7th May 1917 Monday

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“Next day, May 7th, one of our motor ambulances was hit by a shell at Dawson’s Corner. Six of our men were wounded including our Sergt.-Major. One died and another had an arm amputated. This incident cast a gloom over us all. The Field Ambulance was functioning in huts and tents in the famous Ypres Salient, not far from Poperinghe. Every night the din was awful, as both sides indulged in artillery bombardments, as soon as daylight left us. One night the Huns blew up one of our ammunition dumps. It was a great night.

I was kept busy attending to sick and slightly wounded men every morning.”

Trench map. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. https://maps.nls.uk/index.html

Dawson’s Corner today

Below is a schematic of the functioning of field evacuation and medical attention for the wounded. It didn’t always work like clockwork, conditions varied enormously. Medics such as stretcher bearers, nurses, VAD’s and doctors were unarmed in most cases and often performed their duties under fire in extremely dangerous conditions.  The utmost bravery could be attributed to many of these unsung heroes and was rightly reflected in the award of medals etc.

http://www.academia.edu/2037351/The_Royal_Army_Medical_Corps_and_the_Role_of_the_Field_Ambulance_on_the_Western_Front_1914_-_1918

Find out about our connection with Dr Page and an introduction to his diary here