What was a Field Ambulance?
The Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Most Field Ambulances came under command of a Division, and each had special responsibility for the care of casualties of one of the Brigades of the Division. The theoretical capacity of the Field Ambulance was 150 casualties, but in battle many would need to deal with very much greater numbers. The Field Ambulance was responsible for establishing and operating a number of points along the casualty evacuation chain, from the Bearer Relay Posts which were up to 600 yards behind the Regimental Aid Posts in the front line, taking casualties rearwards through an Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) to the Main Dressing Station (MDS). It also provided a Walking Wounded Collecting Station, as well as various rest areas and local sick rooms. The Field Ambulances would usually establish 1 ADS per Brigade, and 1 MDS for the Division.
Imperial War Museum image Q4257. The official caption for this photograph is “an Advanced Dressing Station near Ginchy, September 1916” but the accuracy of this is doubtful. The exposed position, stretchers and cans of water suggest that it may be a stretcher bearer relay post situated between the front line and the ADS, which although often improvised in terms of its location and construction was a more substantial and better equipped post than shown here.
Composition and organisation
When it was at full strength a Field Ambulance was composed of 10 officers and 224 men. It was divided into three Sections. In turn, those Sections had Stretcher Bearer and Tented subsections. RAMC officers and men did not carry weapons or ammunition.
| “A” Section: 65 in total |
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This is “A Section” of 129 Field Ambulance ‘somewhere in Flanders’. Author’s collection. |
| “B” and “C” Sections: 128 in total |
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| Attached |
|
| Sanitary Section |
| A Sanitary Section of the Royal Army Medical Corps (consisting of a Lieutenant or Second-Lieutenant, 2 Sergeants, 2 Corporals, 20 Privates and 1 batman) was added to each Division in early 1915. Its job was to maintain as far as possible clean water supplies, cooking facilities and billets, de-lousing stations and similar facilities. The Sanitary Sections were withdrawn from Divisions and came under Corps or Army control from March 1917 onwards. |
| Transport |
| As with all other units, the Field Ambulances relied heavily on horses for transport and had an establishment of 14 riding and 52 draught and pack horses. They worked the 23 wagons, 3 water carts, 3 forage carts, 6 General Service wagons, 10 ambulance wagons and the cooks wagon. The Field Ambulance also had a single bicycle. By the end of 1914, each Field Ambulance also included 7 motor ambulance vehicles. A workshop to maintain them was added to the Division, although in 1916 it was absorbed in the Divisional Supply Column. |
The work of the Field Ambulances
Thanks to the war diary of 56 Field Ambulance RAMC we have an insight into the tasks undertaken by the men of the Ambulance. On 12 January 1916, when at Daours, the men were organised into the following parties:
8 wards, in two blocks of 4 each with a Sergeant Wardmaster and Corporal Assistant Wardmaster for each block.
33 men acting as nursing orderlies or general duty orderlies, including 7 men on night shift, in the wards.
5 men on pack store duties.
6 on rifle and kit cleaning.
3 men on hospital fatigues.
3 men on patients bath house duties.
6 men on RAMC men’s cookhouse and 3 on mens dining hall.
5 on patient’s cookhouse, 4 on canteen, 3 on patients dining room.
3 on billet cleaning.
4 in the dispensary.
6 in the wash house.
7 on sanitary squad.
4 at bathing establishment.
9 in drying room.
4 in quartermaster’s stores.
2 white washers.
1 in the ablution room.
1 fumigator.
1 in the cleaning yard.
2 bootmakers.
1 horsed ambulance driver.
1 tailor.
1 barber.
2 men at the ASC Refilling Point.
3 water cart orderlies.
5 loaders.
1 sick officer’s cook and 1 orderly, same.
5 permanent police squad.
2 in sergeant’s mess.
8 in officer’s mess.
11 men not detailed
The Field Ambulances
| Field Ambulance | Great War history | Remarks |
| 1st | 1st Division | |
| 2nd | ||
| 3rd | 1st Division Aug 14 – Aug 15 then Guards Division to Nov 18 | |
| 4th | 2nd Division Aug 14 – Aug 15 then Guards Division to Nov 18 | |
| 5th | 2nd Division | |
| 6th | 2nd Division | |
| 7th | 3rd Division | |
| 7th British | Lahore Division | |
| 8th | 3rd Division | |
| 8th British | Lahore Division | |
| 9th | 3rd Division Aug 14 – Aug 15 then Guards Division to Nov 18 | |
| 10th | 4th Division | |
| 11th | 4th Division | |
| 12th | 4th Division | |
| 13th | 5th Division | |
| 14th | 5th Division | |
| 15th | 5th Division | |
| 16th | 6th Division | |
| 17th | 6th Division | |
| 18th | 6th Division | |
| 19th | Originally attached to 19th Brigade; 6th Division for 5 days in Oct 14; 2nd Division Aug 15 – Nov 15 then 33rd Division to Nov 18* | *made up the 99 and 101 FA in addition |
| 19th British | Meerut Division | |
| 20th | Army Troops | |
| 20th British | Meerut Division | |
| 21st | 7th Division | |
| 22nd | 7th Division | |
| 23rd | 7th Division | |
| 24th | 8th Division | Designated 1st Wessex, moved from Wessex Division TF in Oct 14 |
| 25th | 8th Division | Designated 2nd Wessex, moved from Wessex Division TF in Oct 14 |
| 26th | 8th Division | Designated 3rd Wessex, moved from Wessex Division TF in Oct 14 |
| 27th | 9th (Scottish) Division | |
| 28th | 9th (Scottish) Division | |
| 29th | 9th (Scottish) Division | |
| 30th | 10th (Irish) Division | |
| 31st | 10th (Irish) Division | |
| 32nd | 10th (Irish) Division | |
| 33rd | 11th (Northern) Division | |
| 34th | 11th (Northern) Division | |
| 35th | 11th (Northern) Division | |
| 36th | 12th (Eastern) Division | |
| 37th | 12th (Eastern) Division | |
| 38th | 12th (Eastern) Division | |
| 39th | 13th (Western) Division | |
| 40th | 13th (Western) Division | |
| 41st | 13th (Western) Division | |
| 42nd | 14th (Light) Division | |
| 43rd | 14th (Light) Division | |
| 44th | 14th (Light) Division | |
| 45th | 15th (Scottish) Division | |
| 46th | 15th (Scottish) Division | |
| 47th | 15th (Scottish) Division | |
| 48th | 37th Division | |
| 49th | 37th Division | |
| 50th | 37th Division | |
| 51st | 17th (Northern) Division | |
| 52nd | 17th (Northern) Division | |
| 53rd | 17th (Northern) Division | |
| 54th | 18th (Eastern) Division | |
| 55th | 18th (Eastern) Division | |
| 56th | 18th (Eastern) Division | |
| 57th | 19th (Western) Division | |
| 58th | 19th (Western) Division | |
| 59th | 19th (Western) Division | |
| 60th | 20th (Light) Division | |
| 61st | 20th (Light) Division | |
| 62nd | 20th (Light) Division | |
| 63rd | 21st Division | |
| 64th | 21st Division | |
| 65th | 21st Division | |
| 66th | 22nd Division | |
| 67th | 22nd Division | |
| 68th | 22nd Division | |
| 69th | 23rd Division | |
| 70th | 23rd Division | |
| 71st | 23rd Division | |
| 72nd | 24th Division | |
| 73rd | 24th Division | |
| 74th | 24th Division | |
| 75th | 25th Division | |
| 76th | 25th Division Oct 14 – 9 Sept 18 and from 26 Sep 18 – Nov 18; attached to 9th (Scottish) Division in between | |
| 77th | 25th Division | |
| 78th | 26th Division | |
| 79th | 26th Division | |
| 80th | 26th Division | |
| 81st | 27th Division | Designated 1/1st Home Counties |
| 82nd | 27th Division | Designated 1/2nd Home Counties |
| 83rd | 27th Division | Designated 1/3rd Home Counties |
| 84th | 1st London Division Aug 14 – Dec 14 then 28th Division Dec 14 – Nov 18 | Designated 1/2nd London |
| 85th | 1st London Division Aug 14 – Dec 14 then 28th Division Dec 14 – Nov 18 | Designated 1/3rd London |
| 86th | 28th Division | Designated 1/2nd Northumbrian |
| 87th | West Lancs Division Aug 14 – Oct 15 then 29th Division Jan 15 – Nov 18 | Designated 1/1st West Lancs |
| 88th | 29th Division | Designated 1/1st East Anglian |
| 89th | 29th Division | Designated 1/1st Highland |
| 90th | 32nd Division | |
| 91st | 32nd Division | |
| 92nd | 32nd Division | |
| 93rd | 31st Division | |
| 94th | 31st Division | |
| 95th | 31st Division | |
| 96th (County Palatine) | 32nd Division Jun 15 – Nov 15 then 30th Division to Nov 18 | Raised as part of the original 32nd Division, transferred to new 32nd Division in June 1915 |
| 97th (County Palatine) | 32nd Division Jun 15 – Nov 15 then 30th Division to Nov 18 | Raised as part of the original 32nd Division, transferred to new 32nd Division in June 1915 |
| 98th | 32nd Division Jun 15 – Nov 15 then 30th Division to Nov 18 | Designated 1/2nd West Lancs |
| 99th | 33rd Division | |
| 100th | 33rd Division to Nov 15 then 2nd Division to Nov 18 | |
| 101st | 33rd Division | |
| 102nd | 34th Division | |
| 103rd | 34th Division | |
| 104th | 34th Division | |
| 105th | 35th Division | |
| 106th | 35th Division | |
| 107th | 35th Division | |
| 108th | 36th (Ulster) Division | |
| 109th | 36th (Ulster) Division | |
| 110th | 36th (Ulster) Division | |
| 111th | 30th Division Oct 14 – Sep 15 then 16th Division to Nov 18 | |
| 112th | 30th Division Oct 14 – Sep 15 then 16th Division to Nov 18 | |
| 113th | 30th Division Oct 14 – Sep 15 then 16th Division to Nov 18 | |
| 129th | 38th (Welsh) Division | Originally designated 1st Welsh; renumbered March 1915 |
| 130th (St John) | 38th (Welsh) Division | Originally designated 2nd Welsh; renumbered March 1915 |
| 131st | 38th (Welsh) Division | Originally designated 3rd Welsh; renumbered March 1915 |
| 132nd | 39th Division | |
| 133rd | 39th Division | |
| 134th | 39th Division | |
| 135th | 40th Division | |
| 136th | 40th Division | |
| 137th | 40th Division | |
| 138th | 41st Division | |
| 139th | 41st Division | |
| 140th | 41st Division | |
| 141st | 1st Division Aug 15 – Nov 18 | |
| 142nd | 3rd Division | |
| 143rd | 28th Division Mar 17 – Nov 18 | |
| 145th | 75th Division Aug 17 – May 18 | Handed over men, stores and equipment to 123rd CFA |
| 146th | 75th Division Aug 17 – May 18 | Handed over men, stores and equipment to 127th CFA |
| 147th | 75th Division Aug 17 – May 18 | Handed over men, stores and equipment to 163rd CFA |
|
229th |
74th (Yeomanry)Division Jan 17 – Nov 18 | Formed from the Field Ambulances of the Highland and Lowland Mounted Brigades |
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230th |
74th (Yeomanry)Division Jan 17 – Nov 18 | Formed from the Field Ambulances of the Eastern and South-Eastern Mounted Brigades |
| 231st | 74th (Yeomanry)Division Jan 17 – Nov 18 | Formed from the Field Ambulances of the Welsh Border and South-Western Mounted Brigades |
| 307th | 73rd Division Jan 17 – Mar 18 (disbanded) | Formed from the 9th Provisional FA. Designated Home Counties. |
| 308th | 73rd Division Jan 17 – Mar 18 (disbanded) | Formed from the 9th Provisional FA. Designated Home Counties. |
| 309th | 73rd Division Jan 17 – Apr 18 (disbanded) | Formed from the 9th Provisional FA. Designated Home Counties. |
| 313th | 65th (2nd Lowland) Division | 2/1st Lowland |
| 314th | 65th (2nd Lowland) Division | 2/2nd Lowland |
| 315th | 65th (2nd Lowland) Division | 2/3rd Lowland |
| 1st (East Lancashire) | 42nd (East Lancashire) Division | Raised in Manchester |
| 2nd (East Lancashire) | 42nd (East Lancashire) Division | Raised in Manchester |
| 3rd (East Lancashire) | 42nd (East Lancashire) Division | Raised in Manchester |
| 1st (North Midland) | 46th (North Midland) Division | Raised in Derby |
| 2nd (North Midland) | 46th (North Midland) Division | Raised in Leicester |
| 3rd (North Midland) | 46th (North Midland) Division | Raised in Wolverhampton |
| 1st (London) | 1st London Division Aug 14 – June 16 then to Salonika, arriving 4 July 16, being redesignated 30th Stationary Hospital | |
| 2nd (London) | See 84th FA | |
| 3rd (London) | See 85th FA | |
| 4th (London) | 47th (2nd London) Division | Raised in Woolwich |
| 5th (London) | 47th (2nd London) Division | Raised in Greenwich |
| 6th (London) | 47th (2nd London) Division | Raised in Chelsea |
| 1st (South Midland) | 48th (South Midland) Division | Raised in Birmingham |
| 2nd (South Midland) | 48th (South Midland) Division | Raised in Birmingham |
| 3rd (South Midland) | 48th (South Midland) Division | Raised in Bristol |
| 1st (West Riding) | 49th (West Riding) Division | Raised in Leeds |
| 2nd (West Riding) | 49th (West Riding) Division | Raised in Leeds |
| 3rd (West Riding) | 49th (West Riding) Division | Raised in Sheffield |
| 1st (Northumbrian) | 50th (Northumbrian) Division | Raised in Newcastle |
| 2nd (Northumbrian) | 50th (Northumbrian) Division Aug 14 – Dec 14 | See 86th FA |
| 3rd (Northumbrian) | 50th (Northumbrian) Division | Raised in Hull |
| 2/2nd (Northumbrian) | 50th (Northumbrian) Division Apr 15 – Nov 18 | |
| 1st (Highland) | See 89th | |
| 2nd (Highland) | 51st (Highland) Division | Raised in Aberdeen |
| 3rd (Highland) | 51st (Highland) Division | Raised in Dundee |
| 2/1st (Highland) | 51st (Highland) Division May 15 – Nov 18 | |
| 1st (Lowland) | 52nd (Lowland) Division | Raised in Glasgow |
| 2nd (Lowland) | 52nd (Lowland) Division | Raised in Glasgow |
| 3rd (Lowland) | 52nd (Lowland) Division | Raised in Edinburgh |
| 1st (Welsh) | 53rd (Welsh) Division Aug 14 – Aug 18, when transferred to Desert Mounted Corps | |
| 2nd (Welsh) | 53rd (Welsh) Division Aug 14 – Sept 18, when absorbed by 170 CFA | |
| 3rd (Welsh) | 53rd (Welsh) Division Aug 14 – Sept 18, when absorbed by 171CFA | |
| 2nd (East Anglian) | 54th (East Anglian) Division | |
| 3rd (East Anglian) | 54th (East Anglian) Division | |
| 3rd (West Lancs) | 55th (West Lancs) Division | |
| 2/1st (East Anglian) | 54th (East Anglian) Division late 14 – Nov 18 | Raised after mobilisation of 1st Line. See 88th FA. |
| 2/1st (North Midland) | 59th (2nd North Midland) Division Feb 15- Nov 18 | |
| 2/2nd (North Midland) | 59th (2nd North Midland) Division Feb 15- Nov 18 | |
| 2/3rd (North Midland) | 59th (2nd North Midland) Division Feb 15- Nov 18 | |
| 2/1st (West Lancs) | 55th (West Lancs) Division Jan 16 – Nov 18 | |
| 3/2nd (West Lancs) | 57th (2nd West Lancs) Division | |
| 2/1st (Wessex) | 55th (West Lancs) Division Jan 16- Nov 18 | |
| 2/2nd (Wessex) | 57th (2nd West Lancs) Division | |
| 2/3rd (Wessex) | 57th (2nd West Lancs) Division | |
| 2/1st (London) | 58th (2/1st) London Division – Feb 16 then 56th (London) Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/2nd (London) | 58th (2/1st) London Division – Feb 16 then 56th (London) Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/3rd (London) | 58th (2/1st) London Division – Feb 16 then 56th (London) Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/4th (London) | 60th (2/2nd) London Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/5th (London) | 60th (2/2nd) London Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/6th (London) | 60th (2/2nd) London Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/1st (South Midland) | 61st (2nd South Midland) Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/2nd (South Midland) | 61st (2nd South Midland) Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/3rd (South Midland) | 61st (2nd South Midland) Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/1st (West Riding) | 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/2nd (West Riding) | 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/3rd (West Riding) | 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division to Nov 18 | |
| 2/1st (Northumbrian) | 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division to Nov 1916 | |
| 2/3rd (Northumbrian) | 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division to Sep 1916 | |
| 3/2nd (Northumbrian) | 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division to Sep 1916 | |
| 1st (Royal Naval) | 63rd (Royal Naval) Division to Nov 18 | Original designation 1st FA |
| 2nd (Royal Naval) | 63rd (Royal Naval) Division to Nov 18 | Original designation 2nd FA |
| 3rd (Royal Naval) | 63rd (Royal Naval) Division to Nov 18 | Original designation 3rd FA |
| 2/1st (East Lancs.) | 66th Division 1915 – 22 June 1918, when attached to United States 27th Division, then 9th Division from 26 September 1918 – Nov 1918 | |
| 2/2nd (East Lancs.) | 66th Division 1915 – Nov 1918 | |
| 2/3rd (East Lancs.) | 66th Division 1915 – Nov 1918 | |
| 1st Cavalry | 1st Cavalry Division | |
| 2nd Cavalry | 1st Cavalry Division | |
| 3rd Cavalry | 1st Cavalry Division | |
| 4th Cavalry | 2nd Cavalry Division | |
| 5th Cavalry | 2nd Cavalry Division | |
| 6th Cavalry | 2nd Cavalry Division | |
| 7th Cavalry | 3rd Cavalry Division | |
| 8th Cavalry | 3rd Cavalry Division | |
| 9th Cavalry | 3rd Cavalry Division | |
| Ambala Cavalry | 1st Indian Cavalry Division | |
| Sialkot Cavalry | 1st Indian Cavalry Division | |
| Lucknow Cavalry | 1st Indian Cavalry Division | |
| Secunderabad Cavalry | 2nd Indian Cavalry Division | |
| Meerut Cavalry | 2nd Indian Cavalry Division | |
| Mhow Cavalry | 2nd Indian Cavalry Division | |
| Jodhpur Cavalry | 2nd Indian Cavalry Division | |
| 1st South African | 9th (Scottish) Division May 16 – 9 September 1918, then attached to VII Corps, finally 66th Division 23 September 1918 – Nov 1918 |