56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps

   56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps served with 18th (Eastern) Division. 18th (Eastern) Division was established in September 1914, as part of Kitchener's Second New Army. The Division initially concentrated in the Colchester area but moved to Salisbury Plain in May 1915. They proceeded to France in July and concentrated near Flesselles. In 1916 they were in action on The Somme in The Battle of Albert capturing their objectives near Montauban, The Battle of Bazentin Ridge including the capture of Trones Wood, The Battle of Delville Wood, The Battle of Thiepval Ridge, The Battle of the Ancre Heights playing a part in the capture of the Schwaben Redoubt and Regina Trench and The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 they took part in the Operations on the Ancre including Miraumont and the capture of Irles, the fought during The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and in The Third Battle of the Scarpe before moving to Flanders. They were in action in The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Langemarck and The First and Second Battle of Passchendaele. In 1918 they saw action during The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of the Avre, The actions of Villers-Brettoneux, The Battle of Amiens and The Battle of Albert where the Division captured the Tara and Usna hills near La Boisselle and once again captured Trones Wood. They fought in The Second Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Epehy, The Battle of the St Quentin Canal, The Battle of the Selle and The Battle of the Sambre. At the Armistice the Division was in XIII Corps Reserve near Le Cateau and demobilisation began on the 10th of December 1918.

26th Jul 1915 On the Move

28th July 1915 In Billets

30th July 1915 Orders

31st July 1915 Orders

3rd Aug 1915 Instruction

13th August 1915 Instruction

1st Jul 1916 Medical Arrangements

24th Jun 1918 Orders

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Those known to have served with
56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Kershaw William. Pte. (d.14th July 1916)
Rogerson William. Capt. (d.27th Aug 1918)

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Pte. William Kershaw 56th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps (d.14th July 1916)

Willie Kershaw of Rossendale was just 21 when he was killed while carrying wounded on the field. Attached to the Royal Army Medical Corp 56th Field Ambulance, he was hit by a shell and died instantly in July, 1916. Information of his death was first received by his aunt, Miss M Kershaw of 3 Paradise St, Waterfoot, who had brought him up. Miss Kershaw found the official letter from the Record Office behind the door when she returned from holiday.
The officer commanding the 56th Field Ambulance also wrote to his father George, who worked at Messrs J Tricketts clog-iron works, in Waterfoot. "It is with sincere regret that I write to inform you of the death of your son, Pte Kershaw, who was killed by a shell whilst carrying wounded on the field. His death was instantaneous. Pte Kershaw always proved himself a good soldier and was very much liked by both officers and men, on whose behalf I tender my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement."
Prior to enlisting, Willie worked at James Taylor's dye works, Roebuck and was a scholar at Newchurch Wesleyan Sunday school, where he had taken many prizes. He went out to France in July, 1915 and had never been home on leave. He celebrated his 21st birthday in the trenches in September of that year. Willie had two brothers, Joseph and George, who also fought in and survived the Great War.
Barry Kershaw

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224587

Capt. William Rogerson att. 8th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.27th Aug 1918)

William Rogerson is one of the surgeons listed in the book "Lord Kitchener's 100 Surgeons in World War 1", which details 100 doctors from Australia who answered Lord Kitchener's call in early 1915 to join the British Army urgently. He is noted in the 56th Field Ambulance and 8th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment diaries on 27th August 1918: "The night was quiet with bright moonlight. Patrols were sent out in front along the lines at Bernafay Wood, Longueval Rd and Trones Wood but had difficulty moving forward because they were under machine gun fire and failed to locate any posts as none appeared to have been established in this area. During this time, three of the enemy strayed into our lines and were taken prisoner by the Medical Officer." It is not known how he was killed - enemy or friendly fire? by the prisoners?
Lina Moffitt

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56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
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56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps

Want to know more about 56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps?

Those known to have served with56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corpsduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
during the Great War 1914-1918.