Diary of Gerald Eugene MacDonald Stuart - Part 1

6/31
From
Aust War Records Section
classified files.
Anonymous personal diary
compiled by a member
of a Field Ambulance unit

Somme Winter, 1916-17.
(Oct.-Feb.)
Ancre Heights, B. of the (10 Oct.-11 Nov.)
Schwaben and Stuff Redoubts, and
Regina Trench, C. of
Ancre, B. of the (13-18 Nov.)
Beaumont Hamel, C. of
Miraumont, A. of
Point of view, e.g., arm of service, regimental, higher command,
enemy, neutral, political, official.
Hindenburg Line, German Retreat to.
(Feb.-5 April, 1917)
Thilloys, C. of the (25 Feb.-2 Mar.).
Irles, C. of (10 Mar.)
Bapaume, C. of (17 Mar.)
Peronne, O. of (18 Mar.)
Scope, e.g., general, tactical, strategical, technical.
Arras Offensive.
(9 April-26 Aug., 1917)
Arras 1917, B. of (9 April-4 May)

AUSTRALIAN RECORDS SECTION
E253/6/.

CLASSIFICATION SUB-[[?]]

ARMY BOOK 153.
FIELD MESSAGE BOOK 

See original document

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM F.S. REGS.,
PART 1. AFFECTING PREPARATION OF MESSAGES 

See original document

System
Appendix & Evacuation of Casualties
& Sick.
Since the Brigade took
over this section of the
line, there have been barely
½ dozen casualties, a most
fortunate circumstance, for
evacuation from any of the
front line units would
seem in case of a very small
Turkish advance prove
exceedingly troublesome.
The position of the Amb is
at present in a nullah
roughly situated in H.17 & I [[?]]
Jericho. This ambulance did
not take over the same
[[?]] going just south of Madebah as that occupied
by the Amb which it relieved
namely the 1st A.L.H. F. Amb
owing to the extremely dusty 
 

& exposed camp site of the
latter. The 1st F.Amb were
so heavily shelled on the
afternoon of the night on which
they moved out that the
position was considered
most unsuitable for an Amb.
This present location has certain
advantages & disadvantages
of the former there is comparative
freedom from dust; cleanliness
& good protection of the latter.
The main one is the great
distance from certain front
lines, posts, but this is counterbalanced
by the fact that if an attack
did occur, wounded once
they had been "got back" to
the ambulance would be in
a position where they could
be efficiently treated & under
good protection
It would be a great
difficulty where an extreme
 

attack was proceeding  to
evacuate casualties to the Unit
from the positions held by 8^th
It would be practically impossible
to evacuate cases from Mussallabeh
to the Bluff where 8^th Hdqtrs
is situated & even from
Madebah to the Bluff would
be by no means easy owing to
the impaired nature of the
ground to be traversed.
Again evacuation from the
Bluff across the Auja
would be practically impossible
as the road is in full view from
the east & from all accounts
was kept in the heavy barrage
fire in the last attack as
were all other roads & tracks
in the area.
In view of an attack occurring
arrangements have been made
for the formation of time
 

advanced aid posts in the
8^th lines, one at Mussallabeh
& the other at the Bluff.
X back in charge of the influenza patients
As regards the matter of collecting
sick, this is performed nearly
entirely by casolet camels not at
^night time except in severe cases
such as when an Amb. wagon
is sent forward as often
as possible, the patient being
carried by stretcher the rest
of the way. Occasionally a
relay of camel & wagon is made
use of.
A certain amount of difficulty
was experienced on first
arrival in the area, owing to
bearer cacolets not knowing
the positions of the various
batteries, lines positions &
posts, but this is remedied now
& most men of the unit have
a fair knowledge of the positions
There is practically only one
 

objection to collecting at night
& that is it interferes with
the men's rest, as sleep during
the day is nearly impossible &
owing to the heat & if possible allows
little refreshment.
Day collection of sick is done
for all units south of the Aujah
& usually from the 10^th Inf.Reg.
From the Amb. to the D.R.S.
evacuation is done mostly by
amb wagon to Tel es Sultan
where patients collected
by Amb motor & taken to D.R.S.
Previous notifications have been
seen through the Divs' Office
as to the number of patients
to be evacuated.
In addition to the horsed
vehicles there is one motor amb
used which evacuates direct
in to D.R.S.