Evacuation by Ambulance Train in October-November 1914 - The Long, Long Trail (original) (raw)
This article is based on information provided by the war diary of each Ambulance Train. I have selected the period 19 October to 25 November 1914 deliberately to slightly more than cover the officially defined duration of the First Battles of Ypres, but the information covers all movements (so, for example, picks up evacuation from III Corps further south).
By Collection Point
Armentieres
20 October: 1 Ambulance Train
Bailleul
20 October: 3 Ambulance Train
29 October: 5 Ambulance Train from Nieppe
27 October: 4 Ambulance Train
30 October: 6 Ambulance Train
1 November: 2 Ambulance Train
3 November: 5 Ambulance Train
4 November: 1 and 5 Ambulance Trains
5 November: 3 Ambulance Train
9 November: 4 Ambulance Train then Saint-Omer
11 November: 2 Ambulance Train
15 November: 1 Ambulance Train
17 November: 6 Ambulance Train
18 November: 3 Ambulance Train
19 November: 4 and 6 Ambulance Trains
21 November: 6 Ambulance Train
22 November: 3 Ambulance Train then Hazebrouck
25 November: 4 Ambulance Train
Bethune
19 October: 2 Ambulance Train
20 October: 4 Ambulance Train
21 October: 6 Ambulance Train
23 October: 4 Ambulance Train then Hazebrouck
26 October: 6 Ambulance Train
27 October: 3 Ambulance Train
28 October: 2 Ambulance Train
29 October: 3 Ambulance Train
2 November: 3 Ambulance Train
3 November: 2 Ambulance Train
Chocques
4 November: 4 Ambulance Train
11 November: 4 Ambulance Train
16 November: 1 Ambulance Train
22 November: 4 Ambulance Train then to Lillers and Hazebrouck
23 November: 6 Ambulance Train then to Lillers
25 November: 5 Ambulance Train then to Lillers
Hazebrouck
19 October: 6 Ambulance Train
23 October: 4 Ambulance Train from Bethune
5 November: 6 Ambulance Train
13 November: 2 and 3 Ambulance Trains
14 November: 6 Ambulance Train
16 November: 2 Ambulance Train
22 November: 3 Ambulance Train from Bailleul; 4 Ambulance Train from Lillers; 5 Ambulance Train from Saint-Omer
Laventie
20 October: 1 Ambulance Train
Le Havre (all incoming from Rouen)
10 November: 3 Ambulance Train
17 November: 5 Ambulance Train
19 November: 2 Ambulance Train
23 November: 1 and 2 Ambulance Trains
Lillers
22 November: 4 Ambulance Train from Chocques then to Hazebrouck
23 November: 6 Ambulance Train from Chocques
25 November: 5 Ambulance Train from Choques
Merville
9 November: 6 Ambulance Train
11 November: 6 Ambulance Train
13 November: 3 Ambulance Train then Hazebrouck
18 November: 4 Ambulance Train
24 November: 3 Ambulance Train
Nieppe
23 October: 6 Ambulance Train
25 October: 3 Ambulance Train
29 October: 5 Ambulance Train then Bailleul
Poperinge
24 October: 2 Ambulance Train
25 October: 1 Ambulance Train from Ypres; 4 Ambulance Train
26 October: 2 Ambulance Train
28 October: 6 Ambulance Train
29 October: 1 Ambulance Train then Ypres
1 November: 4 Ambulance Train
2 November: 1 Ambulance Train
3 November: 4 and 6 Ambulance Trains
5 November: 2 Ambulance Train
6 November: 1 Ambulance Train
7 November: 4 and 5 Ambulance Trains
8 November: 1 Ambulance Train, 2 Ambulance Train
9 November: 5 Ambulance Train
10 November: 1 Ambulance Train
15 November: 4 and 5 Ambulance Trains
16 November: 3 Ambulance Train
18 November: 1 Ambulance Train
20 November: 3 Ambulance Train
Saint-Omer
26 October: 1 Ambulance Train
4 November: 3 Ambulance Train
9 November: 4 Ambulance Train from Bailleul
22 November: 5 Ambulance Train to Hazebrouck
Steenwerck
21 October: 5 Ambulance Train
22 October: 2 Ambulance Train
23 October: 3 Ambulance Train
Ypres
23 October: 1 and 5 Ambulance Trains
25 October: 1 Ambulance Train then Poperinge
26 October: 5 Ambulance Train
28 October: 1 Ambulance Train
29 October: 1 Ambulance Train from Poperinge; 4 Ambulance Train
30 October: 2 Ambulance Train
31 October: 1 and 3 Ambulance Trains (latter said ‘indescribable scene of confusion’)
1 November: 6 Ambulance Train
Imperial War Museum photograph Q61635 “Troops clearing a shell hole near the railway station at Ypres, April 1915”. Ambulance Trains used this station during the First Battles of Ypres but it came under fire and Poperinge, a few miles to the rear, became a safer and more important point of departure for the base hospitals.
By Ambulance Train
1st Ambulance Train
19 October: left Boulogne to go to Armentieres via Bailleul, but line ahead was broken so had to then go to Armentieres via Hazebrouck
20 October: collected at Armentieres then Laventie
23 October: collected at Ypres
25 October: collected at Ypres then Poperinge
26 October: collected at Saint-Omer
28 October: collected at Ypres
29 October: collected at Poperinge then Ypres
31 October: collected at Ypres
2 November: collected at Poperinge
4 November: collected at Bailleul
6 November: collected at Poperinge
8 November: collected at Poperinge
10 November: collected at Poperinge
15 November: collected at Bailleul
16 November: collected at Chocques (Indian casualties)
18 November: collected at Poperinge (offloaded next day at Rouen)
23 November: collected at Rouen (offloaded at Le Havre)
2nd Ambulance Train (all journeys offloaded at Boulogne (except shown))
19 October: collected at Bethune
22 October: collected at Steenwerck
24 October: collected at Poperinge
26 October: collected at Poperinge
28 October: collected at Bethune
30 October: collected at Ypres
1 November: collected at Bailleul
3 November: collected at Bethune
5 November: collected at Poperinge
8 November: collected at Poperinge
11 November: collected at Bailleul
13 November: collected at Hazebrouck
16 November: collected at Hazebrouck (offloaded next day at Rouen)
19 November: collected at Rouen, offloaded at Le Havre (2 General Hospital and Hospital Ship “Asturias”)
23 November: collected at Rouen, offloaded at Le Havre (2 General Hospital and Hospital Ship “Asturias”)
3rd Ambulance Train (all journeys offloaded at Boulogne (except shown))
20 October: collected at Bailleul
23 October: collected at Steenwerck
25 October: collected at Nieppe
27 October: collected at Bethune
29 October: collected at Bethune
31 October: collected at Ypres
2 November: collected at Bethune
4 November: collected at Saint-Omer (offloaded at Etaples)
5 November: collected at Bailleul (process continued until next day; offloaded at Rouen on 7 November)
9 November: collected at Rouen, offloaded at Le Havre next day (to Hospital Ship “Asturias”)
13 November: collected at Merville then Hazebrouck
16 November: collected at Poperinge (offloaded at Etaples)
18 November: collected at Bailleul
20 November: collected at Poperinge
22 November: collected at Bailleul then Hazebrouck
24 November: collected at Merville
4th Ambulance Train (all journeys offloaded at Boulogne (except shown))
20 October: collected at Bethune
23 October: collected at Bethune then Hazebrouck
25 October: collected at Poperinge
27 October: collected at Bailleul
29 October: collected at Ypres
1 November: collected at Poperinge
3 November: collected at Poperinge
4 November: collected at Chocques
7 November: collected at Poperinge
9 November: collected at Bailleul then Saint-Omer
11 November: collected at Chocques
15 November: collected at Poperinge, offloaded at Paris
18 November: collected at Merville
19 November: collected at Bailleul
22 November: collected at Chocques then Lillers then Hazebrouck
25 November: collected at Bailleul
Part of a summary of journeys that forms part of 4th Ambulance Train’s war diary, National Archives piece WO95/4131. If only they were all as good and clear as this!
5th Ambulance Train (all journeys offloaded at Boulogne (except shown))
21 October: collected at Steenwerck
23 October: collected at Ypres
26 October: collected at Ypres
29 October: collected at Nieppe then Bailleul
3 November: collected at Bailleul
4 November: collected at Bailleul
7 November: collected at Poperinge
9 November: collected at Poperinge
[11 November: journey halted at Hazebrouck due to line ahead being occupied; returned Boulogne]
15 November: collected at Poperinge
17 November: collected at Rouen, offloaded Le Havre
22 November: collected at Saint-Omer and Hazebrouck
25 November: collected at Chocques and Lillers
Part of a diagram of the layout of the carriages and wagons making up 5th Ambulance Train, dated 1 December 1914. From the train’s war diary, National Archives piece WO95/4131.
6th Ambulance Train (all journeys offloaded at Boulogne)
19 October: collected at Hazebrouck
21 October: collected at Bethune
23 October: collected at Nieppe
26 October: collected at Bethune
28 October: collected at Poperinge
30 October: collected at Bailleul
1 November: collected at Ypres
3 November: collected at Poperinge
5 November: collected at Hazebrouck
9 November: collected at Merville
11 November: collected at Merville
14 November: collected at Hazebrouck
17 November: collected at Bailleul
19 November: collected at Bailleul
21 November: collected at Bailleul
23 November: collected at Chocques and Lillers
By Date
19 October: 2 Ambulance Train at Bethune; 6 Ambulance Train at Hazebrouck
20 October: 1 Ambulance Train at Armentieres then Laventie; 3 Ambulance Train at Bailleul; 4 Ambulance Train at Bethune
21 October: 5 Ambulance Train at Steenwerck; 6 Ambulance Train at Bethune
22 October: 2 Ambulance Train at Steenwerck
23 October: 1 and 5 Ambulance Trains at Ypres; 3 Ambulance Train at Steenwerck; 4 Ambulance Train at Bethune then Hazebrouck; 6 Ambulance Train at Nieppe
24 October: 2 Ambulance Train at Poperinge
25 October: 1 Ambulance Train at Ypres then Poperinge; 3 Ambulance Train at Nieppe; 4 Ambulance Train at Poperinge
26 October: 1 Ambulance Train at Saint-Omer; 2 Ambulance Train at Poperinge; 5 Ambulance Train at Ypres; 6 Ambulance Train at Bethune
27 October: 3 Ambulance Train at Bethune; 4 Ambulance Train at Bailleul
28 October: 1 Ambulance Train at Ypres; 2 Ambulance Train at Bethune; 6 Ambulance Train at Poperinge
29 October: 1 Ambulance Train at Poperinge then Ypres; 3 Ambulance Train at Bethune; 4 Ambulance Train at Ypres; 5 Ambulance Train at Nieppe and Bailleul
30 October: 2 Ambulance Train at Ypres; 6 Ambulance Train at Bailleul
31 October: 1 and 3 Ambulance Trains at Ypres
1 November: 2 Ambulance Train at Bailleul; 4 Ambulance Train at Poperinge; 6 Ambulance Train at Ypres
2 November: 1 Ambulance Train at Poperinge; 3 Ambulance Train at Bethune
3 November: 2 Ambulance Train at Bethune; 5 Ambulance Train at Bailleul; 4 and 6 Ambulance Trains at Poperinge
4 November: 1 and 5 Ambulance Trains at Bailleul; 3 Ambulance Train at Saint-Omer; 4 Ambulance Train at Chocques
5 November: 2 Ambulance Train at Poperinge; 3 Ambulance Train at Bailleul; 6 Ambulance Train at Hazebrouck
6 November: 1 Ambulance Train at Poperinge
7 November: 4 and 5 Ambulance Trains at Poperinge
8 November: 1 and 2 Ambulance Trains at Poperinge
9 November: 5 Ambulance Train at Poperinge; 6 Ambulance Train at Merville
10 November: 1 Ambulance Train at Poperinge
11 November: 2 Ambulance Train at Bailleul; 4 Ambulance Train at Chocques; 6 Ambulance Train at Merville
13 November: 3 Ambulance Train at Merville then Hazebrouck
14 November: 6 Ambulance Train at Hazebrouck
15 November: 1 Ambulance Train at Bailleul; 4 and 5 Ambulance Trains at Poperinge
16 November: 1 and 2 Ambulance Trains at Hazebrouck; 3 Ambulance Train at Poperinge
17 November: 5 Ambulance Train at Rouen (for Le Havre); 6 Ambulance Train at Bailleul
18 November: 1 Ambulance Train at Poperinge; 3 Ambulance Train at Bailleul; 4 Ambulance Train at Merville
19 November: 4 and 6 Ambulance Trains at Bailleul
20 November: 3 Ambulance Train at Poperinge
21 November: 6 Ambulance Train at Bailleul
22 November: 3 Ambulance Train at Bailleul then Hazebrouck; 4 Ambulance Train at Chocques then Lillers then Hazebrouck
23 November: 1 and 2 Ambulance Trains at Rouen (for Le Havre); 3 Ambulance Train at Merville; 6 Ambulance Train at Chocques and Lillers
25 November: 4 Ambulance Train at Bailleul; 5 Ambulance Train at Chocques and Lillers
Deaths on board (only where reported in war diaries)
- 20 October: Pte 10314 James Forrest, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders. Died on 1 Ambulance Train, buried at Laventie Siding (but no known grave today). Son of Thomas Baillie Forrest, and husband of Elizabeth Forrest of 98, Cambridge Street, Glasgow.
- Also 20 October: 4 Ambulance Train reported one un-named man died on board, offloaded at Saint-Omer.
- 22 October: Lt-Col Bertram Edmund Ward, commanding 1st Middlesex Regiment. Died of wounds on 2 Ambulance Train shortly after boarding at Steenwerck, but offloaded at Boulogne. Train diary says that his son and nephew, of same regiment, were coincidentally also on board.
- 22 or 23 October: 4 Ambulance Train reported one un-named man died on board, offloaded at Boulogne.
- 25 October: 1 Ambulance Train reported one un-named man died on board, offloaded at Saint-Omer.
- 26 October: 5 Ambulance Train reported two un-named men died on board, offloaded at Boulogne.
- 28 October: 1 Ambulance Train reported one un-named man died on board, offloaded at Saint-Omer.
- 29 October: 4 Ambulance Train reported one un-named man died on board, offloaded to 13th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne.
- 30 October: 1 Ambulance Train reported four un-named men died on board, offloaded at Boulogne; 5 Ambulance Train reported one un-named Indian man died on board, offloaded at Boulogne.
- 31 October: 1 Ambulance Train reported two un-named men died on board, offloaded at Saint-Omer, then two more, offloaded at Boulogne.
- 3 November : Gnr 47144 Walter Hersey, 46th Battery Royal Field Artillery. Died on 1 Ambulance Train, offloaded at Saint-Omer. Born in Croydon.
- 4 November: 4 Ambulance Train reported an un-named man died on board, offloaded at Hazebrouck.
- 6 November: L/Cpl 2462 George Henry King, 2nd King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Died on 1 Ambulance Train, offloaded at Hazebrouck. Son of William and Ada King of Burringham, Lincolnshire, and husband of Theresa (later Pearce). Aged 34.
- 10 November: Pte 10293 John Swain Theobald, 1st Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Died on 1 Ambulance Train while en route to Saint-Omer, but kept on board and offloaded at Boulogne. Son of Peter and Charlotte Theobald of 6, Lombard Street, Liverpool.
- 15 November: 4 Ambulance Train reported an un-named man died on board, offloaded at Creil (en route to Paris). I have found him to be Pte 2195 John Scott, 14th London Regiment (London Scottish). Son of Captain James Scott of 74, Taylor Road, Wallington, Surrey.
- 21 November: Pte 62 Hugh Hughes, 2nd Manchester Regiment. Died at 3.30pm on 6 Ambulance Train, offloaded at Saint-Omer. Born in Runcorn, resident of Miles Platting.