in civil life. There is always something fine and great in listening to the voices of men singing some of our great hymns in the open air, and it was so in this particular case. The men seemed to blend their voices and render to their utmost the hymns the PADRE had chosen.

Often prior to a Service there is a feeling of futility in having a Service, but afterwards there is a send of satisfaction in having joined in the singing at least.

The sermon, which was of a simple straight forward type which the men like best, had as a text one familiar to most of us "Our God is able to deliver us and he will deliver us, But if not, we will not serve thy gods." The PADRE spread this text and talked to us, more of God's purpose in our individual lives, and of the unseen Comrade who accompanies us throughout our life.

The quiet prayer submitted by our PADRE seemed to blend with our surroundings and the unit were pleased to have our Commanding Officer read the well known 23rd Psalm beginning "The Lord is my Shepherd." The C.O. also I think was impressed by the whole proceedings for he seemed to lend his voice to the general peacefulness.

To finish the Service the Unit say the National Anthem, and marched away feeling warm outwardly and satisfied inwardly."

 

In the evening we had an Officers' meeting to arrange details of the move, and were interrupted by a request from the local Gendarmes for the use of one of vehicles to convey a French deserter who had just been recaptured. While this meeting was proceeding a football team captained by Quartermaster Sergeant P.L. RICHARDS was playing against the village team, and here is an account of the match by our Captain.

 

"A match was arranged and permission granted by the S.C.F. 42nd DIVISION for the game to be played on Sunday 21st April between ANDOUILLE SPORTS CLUB and the Unit Team of the 125th FIELD AMBULANCE.

Conditions were ideal for the match, as although the day had been rather warm, a cool breeze was blowing in the evening and this was an advantage to the players on both sides.

Before the game commenced a wonderful reception was given to the Unit by the opposing team and the spectators who numbered about one hundred. As both teams lined up for the kick-off an incident which will live long in the memory of the 125th was performed, each member of the opposing side giving a cordial handshake to his counterpart on our side; this was followed by a very courteous gesture on the French team, whose captain (Paul FANNAY) present our Captain with a wonderful bouquet of flowers. This, I must admit, touched the members of the 125th team with the utmost gratitude towards our friends.

The game commenced at fast pace and within 15 minutes from the kick-off the French team was a goal to the good, scored by Rene BAUNEY. This was indeed a setback to our lads who however responded with a burst of the 125 spirit and before half time was reached, were leading by 2 goals to 1.

The second half opened even faster than the first, our opponents equalising after about 2 minutes' play. The game now commenced to be very exciting, both sides playing wonderful football, each in turn giving and taking. It was not until about 10 minutes from time that we were able to press ohm our advantage by a penalty goal scored by Private A. SMITH. This was followed 3 minutes later by another gaoled for the 125th by Private E. BROWN. These two quick goals certain upset our opponents but one must admire the spirit in which they kept to their task.

A the conclusion of a very find show of sportsmanship, again each member of the French team shook hands with the 125th team. Afterwards both teams gave a toast to the Allies - "Vive la France!" "Vive 'l'Angleterre!"

The teams were:-

ANDOUILLE A.F.C.
P. FANNAY (Captain)
R. BANNEY, H. GOUINE, M. RISEMONT, E. FANNAY, P. REMINE, A. DUMAN, H. GAIRNE, P. AUTISE, H. FREU, A. TROUSE.

125th FIELD AMBULANCE
Q.M.S. P.L. RICHARDS (Captain)
Sergeant H. PEET, Sergeant J. GREEN, Lance-Corporal E. LONGDEN, Private F. BUCK, Private A. SMITH, Private E. BROWN, Private E. BRICKLES, Private R. JONES, Private R. MARTIN, Private R. OGDEN."




[If this is the correct site, the football club seems to still be going strong
http://as.andouille.free.fr/equipea3/index.html]