APPENDIX B.

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Instructions for Equipping Supply Trains

as Improvised Ambulance Trains in First Army.

 

1. At each of the following places equipment for fitting out twenty vans and a cook's van in each of three empty supply trains are being obtained and kept ready : —

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Chocques . . No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station.

 

Lillers . . No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station.

 

Merville . . D.D.M.S., IVth Corps.

 

   2. In addition to the equipments kept ready there, the attached list of articles will be           obtained locally as required ; but the articles for one of the three empty supply               trains should be ready with the equipment.

 

3. When orders are issued for the use of a supply train, the officers in charge of the units referred to above will provide the personnel R.A.M.C and obtain the convalescents from convalescents attached to their units for light duties, or at Chocques through the D.D.M.S., 1st Corps, and at Lillers from Town Major. Should it be impossible to obtain the necessary number of convalescents, they will arrange to send down in each van a patient who is sufficiently well to look after the others in the van, from the casualty clearing station which evacuates sick and wounded by the train.

 

  4. At Merville these arrangements will be made by the D.D.M.S., IVth Corps, who will        obtain the R.A.M.C. personnel from No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station.

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5. The medical officer in charge of the train will be responsible at the end of the journey for collecting the equipment and returning with it and with the personnel to his original starting point. Officers in charge of the arrangements for the supply trains and entraining duties will see that he thoroughly understands these instructions, and will provide him with the necessary orders to take with him, with a view to his returning with personnel and equipment.

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6. Whenever an empty supply train leaves with sick and wounded as above, the O.C No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station, Chocques, O.C No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station, Lillers, or D.D.M.S., IVth Corps (as the case may be), will at once wire the D.A.D.M.S., G.H.Q. Report Centre, repeating to the D.M.S., First Army, giving the number of sick and wounded on the train, the hour of departure and station, destination (if known), and designation of train. No wire will be sent from any other officer with regard to this, as it is essential that only one wire should reach the D.A.D.M.S., Report Centre, when a train leaves with sick and wounded. Otherwise, confusion is apt to arise as to the number of trains so departing.

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H.Q., First Army.                                                               Surgeon-General,

8th May 1915.                                                                     D.M.S.,First Army.

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Copies to :—

​D.Ds.M.S

O.C., Nos. 1, 4 and 6 C. C. S.s.

D.A.D.M.S., G.H.Q.

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Equipment for fitting out Nine Empty Supply Trains for Conveyance of Sick

and Wounded.

(To be kept at Chocques, Lillers and Merville.)

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