I'm planning to take my 94 year old father back to the Nijmegen/Kleve/Goch area next month to re-visit some of the route he took in 1945. He was an RAMC medic with 35FDS. According to the War Diaries, his unit was attached to various other units around this time, including 3 and 10 CCS. Also 6 Cdn CCS Various location references are mentioned in the diary, and I wonder if anyone can help me locate, or point me the direction of a source of help for the following please? Many thanks. Hospital at Marionboon/Marienbosch Nijmegen 101200A ?same site as above? Marionburg 721599 Field 693596 Jonkersbosch 689594 in he text it mentions Jonker bosch hospital Bedburg (Bedburg-Hau, I presume) MR 9252 106600A Block FD Mook Convent MR E 717523 Grave airstrip 6252 Grave 6753 Rees - field 085533 Operation Plunder- assault crossing - CEP A 033534, 038523, 055523, 093514
Hello Lindap, You may find this guide useful, although it is quite technical in places: http://www.echodelta.net/mbs/eng-overview.php From one of the examples you gave, E 717523, the 'E' prefix refers to the map sheet within a block of 100km by 100km. The numbers 717523 then denote an easting of 717, and a northing of 523. Easting being how far east across the map and northing being how far up the map. It's possible that those grid references given without a prefix refer to locations on the same map for previous entries close in time. This 'translator' system can help you work out modern lat and long for British WW2 grid refs: http://www.echodelta.net/mbs/eng-translator.php You would have to do a fair amount of legwork identifying the correct prefix for each block but with the resources above and some furtling on Google Earth or similar it should be quite possible to get modern locations for these grid refs. Good luck! CS
For a contemporary Map of the Nijmegen area also have a look here: http://www.oudestafkaarten.nl/grote_oorlogskaarten.htm The Nijmegen & Groesbeek maps For Rees: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/50742-rhine-crossing-1945-the-rees-bridgehead-51st-highland-div-in-operation-turnscrew/ See the attachment in post # 15 for a contemporary map of the area.
I have arranged with Linda to show her and her father around in the area next September. Unfortunately I am somewhat unfamiliar with the phenomenon of a FDS. Does anyone have further details on the 35 FDS unit or the units it was attached to (see post #1). I for instance would like to know which unit a FDS was attached to, was it a division or Corps?
Drew - your DVD arrived today, thanks a lot, your help is much appreciated. It transpires that the 35 FDS was a 30 Corps medical unit which specialized in Psychiatric (severe cases of battle exhaustion that could not be treated at Divisional level) and V.D.-cases (!?).
As requested. FIELD DRESSING STATION War Establishment II/301/1. August 1944 Heavy Section Major, Officer Commanding 2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant Subaltern, non medical Quartermaster staff Serjeant serjeant clerk serjeant dispenser serjeant hospital cook 2 X serjeant nursing orderly serjeant nursing orderly for duty as storeman for stewards store. cook hospital cook lance corporal nursing orderly 12 X nursing orderly 2 X ambulance nursing orderly nursing orderly as barber 3 X nursing orderly as batman 2 X corporal general duties lance corporal general duties corporal passive air defence and anti gas duties private passive air defence and anti gas duties lance corporal linen storeman corporal pack storeman stewards storeman sanitary dutyman water dutyman attached carpenter and joiner RE 15 X driver IC RASC electrician RASC motorcyclist RASC transport serjeant RASC transport corporal RASC corporal vehicle mechanic RASC 2 X cook ACC Total 78 Vehicles 2 X bicycle 2 X motorcycle 1 X car 2seater 4 X 2 1 X car 4seater 4 X 2 1 X 15cwt water 7 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS 2 X ambulance 4 stretcher. Note: The Medical Officers are listed as Surgeons in the War Establishment Table. When the unit forms part of a Mountain Division the ambulances will be 2 stretcher 4 X 4 light ambulances instead of 4 stretcher 4 X 2 heavy ambulance. Motorcycle 1 transport serjeant Motorcycle 2 motorcyclist Car 2seater 4 X 2 driver IC Car 4seater 4 X 2 driver IC 15cwt water water dutyman, driver IC 3ton 4 X 2 GS 1 driver IC Carries mechanical stores, quartermaster stores and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 2 driver IC Carries mechanical stores, quartermaster stores and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 3 driver IC Carries mechanical stores, quartermaster stores and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 4 driver IC Carries mechanical stores, quartermaster stores and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 5 driver IC Carries baggage and personnel 3ton 4 X 2 GS 6 driver IC Carries cooks and rations 3ton 4 X 2 GS 7 driver IC Carries artificers, personnel and tools. Ambulance 4 stretcher. nursing orderly, driver IC Ambulance 4 stretcher. nursing orderly, driver IC Light Section Major, Captain or Lieutenant serjeant nursing orderly cook corporal nursing orderly 5 X nursing orderly general dutyman 4 X stretcher bearer driver IC cook ACC Total 16 1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS Note that Field dressing Stations were also allocated on the scale of one per corps. Mike