Royal army medical corps

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

Medical units in wartime were naturally scaled to cope with battle casualties but there was an
on going commitment to the health and hygiene of the soldier as well as the normal accidents
and illnesses.

The Army Dental Corps also worked closely with the RAMC.


MEDICAL UNITS

Field Ambulance. War Establishment II/62/1. August 1942.
Light Field Ambulance. War Establishment II/901/1. June 1944
Field Dressing Station. War Establishment II/301/1. August 1944.
Field Hygiene Section. War Establishment II/299/2. May 1944.
Field Hygiene Section. War Establishment XIV/1280/1. February 1945
Field Sanitary Section. War Establishment IV/161/1. June 1943.
Field Surgical Unit. War Establishment III/168/1. July 1942.
Traumatic Shock Team. War Establishment IV/270/1. August 1944.
Maxillo-Facial Surgical Unit. War Establishment IV/47C/2. December 1943.

General Hospital 600 Bed. War Establishment IV/226/1. December 1943.
General Hospital 1200 Bed. War Establishment IV/227/1. December 1943.
General Hospital 200 Bed. War Establishment IV/228/1. January 1944.
Neuropathic Hospital. War Establishment IV/43A/2. January 1943.
Neurosurgical Unit. War Establishment IV/135/1. February 1943.
Convalescent Depot RAMC. War Establishment IV/44/2. May 1944.
Officers Convalescent Wing. War Establishment IV/268/1. June 1944.
Medical Platoon for a Motor Ambulance Company. War Establishment III/176/1. August 1942.
Medical Platoon for an Ambulance Car Company. War Establishment IV/119/1. August 1942.
Ambulance Train 360 bed. War Establishment IV/46/3. January 1943.
Ambulance Train 250 bed. War Establishment IV/123/1. December 1942.
Hospital Ship. War Establishment IV/47/3. January 1943.
A Hospital Carrier. War Establishment IV/474/3. May 1943.

Field Transfusion Unit. War Establishment IV/47D/2. April 1944.
Base Transfusion Unit. War Establishment IV/220/1. December 1943.

Advanced Depot of Medical Stores. War Establishment III/51/3. March 1944.
Base Depot of Medical Stores. War Establishment IV/45/1. March 1944.
Base Depot of Medical Stores, Civil Affairs Increment. War Establishment IV/247/1. April 1944.
Captured Enemy Equipment Section (Medical). War Establishment XIV/1322/1. November 1944.

Standing Medical Board. War Establishment XIV/1320/1. September 1944.
Medical Evacuation Staff. War Establishment XIV/1321/1. September 1944.
An Entomological Field Unit. War Establishment IV/201/1. September 1943.
A Biological Research Section. War Establishment IV/192/1. October 1943.
Port Detachment. War Establishment IV/204/1. November 1943.

Field Dental Laboratory. War Establishment IV/239/1. February 1944.
Field Dental Centre (Operational). War Establishment IV/240/1. March 1944.
Field Dental Centre (Non Operational). War Establishment IV/242/1. March 1944.

See also RASC ambulance units.
Motor Ambulance Company
Ambulance Car Company


Infantry Divisional medical units included
- A Field Ambulance per brigade. This gave three Field Ambulances for an infantry division. Non divisional units in the front line used the divisional medical facilities.
- Two Field Dressing Stations which were independent of the Field Ambulance and provided a reserve capacity and put surgical teams nearer to the front line.
- A Field Hygiene Section to care for the soldier’s health and prevent disease.

Armoured Divisional medical units included
- A Field Ambulance for the infantry brigade.
- A Light Field Ambulance for the armoured brigade
- Two Field Dressing Stations
- A Field Hygiene Section.



FIELD AMBULANCE
War Establishment II/62/1. August 1942
Personnel
Lieutenant Colonel
2 X Major
5 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant
2 X Subaltern (non medical)
Quartermaster

Regimental Serjeant Major
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
2 X Staff Serjeant

serjeant clerk
serjeant dispenser
5 X serjeant
12 X corporal
9 X lance corporal
119 X private
Total 162

Plus attached
Captain RASC
Company Serjeant Major RASC
serjeant RASC
5 X corporal RASC
11 X lance corporal RASC
51 X driver IC RASC
2 X private RASC
Captain or Lieutenant, Army Dental Corp
corporal dental clerk, Army Dental Corp
serjeant ACC
corporal cook ACC
7 X private cook ACC

Total including attached 245

Trades included
carpenter and joiner
corporal clerk
2 X clerk
corporal nursing orderly
7 X lance corporal nursing orderly
14 X nursing orderly
barber
10 X batman orderlies
4 X general duty orderlies
anti gas corporal
sanitary duties lance corporal
stores corporal
stewards stores corporal
stewards stores lance corporal
6 X corporal stretcher bearer
lance corporal stretcher bearer
79 X stretcher bearers
6 X ambulance orderlies
water dutyman
corporal chiropodist

RASC trades included
corporal fitter
2 X fitter
lance corporal electrician
6 X driver mechanic
3 X corporal driver IC
46 X driver IC
batman driver
8 X motor cyclist
transport corporal

First reinforcements included
7 X nursing orderlies RAMC
2 X driver IC RASC

Weapons
24 X pistol, .38”
47 X rifle, .303”
22 X Sten gun

Note: At the time this table was issued it was usual to show weapons carried by individuals. This table shows the following
Pistols are carried by
- all Officers
- motorcyclists
- transport corporal
- Company Serjeant Major RASC
- serjeant RASC

Rifles are carried by
- corporal fitter RASC
- fitters RASC
- lance corporal electrician RASC
- driver mechanic RASC
- 28 X driver IC RASC
- 46 X driver IC RASC
- serjeant ACC
- cooks ACC

Sten guns are carried by
- batman driver RASC
- 21 X driver IC

Warrant Officers, non commissioned officers and other ranks of the RAMC and Army Dental Corp do not carry weapons. Stretcher bearers of infantry units carried pistols or Sten guns for self defence but RAMC did not.

Medical Officers could be Subalterns, Captains or Majors and were regarded as equal and interchangeable as far as medical matters were concerned. This applied also to Medical Officers in units. Although they are often listed as Captain they could be also be Subaltern or Major.

The Army Dental Corp officer served two functions
- He cared for the dental health of the division, with the support of mobile dental units when not in the front line. It was a continuing function of the Field Ambulance to care for the health of the soldiers in the division. This was not confined to battle casualties.
- He was available to assist and advise in the case of facial injuries.

Note that it is not possible to move all the personnel of a Field Ambulance in unit transport. For long moves three extra troop carrying lorries were needed.


ORGANISATION.
The Field Ambulance consisted of a headquarters and two bearer companies. The Headquarters provided a Main Dressing Station. Bearer companies could each provided three sections.
HEADQUARTERS
The headquarters of a Field Ambulance provided not only the administration for the unit but also formed a Main Dressing Station which could accommodate a hundred to a hundred and fifty casualties. Six of the 3ton lorries were equipped with penthouses which could be erected to the side and rear to form a tented area. The lorry itself contained medical equipment.

Lieutenant Colonel
Major
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant
Quartermaster

Regimental Serjeant Major
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant

serjeant clerk
serjeant dispenser
serjeant

carpenter and joiner
corporal clerk
2 X clerk
10 X nursing orderly
barber
4 X batman orderlies
4 X general duty orderlies
anti gas corporal
sanitary duties lance corporal
stores corporal
stewards stores corporal
stewards stores lance corporal
8 X stretcher bearer
6 X ambulance orderlies
water dutyman
corporal chiropodist

RASC
Captain
Company Serjeant Major
serjeant
corporal fitter
2 X fitter
lance corporal electrician
6 X driver mechanic
31 X driver IC
batman driver
2 X motor cyclist
transport corporal
2 X private

Army Dental Corp
Captain or Lieutenant
corporal dental clerk

Army Catering Corp
serjeant
corporal cook
cook


Organisation
Motorcycle 1
transport corporal RASC
Motorcycle 2
Motorcycle 3
The allotment of motorcycles 2 and 3 is not known.

Car 4 seater 4 X 2
driver IC
For the use of the Commanding officer
Car 4 seater 4 X 2
driver IC
For the use of the Major, Second in Command
Car seater 4 X 2
Captain RASC, batman driver

15cwt water tank
water dutyman, driver IC
3ton 4 X 2 GS lorry with pent houses 1
driver IC
For stores and personnel
3ton 4 X 2 GS lorry with pent houses 2
driver IC
For stores and personnel
3ton 4 X 2 GS lorry with pent houses 3
driver IC
For cooks and rations
3ton 4 X 2 GS lorry with pent houses 4
driver IC
For QM stores and personnel
3ton 4 X 2 GS lorry with pent houses 5
driver IC
For baggage and personnel
3ton 4 X 2 GS lorry with pent houses 6
driver IC
For artificers, personnel and tools.

Motorcycle
motorcyclist RASC
Motorcycle
motorcyclist RASC

Ambulance, two stretcher, 4 X 2 1
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, two stretcher, 4 X 2 2
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, two stretcher, 4 X 2 3
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, two stretcher, 4 X 2 4
2 X driver IC RASC

Ambulance, four stretcher, 4 X 2 1
ambulance orderly, 2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher, 4 X 2 2
ambulance orderly, 2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher, 4 X 2 3
ambulance orderly, 2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher, 4 X 2 4
ambulance orderly, 2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher, 4 X 2 5
ambulance orderly, 2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher, 4 X 2 6
ambulance orderly, 2 X driver IC RASC

- Eight bicycles were provided for use round the site. They were carried in the transport for movement.
- All the three ton lorries are listed as having penthouses. These served as wards and surgeries as well as for their designated role.


BEARER COMPANY
As well as providing stretcher bearers and ambulance cars the Bearer Company could provide two Advanced Dressing Stations. The third section was commanded by a non medical officer and could be used to provide a Bearer Relay Station or a reserve.

Section 1
Major, Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant
lance corporal nursing orderly
nursing orderly
lance corporal stretcherbearer
12 X stretcher bearer
batman orderly
3 X driver IC RASC
motorcyclist RASC

Motorcycle
Officer
Motorcycle
motorcyclist RASC

15cwt GS
driver IC
3ton 4 X 2 GS lorry with pent houses
driver IC
For stores and personnel
Ambulance, two stretcher, 4 X 2, light
2 X driver IC RASC

Section 2
Major, Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant
lance corporal nursing orderly
nursing orderly
lance corporal stretcherbearer
12 X stretcher bearer
batman orderly
3 X driver IC RASC
motorcyclist RASC

Motorcycle
Officer
Motorcycle
motorcyclist RASC

15cwt GS
driver IC
3ton 4 X 2 GS lorry with pent houses
driver IC
For stores and personnel
Ambulance, two stretcher, 4 X 2, light
2 X driver IC RASC

Section 3
Lieutenant, non medical
staff serjeant
lance corporal nursing orderly
nursing orderly
lance corporal stretcherbearer
12 X stretcher bearer
batman orderly
3 X driver IC RASC
motorcyclist RASC

Motorcycle
Officer
Motorcycle
motorcyclist RASC

15cwt GS
driver IC
3ton 4 X 2 GS lorry with pent houses
driver IC
For stores and personnel
Ambulance, two stretcher, 4 X 2
2 X driver IC RASC

Note:
Although the original document shows Ambulance, two stretcher, 4 X 2, light this type was not in use in 1944.



LIGHT FIELD AMBULANCE
War Establishment II/901/1. June 1944

A Light Field Ambulance is intended to serve an armoured brigade and consists of a headquarters and four sections. Headquarters provide the personnel and equipment for a Main Dressing Station. Each section provides personnel and equipment for an Advanced Dressing Station. All stretcher bearers are shown in headquarters and are distributed to sections as required.

The Light Field Ambulance was fully self mobile.

HEADQUARTERS
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Major, Captain or Lieutenant
Quartermaster

Regimental Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
staff serjeant, stewards stores

serjeant clerk
serjeant dispenser
serjeant nursing orderly
duty serjeant

2 X clerk
corporal nursing orderly
6 X nursing orderly
corporal anti gas duties
5 X anti gas duties
corporal general duties
general dutyman
corporal pack storeman
pack storeman.
5 X batman
sanitary dutyman
corporal ambulance orderly
23 X ambulance orderly
2 X water dutyman

serjeant stretcher bearer
corporal stretcher bearer
24 X stretcher bearer

RASC
Captain
Company Serjeant Major
serjeant
transport corporal
corporal
corporal driver
2 X lance corporal driver IC
29 X driver IC (includes a batman driver)
6 X driver mechanic
corporal fitter
lance corporal fitter
3 X fitter
lance corporal electrician
3 X motor cyclist

Royal Army Dental Corp
Captain or Lieutenant
corporal dental operating room assistant

Army Catering Corp
corporal cook
corporal hospital cook
2 X cook

Royal Army Chaplains Department (from corps establishment)
Chaplain
batman driver


6 X motorcycle
2 X light utility
1 X Car 4 seater 4 X 2
4 X ambulance 2 stretcher
6 X ambulance 4 stretcher
1 X 15cwt
1 X 15cwt water
7 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS including
2 for personnel
1 for office equipment
2 for personnel and stores
1 for tools
1 for cooks
1 for baggage and officers mess
1 for Quartermaster and anti gas stores

Note: Although not mentioned in the document some of the 3 ton 4 X 4 GS would be fitted with penthouses.

Organisation
Motorcycle 1
transport serjeant RASC
Motorcycle 2
Company Serjeant Major RASC
Motorcycle 3
motorcyclist RASC
Motorcycle 4
motorcyclist RASC
Motorcycle 5
motorcyclist RASC
Motorcycle 6
Allocation not known.


Car 4 seater 4 X 2
driver IC
For the use of the Commanding officer
Car light utility
Quartermaster, driver IC
Car light utility
Captain RASC, batman driver

15cwt GS
Dental Officer, driver IC
15cwt water tank
water dutyman, driver IC

3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry 1
driver IC
For personnel
3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry 2
driver IC
For personnel
3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry 3
driver IC
For office equipment
3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry 4
driver IC
For stores and personnel
3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry 5
driver IC
For stores and personnel
3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry 6
driver IC
For artificers, personnel and tools.
3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry 7
driver IC
For cooks
3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry 8
driver IC
For baggage and officers mess
3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry 9
driver IC
For Quartermaster and anti gas stores

Ambulance, two stretcher
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, two stretcher
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, two stretcher
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, two stretcher
2 X driver IC RASC

Ambulance, four stretcher
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher,
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher, 4 X 2 4
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher, 4 X 2 5
2 X driver IC RASC
Ambulance, four stretcher, 4 X 2 6
2 X driver IC RASC

- Eight bicycles were provided for use round the site. They were carried in the transport for movement.
- All the three ton lorries are listed as having penthouses. These served as wards and surgeries as well as for their designated role.


4 X Section each
Major, Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant
corporal nursing orderly
2 X nursing orderly
corporal clerk

4 X driver IC RASC (including a batman driver)
motorcyclist RASC
cook ACC

Motorcycle
serjeant
Motorcycle
motorcyclist RASC

Car, Light Utility
batman driver RASC
3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry with pent houses
driver IC RASC
For stores and personnel
Ambulance, two stretcher
driver IC RASC
Ambulance, two stretcher
driver IC RASC




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.





FIELD HYGIENE SECTION
War Establishment II/299/2. May 1944.
War Establishment XIV/1280/1. February 1945

Major, Officer Commanding (specialist in Hygiene)
Advises the Assistant Director of Medical Services on hygiene matters
staff serjeant sanitary assistant as duty NCO
2 X staff serjeant sanitary assistant as sanitary inspectors.
clerk (RAMC duties)
nursing orderly as batman
6 X corporal sanitary assistant as sanitary inspector
5 X sanitary assistant as sanitary dutyman

Attached
staff serjeant, workshop foreman, RE. (can be a carpenter and joiner, bricklayer or sheet metal worker).
bricklayer RE
2 X carpenter and joiner RE
painter and decorator RE
sheet metal worker RE
lance corporal driver IC RASC
3 X driver IC RASC
cook ACC

vehicles
2 X bicycle
6 X motorcycle
1 X car 2seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 disinfector

By February 1945:
The duty NCO had been replaced by a non medical Subaltern
One driver IC RASC was added
2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 were added
2 X 10cwt trailer were added
The 3ton 4 X 2 disinfector was deleted.

Note that Field Hygiene Sections were allocated one per division, one per corps, and to army or line of communication areas as required.

‘The personnel of a field hygiene section act as sanitary police and perform similar duties to those of sanitary inspectors in civil life. They supervise labour employed in the removal and destruction of excreta and refuse. They carry out sanitary measures requiring skilled knowledge beyond that possessed by regimental personnel and are available to give advice and instruction.’ Field Service Pocket Book, Pamphlet No10.




FIELD SURGICAL UNIT
War Establishment III/168/1. July 1942.
Major, Specialist in Surgery
Captain or Lieutenant, Graded Anaesthetist
Lance corporal nursing orderly
2 X operation room assistant
2 X nursing orderly
batman
3 X driver RASC

1 X Car 4 seater for officers kit, batmen and replenishment of surgical supplies.
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS for theatre, technical equipment and supplies, fitted with half a penthouse.
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS for beds, mattresses etc.

Officers carry a pistol
Drivers RASC carry rifle or sub machine gun
Medical personnel are unarmed.



TRAUMATIC SHOCK TEAM
War Establishment IV/270/1. August 1944.

Lieutenant Colonel, Specialist in Pathology
3 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant including
2 X specialist in pathology
1 X specialist anaethetist
3 X laboratory assistant including two serjeants
clerk orderly (clinical), shorthand typist
driver RASC

1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2



BASE TRANSFUSION UNIT.
War Establishment IV/220/1. December 1943.
Consisting of a Headquarters, a Blood Collecting Section and a Forward Distributing Section.

Headquarters
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Quartermaster Serjeant
Corporal clerk
2 X clerk
nursing orderlies for duty as
batman
corporal packer, storeman and general dutyman
8 X packer, storeman and general dutyman (may be local civilians)
serjeant transfusion orderly
corporal transfusion orderly
8 X transfusion orderly
serjeant engine fitter RE
batman driver RASC
6 X driver IC RASC
2 X relief driver RASC
transport serjeant RASC
corporal vehicle mechanic RASC
officers mess cook ACC
2 X cook ACC
1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
2 X 3ton 4 X 2 Blood Refrigeration
3 X 3ton 4 X 4 Blood Refrigeration

Blood Collecting Section
This will be deleted if blood can be supplied from the UK.
Major, Captain or Lieutenant
clerk
serjeant nursing orderly
corporal transfusion orderly
8 X transfusion orderly
1 X 15cwt GS

Forward Distributing Section
Subaltern, non medical
clerk
corporal transfusion orderly
3 X transfusion orderly
corporal engine fitter RE
batman driver RASC
corporal driver RASC
2 X driver RASC
driver mechanic
2 X motorcyclist
2 X motorcycle
1 X Car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS
3 X 3ton 4 X 4 Blood Refrigeration.

One Base Transfusion Unit is provided for each theatre of operations. It is based on a force of one army of two corps.

For each additional corps the following will be added.
Headquarters
2 X nursing orderly as packer, storeman and general dutyman (may be local civilians)
4 X transfusion orderly
driver IC RASC
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Blood Refrigeration
Forward Distributing Section
transfusion orderly
driver IC RASC
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Blood Refrigeration.

For each additional army of two corps the following will be added.
5 X nursing orderly as packer, storeman and general dutyman
corporal transfusion orderly
5 X transfusion orderly
corporal driver IC RASC
4 X driver IC RASC
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
2 X 3ton 4 X 2 Blood Refrigeration
2 X 3ton 4 X 4 Blood Refrigeration
One complete Forward Distributing Section



FIELD TRANSFUSION UNIT
War Establishment IV/47D/2. April 1944.
For blood transfusion and resuscitation duties in the field. Will be attached to a medical unit.

Captain or Lieutenant RAMC
2 X transfusion orderlies RAMC
driver IC RASC

1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS (blood transfusion)




MEDICAL PLATOON for a MOTOR AMBULANCE CONVOY.
War Establishment III/176/1. August 1942.
Forms part of a Motor Ambulance Convoy and designed to provide necessary medical facilities for the collection and evacuation of casualties.
serjeant nursing orderly
4 X corporal nursing orderly
29 X nursing orderly

MEDICAL PLATOON for an AMBULANCE CAR COMPANY.
War Establishment IV/119/1. August 1942.
Forms part of an Ambulance Car Company and designed to provide necessary medical facilities for the collection and evacuation of casualties.
serjeant nursing orderly
4 X corporal nursing orderly
29 X nursing orderly

AMBULANCE TRAIN
War Establishment IV/46/3. January 1943.
To provide necessary medical facilities for a train carrying 360 laying cases.
Lieutenant Colonel
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant
Quartermaster Serjeant
serjeant clerk
clerk
serjeant dispenser
corporal hospital cook
3 X hospital cook
20 X nursing orderly
batman
corporal orderly
6 X orderly (including one trained in the use of carpenters tools)
corporal pack storeman
7 X orderly for ward duties
2 X sister Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service

Officers carry revolvers.
Cook carries a rifle


AMBULANCE TRAIN
War Establishment IV/123/1. December 1942.
To provide necessary medical facilities for a train carrying 250 lying cases.
Major
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant
Warrant Officer Class I Nursing Orderly as Wardmaster and Regimental Serjeant Major
corporal clerk
clerk
serjeant dispenser
corporal hospital cook
hospital cook
corporal nursing orderly
13 X nursing orderly
batman
corporal general dutyman
4 X general dutyman
corporal linen and pack storeman
5 X ward orderly (including one trained in the use of carpenters tools)
fitter RE
cook ACC
2 X sister Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service

Officers carry revolvers.
RE and ACC personnel carry rifles.



A HOSPITAL CARRIER.
War Establishment IV/474/3. May 1943.
This was intended to operate on a hospital carrier ship. In NW Europe these were small Landing Ship Infantry, ex cross Channel ferries. They were not strictly part of 21 Army Group since they were based in the UK but they did operate through Mulberry B and the Channel ports.

Lieutenant Colonel
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant.
serjeant clerk
clerk
serjeant dispenser
2 X mental nursing orderly
serjeant nursing orderly
corporal nursing orderly
2 X lance corporal nursing orderly
16 X nursing orderly
Warrant Officer Class I Nursing Orderly as Wardmaster
corporal nursing orderly as pack storeman
nursing orderly as pack storeman
corporal nursing orderly as linen storeman
nursing orderly as linen storeman
staff serjeant steward

Sister in Charge QAIMNS
5 X sister QAIMNS

The duty of batman will be carried out by ships personnel. (As was cooking etc)

When operating in a special role (on a hospital ship with operating theatre) the following additions were made
2 X specialist or graded surgeon and specialist or graded anaesthetist
2 X corporal nursing orderly
15 X nursing orderly
operating room assistant
theatre assistant QAIMNS

This was not usual in NW Europe since the sea crossing was short and emergency cases were evacuated by air.



HOSPITAL SHIP.
War Establishment IV/47/3. January 1943.
For a Hospital Ship with 500 beds.

Lieutenant Colonel
Major second in command
Major, Specialist Surgeon
Major, Specialist Physician
Warrant Officer Class I
Quartermaster Serjeant
serjeant clerk
corporal clerk for pay duties
2 X clerk
serjeant dispenser
laboratory assistant
6 X mental nursing assistant
operation room assistant
radiographer
2 X special treatment orderly
2 X barbers
corporal general dutyman
4 X general dutyman
general duty man for dispensary
corporal storeman, linen
storeman, linen
corporal storeman, pack
storeman, pack
staff serjeant steward

Duties of batmen will be carried out by ships personnel.

Since the size of ship varied the following increases will be allowed
600 beds
Officer
2 X sisters and staff nurses
10 X nursing orderly

700 beds
2 X officer
4 X sister
2 X staff nurse
20 X nursing orderly

800 beds
2 X officer
6 X sister and staff nurse
staff serjeant dispenser
corporal operation room assistant
radiographer
mental nursing orderly
special treatment orderly
clerk
26 X nursing orderly

900 beds
4 X officer
8 X sister and staff nurse
staff serjeant dispenser
corporal operation room assistant
corporal nursing orderly
operating room assistant
radiographer
mental nursing orderly
special treatment orderly
clerk
35 X nursing orderly

1000 beds
5 X officer
10 X sister and staff nurse
staff serjeant dispenser
2 X serjeant nursing orderly
corporal operation room assistant
2 X corporal nursing orderly
operating room assistant
radiographer
mental nursing orderly
special treatment orderly
2 X clerk
44 X nursing orderly

For smaller ships the following reductions will be made
400 beds
sister
5 X nursing orderly

300 beds
3 X sister and staff nurse
corporal general dutyman
clerk
9 X nursing orderly

200 beds
Officer
6 X sister and staff nurse
serjeant dispenser
corporal general dutyman
clerk
11 X nursing orderly
barber
2 X general dutyman

100 beds
Lieutenant Colonel
Officer
8 X sister and staff nurse
Warrant Officer Class II
serjeant dispenser
serjeant clerk
corporal general dutyman
clerk
special treatment orderly
nursing orderly for dispensary
11 X nursing orderly
barber
2 X general dutyman
pack storeman



GENERAL HOSPITALS.
There were eventually 31 General Hospitals of various sizes. Nos 6, 8, 9, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30, 32, 39, 67, 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 84, 86, 88, 94, 96, 101, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 113, 115 and 121.

A General Hospital is located in a base area or other sub area of the lines of communication. General Hospitals are usually in permanent buildings, requisitioned buildings or huts. Ward huts are designed to hold 35 beds, this being the most that can be conveniently looked after by one orderly. Less than 24 beds is uneconomical. Officers have separate, and smaller, wards.

Huts are of a standard design, agreed between the RAMC and RE, and built by RE Works units.



A GENERAL HOSPITAL (600 bed)
War Establishment IV/226/1. December 1943.
The Medical and Surgical Divisions of this unit will consist of 500 general medical and surgical beds together with one section of one hundred beds which may be
General Medical and Surgical
Orthopaedic
Psychiatric
VD or any other speciality

Headquarters
Colonel
Major, Registrar, non medical officer RAMC
Subaltern, Company Officer, non medical officer RAMC
Quartermaster
Regimental Serjeant Major
Quartermaster Serjeant
Warrant Officer Steward
Warrant Officer Clerk
3 X serjeant clerk
2 X corporal clerk
6 X clerk
serjeant hospital cook
2 X corporal hospital cook
8 X hospital cook
staff serjeant nursing orderly for regimental duties
nursing orderlies for duty as
6 X batman
serjeant general dutyman
cororal general dutyman
9 X general dutyman
2 X officers mess orderly
5 X nursing officers mess orderly
serjeants mess orderly
postman
2 X sanitary dutyman
3 X servants for nursing officers quarters
corporal clothing storeman
2 X clothing storeman
corporal linen storeman
linen storeman
serjeant pack storeman
2 X pack storeman
2 X corporal stewards storeman
2 X stewards storeman
sanitary assistant

Medical and Surgical Division
2 X Lieutenant Colonel
13 X Major, Captain or Subaltern
2 X corporal clerk for clinical duties
4 X clerk for clinical duties
staff serjeant dispenser
serjeant dispenser
serjeant laboratory assistant
laboratory assistant
2 X corporal masseur (one trained in occupational therapy) (May be civilians)
3 X mental nursing orderly
2 X serjeant nursing orderly
corporal nursing orderly
16 X nursing orderly
nursing orderlies for duty as
laboratory orderly
2 X staff serjeant wardmaster
20 X ward orderly
corporal operating room assistant
2 X operating room assistant
serjeant radiographer
radiographer
2 X transfusion orderly
serjeant for general or special section
corporal for general or special section
8 X for general or special section
Note: the personnel of the special section remained the same in number but varied in specialisms according to function.

Chaplain RAChD
carpenter and joiner RE
electrician, wireman RE
engine hand RE
3 X driver RASC
Major, Captain or Subaltern AD
clerk orderly AD Corp
corporal dental mechanic AD Corp
officers mess cook ACC
2 X nursing officers mess cook ACC
serjeants mess cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
3 X cook ACC
batman for chaplain, from any arm.

Matron QAIMNS
Assistant Matron QAIMNS
3 X Theatre Sister QAIMNS
45 X Sister QAIMNS

3 X bicycle
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt water
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS


A GENERAL HOSPITAL (1200 bed)
War Establishment IV/227/1. December 1943.
The Medical and Surgical Divisions of this unit will consist of 1000 general medical and surgical beds together with two sections of one hundred beds which may be
General Medical and Surgical
Orthopaedic
Psychiatric
VD or any other speciality

Headquarters
Colonel
Major, Registrar, non medical officer RAMC
Subaltern, Company Officer, non medical officer RAMC
Quartermaster
Regimental Serjeant Major
Warrant Officer Steward
Warrant Officer Clerk
4 X serjeant clerk
3 X corporal clerk
9 X clerk
staff serjeant hospital cook
2 X serjeant hospital cook
2 X corporal hospital cook
14 X hospital cook
staff serjeant nursing orderly for regimental duties
nursing orderlies for duty as
8 X batman
serjeant general dutyman
cororal general dutyman
20 X general dutyman
3 X officers mess orderly
7 X nursing officers mess orderly
serjeants mess orderly
corporal postman
2 X sanitary dutyman
4 X servants for nursing officers quarters
serjent clothing storeman
corporal clothing storeman
2 X clothing storeman
serjeant linen storeman
corporal linen storeman
2 X linen storeman
serjeant pack storeman
corporal pack storeman
2 X pack storeman
serjeant stewards storeman
2 X corporal stewards storeman
4 X stewards storeman
corporal sanitary assistant

Medical and Surgical Division
2 X Lieutenant Colonel
23 X Major, Captain or Subaltern
2 X corporal clerk for clinical duties
4 X clerk for clinical duties
staff serjeant dispenser
2 X serjeant dispenser
serjeant laboratory assistant
corporal laboratory assistant
serjeant masseur (may be civilian)
corporal masseur trained in occupational therapy (may be civilian)
masseur (may be civilian)
corporal mental nursing orderly
4 X mental nursing orderly
2 X serjeant nursing orderly
2 X corporal nursing orderly
26 X nursing orderly
nursing orderlies for duty as
laboratory orderly
3 X staff serjeant wardmaster
40 X ward orderly
corporal operating room assistant
2 X operating room assistant
serjeant radiographer
2 X radiographer
2 X transfusion orderly
2 X serjeant for general or special sections
2 X corporal for general or special sections
12 X for general or special sections

Chaplain RAChD
carpenter and joiner RE
electrician, wireman RE
engine hand RE
3 X driver RASC
Major, Captain or Subaltern AD
orporal clerk orderly AD Corp
serjeant dental mechanic AD Corp
3 X dental mechanic
2 X officers mess cook ACC
corporal cook nursing officers mess cook ACC
2 X nursing officers mess cook ACC
2 X serjeants mess cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
4 X cook ACC
batman for chaplain, from any arm.

Matron QAIMNS
Assistant Matron QAIMNS
3 X Theatre Sister QAIMNS
74 X Sister QAIMNS

3 X bicycle
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt water
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS



A GENERAL HOSPITAL (200 bed)
War Establishment IV/228/1. January 1944.
Including 20 beds for offices and an ophthalmic section.
This small General Hospital was intended for use in a Corps area and in practice functioned as a Casualty Clearing Station.

Lieutenant Colonel
7 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant
Subaltern, Company Officer, non medical officer RAMC
Quartermaster
Regimental Serjeant Major, acts as chief wardmaster
Warrant Officer Steward
staff serjeant clerk
2 X corporal clerk
2 X clerk
corporal clerk for clinical duties
clerk for clinical duties
staff serjeant dispenser
serjeant dispenser
serjeant hospital cook
corporal hospital cook
4 X hospital cook
corporal laboratory assistant
laboratory assistant
corporal masseur (may be civilian)
3 X mental nursing orderly
2 X corporal nursing orderly
18 X nursing orderly
nursing orderlies for duty as
4 X batman
4 X batman for nursing officers
serjeant general dutyman
cororal general dutyman
10 X general dutyman
officers mess orderly (may be civilian)
2 X nursing officers mess orderly (may be civilian)
corporal clothing storeman
2 X clothing storeman
corporal linen storeman
linen storeman
pack storeman
2 X serjeant wardmaster
corporal wardmaster
10 X ward orderlies
2 X operating room assistant
serjeant radiographer
radiographer
transfusion orderly
sanitary assistant
2 X special section orderly

Ophthalmic Section
Major, Captain or Lieutenant, Graded or Specialist Ophthalmologist
clerk
serjeant optician

Chaplain RAChD
electrician, wireman RE
engine hand RE
5 X driver RASC
Major, Captain or Subaltern AD
clerk orderly AD Corp
corporal dental mechanic AD Corp
officers mess cook ACC
nursing officers mess cook ACC
serjeants mess cook ACC
2 X cook ACC
batman for chaplain, from any arm.

Matron QAIMNS
Assistant Matron QAIMNS
2 X Theatre Sister QAIMNS
18 X Sister QAIMNS

4 X bicycle
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt water
3 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS




A NEUROPATHIC HOSPITAL
War Establishment IV/43A/2. January 1943.
600 beds including 60 officers.
Headquarters
Colonel
Registrar, Non Medical
Quartermaster
Warrant Officer Class I Mental Nursing Orderly and Regimental Serjeant Major
Warrant Officer Class II Steward and Quartermaster Serjeant

carpenter and joiner
staff serjeant clerk
serjeant clerk, orderly room duties
clerk orderly room duties
serjeant clerk pay duties
clerk pay duties
serjeant clerk
2 X corporal clerk
6 X clerk
serjeant hospital cook
corporal hospital cook
6 X hospital cook
7 X batman
6 X batman for nursing sisters
serjeant general dutyman
3 X corporal general dutyman
9 X general dutyman
2 X general dutyman for officers mess
corporal sanitary dutyman
sanitary dutyman
corporal storeman, clothing
2 X storeman, clothing
corporal storeman linen
storeman, linen
serjeant storeman, pack
2 X storeman, pack
2 X corporal steward 2 X steward

3 X Chaplain
electrician RE
engine hand IC RE
Major, Captain or Lieutenant RADC
serjeant dental mechanic RADC
serjeant dental clerk orderly RADC
corporal cook ACC
5 X cook ACC
batman for chaplains

Matron QAIMNS
Assistant Matron QAIMNS
40 X sister and staff nurse QAIMNS
All QAIMNS trained in mental nursing duties

Psychotic and Neurotic Division
Lieutenant Colonel, Specialist in Psychiatry in charge of Psychotic Division
Lieutenant Colonel, Specialist in Psychiatry in charge of Neurotic Division
Major, Specialist in Medicine
Major, Specialist in Pathology
6 X Major, Specialist in Psychiatry
6 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant experienced in Psychiatry

staff serjeant dispenser
2 X serjeant dispenser
laboratory assiatant
masseur
2 X serjeant mental nursing orderly
20 X mental nursing orderly
2 X corporal nursing orderly
14 X nursing orderly
2 X special treatment orderly
2 X staff serjeant ward orderly as wardmaster
20 X ward orderly

For each additional 100 beds in excess of 100 the following additions to the establishment may be made
2 X officer
serjeant mental nursing orderly
corporal mental nursing orderly
4 X mental nursing orderly
clerk
hospital cook
3 X nursing orderly
5 X sisters QAIMNS


NEUROSURGICAL UNIT.
War Establishment IV/135/1. February 1943.
Major, Neurosurgical Specialist
Major, Anaesthetist
Major, Neurologist
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant
2 X operation room assistant
2 X batman
2 X theatre sister QAIMNS




A CONVALESCENT DEPOT (2,000 MEN) RAMC
War Establishment IV/44/2. May 1944.
Consisting of a Headquarters and two divisions, each of 4 companies of 250 men.

RAMC
Lieutenant Colonel
Major, Captain or Subaltern, Medical Officer
serjeant dispenser
corporal masseur (may be civilian)
2 X masseur (may be civilian)
corporal nursing orderly
3 X nursing orderly

Attached
3 X Chaplain
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant RADC
2 X clerk orderly RADC
corporal dental mechanic RADC
serjeant instructor APTC
officers mess cook ACC
staff serjeant cook ACC
2 X serjeant cook ACC
4 X corporal cook ACC
23 X cook ACC

Captain, Adjutant
Captain or Subaltern, Duty Officer
Quartermaster
Regimental Serjeant Major
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
4 X bandsmen or entertainer
barber
4 X batman
serjeant carpenter and joiner
2 X serjeant clerk
3 X clerk
driver IC
officers mess orderly
2 X postman
serjeant regimental policeman
3 X regimental policeman
serjeant sanitary dutyman
4 X sanitary dutyman

1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

A fire fighting sub section Type B is attached.

Each division
Major RAMC
4 X serjeant instructor
Captain or Subaltern Duty Officer
Regimental Serjeant Major
4 X Company Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
batman
clerk



OFFICERS CONVALESCENT WING.
War Establishment IV/268/1. June 1944.
For 100 officers.
Will be attached for all purposes to a Convalescent Depot.

Major
Subaltern, Adjutant
company quartermaster serjeant
corporal cook
4 X cook
driver IC RASC
corporal general dutyman
24 X general dutyman
2 X instructor APTC
2 X masseurs RAMC (may be civilian)
6 X mess orderly
corporal nursing orderly
nursing orderly
serjeant officers mess steward

1 X motorcycle
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 troop carrying

For each additional 50 officers
Cook
10 X general dutymen
3 X mess orderly
masseur
nursing orderly



A BASE DEPOT OF MEDICAL STORES.
War Establishment IV/45/1. March 1944.

Major
Quartermaster
Quartermaster Serjeant
serjeant clerk
corporal clerk
serjeant dispenser
serjeant instrument mechanic surgical
operating room assistant
batman
corporal storeman
10 X packer and storeman

Optical section
clerk
nursing orderly
staff serjeant optician
serjeant optician
carpenter and joiner RE
cook ACC

A fire fighting section Type B is attached.

When a store is selected to hold sera and vaccines, or for the provision of nitrous oxide gas, the following may be added
serjeant nursing orderly
corporal nursing orderly
2 X nursing orderly


BASE DEPOT of MEDICAL STORES, CIVIL AFFAIRS INCREMENT.
War Establishment IV/247/1. April 1944.
To be attached for all purposes to a Base Depot of Medical Stores.
Quartermaster
staff serjeant dispenser
clerk
nursing orderly as storeman


AN ADVANCED DEPOT OF MEDICAL STORES
War Establishment III/51/3. March 1944.
Captain (non medical officer)
corporal clerk
serjeant dispenser
nursing orderly as batman
3 X nursing orderly as packers and storeman

attached
carpenter and joiner RE
driver IC RASC

1 X 15cwt GS



CAPTURED ENEMY EQUIPMENT SECTION (MEDICAL)
War Establishment XIV/1322/1. November 1944.
To be administered by a base depot medical stores.
Quartermaster RAMC
2 X serjeant dispenser RAMC
corporal clerk RAMC
clerk RAMC
7 X driver IC RASC
1 X 15cwt GS
6 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

Pioneer, civilian or Prisoner of War labour may be attached up to a total of 26.



STANDING MEDICAL BOARD
War Establishment XIV/1320/1. September 1944.
To be administered by a convalescent depot.
Lieutenant Colonel, President
Medical Officer
2 X clerk RAMC
batman driver
1 X car 2 seat 4 X 2



MEDICAL EVACUATION STAFF
War Establishment XIV/1321/1. September 1944.
Assistant Director of Medical Services, Lieutenant Colonel
3 X Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services
2 X serjeant clerk RAMC
2 X corporal clerk RAMC
5 X clerk RAMC
2 X batman driver
2 X car 2 seat 4 X 2.

Headquarters
Attached to Rear Headquarters 21 Army Group
Assistant Director of Medical Services, Lieutenant Colonel
Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services
serjeant clerk RAMC
corporal clerk RAMC
2 X clerk RAMC
batman driver
1 X car 2 seat 4 X 2.

Air Evacuation Section
Attached to the airfield being used for casualty evacuation
Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services
clerk RAMC

Embarkation Section
Attached to the authority controlling the port being used for casualty evacuation.
Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services
serjeant clerk RAMC
corporal clerk RAMC
2 X clerk RAMC
batman driver
1 X car 2 seat 4 X 2.




MAXILLO-FACIAL SURGICAL UNIT
War Establishment IV/47C/2. December 1943.
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant Specialist or Graded Surgeon RAMC
Major, Captain or Lieutenant Specialist or Graded Anaesthetist RAMC
corporal operating room assistant RAMC
operating room assistant RAMC
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant Specialist or Graded Maxillo-Facial Dental Surgeon ADC
2 X corporal clerk orderly ADC
staff serjeant dental mechanic ADC
serjeant dental mechanic ADC
Theatre Sister QAIMNS



AN ENTOMOLOGICAL FIELD UNIT
War Establishment IV/201/1. September 1943.

2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant (specialist or graded specialist in hygiene)
2 X serjeant laboratory assistant
2 X nursing orderly for general duties
driver IC RASC

2 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater


A BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH SECTION
War Establishment IV/192/1. October 1943.

Type A
Major or Captain (may be specialist or graded officer as required)
clerk (shorthand typist) RASC
driver IC RASC
2 X staff serjeant, Interviewing NCO.
1 X motorcycle
1 X car 4 seat 4 X 4

Type B
2 X Major or Captain (may be specialist or graded officer as required)
clerk (shorthand typist) RASC
driver IC RASC
1 X motorcycle
1 X car 4 seat 4 X 4

Type C
Lieutenant Colonel
Major or Captain (may be specialist or graded officer as required)
clerk (shorthand typist) RASC
driver IC RASC
1 X motorcycle
1 X car 4 seat 4 X 4


PORT DETACHMENT RAMC
War Establishment IV/204/1. November 1943.
serjeant nursing orderly
2 X nursing orderly

To be attached to a Docks Operating Company RE.
Personnel may be of low medical category.




FIELD DENTAL LABORATORY.
War Establishment IV/239/1. February 1944.
Major
staff serjeant dental technician
serjeant clerk orderly
corporal dental mechanic
6 X dental mechanic
clerk orderly
general dutyman

1 X motorcycle


FIELD DENTAL CENTRE (OPERATIONAL)
War Establishment IV/240/1. March 1944.
A
Major Captain or Lieutenant
Corporal clerk orderly
B
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant
corporal clerk orderly
clerk orderly
C
Major or Captain
2 X Major, Captain or Lieutenant
corporal clerk orderly
2 X clerk orderly
D
Major
3 X Major, Captain of Lieutenant
serjeant clerk orderly
3 X clerk orderly


FIELD DENTAL CENTRE (NON OPERATIONAL)
War Establishment IV/242/1. March 1944.
60% of personnel may be of low medical category.
1 X Dental Chair
Captain or Lieutenant
clerk orderly
2 X Dental Chair
2 X Captain or Lieutenant
corporal clerk orderly
clerk orderly
3 X Dental Chair
3 X Captain or Lieutenant
corporal clerk orderly
2 X clerk orderly
4 X Dental Chair
4 X Captain or Lieutenant
corporal clerk orderly
3 X clerk orderly
5 X Dental Chair
Major
4 X Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant clerk orderly
4 X clerk orderly
6 X Dental Chair
Major
5 X Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant clerk orderly
5 X clerk orderly
7 X Dental Chair
Major
6 X Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant clerk orderly
corporal clerk orderly
5 X clerk orderly
8 X Dental Chair
Major
7 X Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant clerk orderly
corporal clerk orderly
6 X clerk orderly
9 X Dental Chair
Major
8 X Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant clerk orderly
corporal clerk orderly
7 X clerk orderly
10 X Dental Chair
Major
9 X Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant clerk orderly
corporal clerk orderly
8 X clerk orderly
11 X Dental Chair
Major
10 X Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant clerk orderly
2 X corporal clerk orderly
8 X clerk orderly
20 X Dental Chair
Colonel
2 X Major
17 X Captain or Lieutenant
staff serjeant clerk orderly
serjeant clerk orderly
3 X corporal clerk orderly
5 X clerk orderly


OPERATIONS
(Military not surgical)
When planning an operation the General Staff gave a forecast of anticipated casualties. On this basis the Adjutant Generals Staff and medical staff estimated the number of medical units that should be opened and the amount of transport required. There were tables which predicted the probable proportions of lying, sitting and walking wounded. If the calculations showed a need for more transport then the Quartermaster Generals Staff should provide it.

The divisional Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS) made his plan based on the staff calculations. The plan would show what proportion of the division’s medical resources would be opened and what proportion should be kept in reserve. Medical units in the field cannot respond very rapidly. They take some time to open, about an hour for an Advanced Dressing Station and two hours for a Main Dressing Station. More significantly they take a long time to close. The actual dismantling and packing up takes about the same time as the opening up but once there are casualties in the system they must be treated, processed and evacuated before the unit can start to close down. It is important that no more medical units should be opened than are actually required. At the same time there must be reserves to meet unexpected demand.

The location of the dressing stations was important. They must be close enough to the front for casualties to reach them quickly, but not so close as to be in great danger from enemy action. Once the locations were decided then the arrangements for evacuating casualties to and from the dressing stations could be made. These arrangements together with the times when various units would open and close would be included in orders issued to all units.

Most of the work in the forward areas concentrated on evacuation of casualties. Every fighting unit will had a Regimental Aid Post. This was manned by the battalion or regimental Medical Officer. Unit stretcher bearers, often aided by jeeps, carriers, scout cars or half tracks would evacuate casualties to the Regimental Aid Post. It was a principle that casualties should be collected by the next higher formation and forward personnel should not go back to the rear with casualties.

A thousand yards is the maximum practical distance that stretcher bearers can carry a casualty. This meant that a Car Post should be established some thousand yards behind a Regimental Aid Post. This was the point to which ambulance cars could operate. If it was not practical to establish a Car Post then a Bearer Relay Post should be established. Stretcher bearers from the Field Ambulance would take over the casualty and carry him to the Car Post. Motor ambulances should be sent forward automatically, but a concentration of cars should be avoided. Thus every time a motor ambulance arrived at an Advanced Dressing Station a replacement should be sent forward.

The Advanced Dressing Station should be only a few minutes from the Regimental Aid Post. This distance varied with the extent to which motor ambulances could approach the front. Light Ambulances were four wheel drive and could usually get well forward. The Advanced Dressing Station was the collection point from Regimental Aid Posts. Normally only one company would open at a time, leaving the other in reserve to move forward if necessary. Only very urgent treatment was carried out here. Dressings were adjusted and hot drinks were provided.

Casualties were collected from the Advanced Dressing Station and taken to the Main Dressing Station. Usually the larger 4 stretcher ambulance cars were used here. The pace was more leisurely but still only urgent treatment was carried out. Anti tetanus injections were given. However at this point the casualty’s details were taken and record keeping began. Also there was a salvage point where weapons and ammunition were collected. In theory the casualty’s weapons should have been evacuated with him.

In order to relieve the pressure of the dressing stations there was a separate system for the walking wounded. Less serious cases were directed to a Walking Wounded Collection Post some two miles behind the front line. Troop carrying lorries transported walking wounded direct to a Casualty Clearing Station, missing out the Advanced Dressing Station and the Main Dressing Station, and avoiding the use of ambulance cars.

From Casualty Clearing Stations casualties could follow one of several routes:
- Lightly wounded might be returned to their units after a brief period of treatment and rest.
- More serious cases might be taken to a convalescent hospital before being sent to a reinforcement centre for return to a unit.
- The most serious cases would be evacuated to the UK. When possible air evacuation was used. Otherwise evacuation was by hospital train and hospital ship.



As the campaign progressed it was found that the balance of medical services needed adjustment. When units were permanently part of a division or corps there was an obvious danger that some would be overworked when the parent formation was in action, or underused when the parent formation was out of the line. The obvious answer would be to transfer units from one formation to the other but commanders always resisted releasing any units.

The Casualty Clearing Station was generally the most useful medical unit and as a temporary measure spare Field Dressing Stations were routinely attached to Casualty Clearing Stations in order to increase their capacity. In early 1945 the Casualty Clearing Station was enlarged and made Army troops rather than Corps troops. It now could provide for 80 casualties in beds and 120 on stretchers. It was given more Medical Officers, Nursing Officers QAIMNS and extra transport. This gave greater flexibility. In a large set piece action Casualty Clearing Stations were used in pairs with each receiving casualties alternately. A Field Dressing Station acted as a buffer, sorting out less serious cases.

The Field Dressing Station was very mobile and flexible. However its flexibility led to its being misused. They were very effective when working as Advanced Surgical Centres with a Field Surgical Unit and a Field Transfusion Unit attached. These were particularly useful in mobile operations. Field Dressing Stations were also useful when increasing the capacity of Casualty Clearing Stations. All too often they were used as centres for minor sick and exhaustion cases, prisoner of war hospitals and camp reception centres. The scale was changed from two per infantry division to one per division, two per corps, one per army and one per corps held as GHQ troops.

Light Field Ambulances were underused. Initially each Independent Armoured Brigade had one. However when assigned to a division the divisional resources were generally adequate. From early 1945 one Light Field Ambulance per two brigades was held as Army troops.

The Advanced Depot of Medical Stores was given a mobile element of two 3ton lorries to carry a store of essential supplies within a Corps.

In practice the General Hospital of 220 beds was used as a Casualty Clearing Station. In this role a Field Surgical Unit had to be attached.




In the assault stage of the D Day operation Field Ambulances landed with brigades and battalions and each beach group landed on D-day with a self-contained medical organisation comprising two Field Dressing Stations, two Field Surgical Units and a Field Transfusion Unit supplemented by small surgical teams. Field Dressing Stations were working and surgeons were performing operations in all the beach groups by H+90.

By D+2 it was possible to concentrate the Casualty Clearing Stations and the hospitals which began to arrive at the beach-head into three principal medical areas. The Field Dressing Stations within the corps were situated near the casualty clearing stations and attended to the lightly wounded, exhaustion cases and sick, leaving the Casualty Clearing Stations clear to handle major casualties. The hospitals in the rear medical areas received casualties from the corps Casualty Clearing Station.

Casualty Evacuation Posts were established on each of the three beach sectors on D-day. Later the evacuation of casualties was simplified by concentrating the casualties in Jig and Mike beaches. This central Casualty Evacuation Post at Courseulles was enlarged and formed out of two Field Dressing Stations, two Field Surgical Units and one Field Transfusion Unit. It had accommodation for 1,500 casualties and held cases until shipping and weather permitted evacuation. Evacuation to UK was by means of LSTs modified to carry stretcher cases, hospital ships and medically manned LSTs for walking wounded. These were loaded initially off-shore by DUKWs specially allotted for medical purposes.

Evacuation by air began on 13 June, but was at first uncertain. A week later a more formal organisation was introduced. A Medical Air Liaison Officer was attached to 83 Group RAF. 81 General Hospital was made the principal collecting centre for casualties to be evacuated by air, and a single air strip was selected for evacuation purposes. RAF Casualty Air Evacuation Units began to arrive at this time and assisted in holding casualties on the airfield until aircraft were available.

To meet the expected demands for transfusion fluids in the early days of the operation, the following arrangements were made:-
(i) Special issues of blood were made to the assault forces.
(ii) Field Transfusion Units landed with an estimated supply to last two days.
(iii) Transfusion fluids were included in the maintenance blocks.
(iv) Two Advance Blood Banks were landed on D+3 and allocated to each of the corps fronts.
(v) Supplies of whole blood were sent initially from UK by naval despatch launch and later from D+16 by air.

With one exception all hospitals at this stage were tented. Major medical installations in the bridgehead on 26 July amounted to twelve Casualty Clearing Stations and nineteen General Hospitals. In addition three Base Depot Medical Stores had arrived for the supply of medical equipment. By 26 September another seventeen General Hospitals and two additional Base Depot Medical Stores had arrived.

When the break-out occurred the evacuation line lengthened and a period of rapid movement and development of an air shuttle service began. As far as Falaise all corps casualties were cleared by ambulance car company. By the time the SEINE was reached the distance was far too great for large-scale evacuation by road and an ambulance railhead opened and daily ambulance trains were organised.

During the pursuit to the Dutch frontier hospitals moved rapidly along the axes of both of the armies and by continually leap-frogging each other, ensured that the major medical services were always within reach of the forward troops. After the advance had gone beyond the Seine and until Brussels was reached, the chief method of evacuation was by Sparrow aircraft (the Sparrow flight consisted of six obsolete bomber Harrow aircraft). When Brussels was reached most cases went by Dakota aircraft to UK. At a later stage casualties were despatched from Brussels by rail.

For operation Market Garden 500-700 casualties were evacuated daily by air from Brussels to UK, and in addition a rail lift to Amiens for 200-300 daily was organised. An ambulance train formed from recaptured British and Belgium stock and staffed by Belgian Red Cross personnel made its first run from Brussels to Amiens on 20 September.

The advanced depots medical stores could not move at the speed required to maintain a satisfactory supply system. To overcome this, mobile elements were formed from the depots, consisting each of two three-ton lorries and a supply of medical equipment.

The quick advance of the armies had left the majority of the hospitals in the RMA. It was necessary to provide hospitals in the advanced base and with winter approaching these could not be tented. The problem was solved by taking over all existing civilian and German military hospitals and by converting many large schools and convents

Gradually convalescent depot facilities were increased and it was eventually possible to hold in theatre all cases likely to be returned to duty in 30 days.

The medical area of the RMA was reduced to one general hospital and gradually all other line of communication hospitals moved into Belgium. Any cases in France were accepted by US medical services.

Evacuation by hospital ship from the RMA continued from Arromanches until mid December. Hospital ships continued to evacuate casualties from Dieppe until mid November, but the main port for sea evacuation was Ostend. Movement to Ostend from other hospital areas was by hospital train. Air evacuation was through Brussels or, later, Bruges.

In 1945 VAD and ATS personnel were posted to general hospitals in steadily increasing numbers from March onwards. In February the period for holding casualties and patients on the Continent was extended to forty-two days.

Railway facilities were such that up to the time of the Rhine crossing casualties could be despatched almost direct from the fighting fronts to the various L of C hospital centres. There were eleven British ambulance trains and one Belgian Red Cross train connecting the main medical areas in the advance base. Within the L of C two diesel-engined ambulance rail cars, each with a capacity of about thirty patients, started to operate on 24 March and proved invaluable in collecting and distributing patients between the centres of air evacuation and outlying hospitals.

The majority of road evacuation immediately behind the armies was undertaken by two RASC ambulance car companies, assisted by a third manned by American Field Service personnel who arrived from CMF in April.

It was the responsibility of the Medical Services to examine all British and US PW and to dust them with de-lousing powder before they were evacuated to UK. In addition, by 8 May 919 ex-PW had been evacuated through medical channels.

The responsibility for Displaced Persons was primarily that of the Military Government authorities, but great assistance was given by the military Medical Services in providing hospital facilities and in supervising the hygiene and sanitation of Displaced Persons camps.

The German military hospitals which were over-run in the advance were full of wounded. As the German administrative system was completely disrupted groups of Wehrmacht hospitals were supervised by British medical units. Two Captured Enemy Medical Equipment Sections which had been formed earlier in the campaign and which had been sorting captured medical equipment in Belgium were brought into Germany to locate and concentrate the German medical store depots.

British medical units were called in to provide hospital, nursing and hygiene facilities at the concentration camps.

The British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem provided extra comforts for patients. Lady welfare officers were attached to all hospitals, convalescent depots and later to CCSs. They provided a supply of books, toilet requisites, cigarettes and games, as well as small articles of furniture, clothing and equipment which were not usually obtainable from army sources. Three Red Cross ambulance car platoons assisted RASC ambulance car companies in carrying on casualty evacuation in the L of C areas. These were not all staffed by Red Cross personnel but included sections from other charitable institutions including St Johns Ambulance, Scouts International (including Girl Guides) and Friends Ambulance Unit. The work of a Red Cross chiropody unit working in the Ostend and Antwerp areas was so valuable that arrangements were made for two more to be sent from UK. The British Red Cross Society Commission established two hostels to accommodate the relatives of dangerously ill patients. By agreement with the War Office a scheme for bringing relatives of dangerously ill patients into the theatre commenced on 15 March. Two British Red Cross Society convalescent homes, one for male and one for female officers, were opened in Brussels and two further convalescent homes were set up on the Belgian coast in the second half of May.

There were also British voluntary organisations working with the French Army. The Hadfield Spears Hospital Trust provided female nurses and drivers for the 1st French Division, helped by a section of the Friends Ambulance Unit. Another Friends Ambulance Unit section worked with the 2nd French Armoured Division.

A unit of the American Field Service arrived in March from the 8th Army in Italy.



BATTALION MEDICAL OFFICER
All battalion sized units had a Medical Officer RAMC and a number of personnel from the unit who were trained as orderlies and stretcher bearers.

In an infantry battalion the medical establishment was
Medical Officer RAMC
medical officers orderly/driver
medical serjeant
corporal stretcher bearer
19 X stretcher bearers.

The Medical Officer was a fully trained doctor and held the rank of Captain. He was attached to the unit and not a part of it. He was responsible for all medical matters in the unit. When not in action he filled much the same role as a civilian General Practitioner, treating illnesses that were within his competence and referring others to military hospitals. In action he established a Regimental Aid Post to the rear of the unit’s position and made the location known to all personnel. Here first aid was given, dressings applied or adjusted and an evacuation sheet filled in if the casualty was being sent further to the rear.

The Medical Officer was assisted by a medical serjeant who was trained in emergency treatment by the RAMC. He was normally a serjeant from the unit but in some cases might be medical student or officer candidate attached from the RAMC. He carried a medical bag with dressings and drugs and was responsible for the medical hamper which contained the units supply of drugs and instruments for use by the Medical Officer or medical orderly.

There was also a Medical Officers orderly who was provided by the battalion and acted as driver and general non medical assistant. He should not be confused with the medical orderly.

Working to the Regimental Aid Post were the stretcher bearers who were trained in first aid. They were allocated to companies as required. All stretcher bearers could be armed with a Sten gun for self defence. In peace time the battalion band doubled as stretcher bearers.

The unit also provided a batman for the Medical officer.


Medical Equipment
A medical orderly carried the following equipment
- A medical satchel with
Picric Acid dressings for burns
Bandages
Bandages for burns
Plasters
Hydrophilic Plasters (waterproof)
Evacuation tags – to be filled in by the Medical officer and tied to the casualties clothing
- Water flask

He might also carry the following anaesthetics intended for front line use
- Chloroform. A glass phial in a cotton bag was broken so that the contents were released to be inhaled by the casualty
- Morphine. A single injectable dose was supplied in a tube with a needle attached. When this was administered it had to be recorded on the evacuation tag.


The Medical Orderly was also responsible for maintaining the Regimental Pannier. This was a wicker basket covered in canvas and containing the following
A metal box containing
Anti tetanus serum
Anti cathar salts (for restoring consciousness)
Mercury chloride (a purgative)
Bicarbonate of soda (for indigestion)
Disinfectants
Cough drops
Gentian violet (disinfectant)
Sulfamides (antiseptic powder)
Lysol tablets (for disinfecting instruments)
Antiseptic cream
Zinc oxide scarring cream
Iodine
Collyre (for eye burns)
Ammoniac liquor
Analgesic
Aspirin
Morphine
Tournique
Bandages
Gauze
Surgical scissors and instruments
Needles and sutures
These were not only for combat use. The Medical Officer cared for the unit personnel on a daily basis, holding sick parades and prescribing treatment that the nursing orderly dispensed.

Each soldier carried a field dressing. This fitted in a pocket in the battle dress trousers.

All army bandages, dressings and plasters were khaki coloured.


Stretchers.
Stretchers were fairly sturdy. There were two side members of stout square section wood. These were shaped into carrying handles at each end. Stout canvas was fixed between the side members. There were two collapsible metal struts, one close to each end, which held the stretcher rigid when in use but allowed it to be folded into a smaller space for carriage and stowing when not in use. There were four legs which allowed the stretcher to be placed on the ground while keeping the canvas and thus the casualty clear of it. These also fitted into channels in stretcher frames of ambulances.

A stretcher could be carried by two men in which case there was one at each end. A strap attached to each handle and passing round the neck of the bearer could be used to take some of the weight. Alternatively four bearers could be used for longer distances.


A Light Field Ambulance.
An armoured division had a Light Field Ambulance to operate with the armoured brigade. It differed from the standard Field Ambulance in that it was organised to be more mobile and flexible to meet the requirements of a mobile unit. There was a headquarters and four sections which could operate independently. The headquarters was much as for the Field Ambulance in an infantry division and provided a Main Dressing Station.

The four sections could operate well forward, one in support of each armoured regiment if necessary although it would generally be more efficient to centralise them and open only those that were required for a specific military operation. Obviously stretcher bearers were not suitable for an armoured battle where they would be too slow and very exposed. The work normally done by bearers was spread between the increased provision of medical vehicles to an armoured regiment and the increased number of light ambulances in the Light Field Ambulance.

Each armoured regiment had a halftrack for the medical officer plus two halftracks for collection casualties. These were in effect ambulances and usually marked as such. They could go out onto the battlefield and collect casualties direct the tanks. Each tank had a first aid kit and crew members trained in first aid. Labels were also provided and used to record what treatment had been given. The halftracks carried casualties to the Medical Officers halftrack which served as the Regimental Aid Post.

Halftrack ambulances were normally M5 since these had a clear space in the body which was lacking in the M9 and had a rear door which was lacking on the M14. Generally the seats on one side of the halftrack were replaced with a rack for two stretchers. Two stretcher casualties and five seated casualties could be carried. The Medical Officers halftrack could also be used as an ambulance but was generally used to provide protection for the Medical Officer. Often some kind of shelter was carried, canvas penthouses or corrugated metal sheets. All halftracks could have a tilt erected.

Ordinary stretchers were used but there were also specially designed flexible stretchers for lifting casualties out of tanks.

Each of the four sections of the Light Field Ambulance had two 2 berth light ambulances. These were usually Humber FWD 4 X 4 light ambulances. There is some evidence however that some halftracks were used instead. Certainly some halftracks were modified as ambulances by having both fuel tanks located on the offside which left space for a frame capable of carrying four stretchers. Alternatively part of the frame could be collapsed to allow two stretchers and five sitting casualties to be carried.


The Vehicles

Heavy Ambulance 4 X 2 four berth
The Austin K2 Heavy Ambulance was by far the most numerous vehicle in this class, and possibly the only one used in 21st Army Group. It was produced from 1940 to 1945 and 13,100 were built. Two ton vehicles were very rare in the British army, although the RAF used some. The Austin 2 ton chassis was the K2/YF which was used by the army as ambulance and GS.

The ambulance body, Heavy Ambulance Body No2 Mk1, was a standard WD design which was fitted also to Morris CS11/30, Morris CD and Bedford ML chassis, though none of these served in NW Europe. The body was a wood frame covered with leather cloth. It was insulated and well ventilated. There were ventilators in both sides, in the rear doors and in the front panel. There were also ventilators/extractors in the roof. Early types were square scoops but later ones were circular rotating type. A heater was also fitted at the front of the body. Later types had the exhaust pipe extended to above roof level to take fumes away from the body.

There were four stretcher racks, two on each side. The top racks could be raised and lowered. This made loading stretchers easier. The top rack was lowered and loaded, then raised so that the lower rack could be loaded. There were channels in the racks to accommodate the stretcher legs for easy loading and security. When lowered the top racks could be used as seats. The ambulance could carry various combinations of casualties in addition to the driver and medical attendant.
- four stretcher cases
- two stretcher cases and five sitting cases
- ten sitting cases.

Full width, wide opening, doors allowed easy access for stretchers and folding steps were provided for personnel. There was a door in the front of the body giving access to the drivers cab. There was a folding seat in the front of the body for an attendant. There were racks for two rifles in the cab.

The Austin K2 Heavy Ambulance was also used by the USAAF who received them under reverse Lend Lease. Some were also supplied to other Allied forces. Many remained in British Army service until the 1970s.

The British Army also used some CMP 3ton Ambulances with a similar specification but with four wheel drive. It is not known if these were used in NW Europe although they were used with the Canadian Army and the RAF, who used them in Normandy instead of their larger Fordson 6 X 4 ambulance.

Ambulance 4 X 4 two berth
The standard WD light ambulance was the Humber FWD which used the same chassis as the FWD Heavy Utility. It was 4 X 4 which made it possible to get to less accessible places. 1,144 were built.

The crew was a driver and medical attendant. Two stretchers could be carried on racks, which like the Austin K2 could be raised and lowered. The Humber also had wide rear doors for easy access. The body was necessarily shorter than the Austin K2 and the stretcher racks extended into the cab. There was no seat in the offside of the cab and when the medical attendant was seated in the body there was room for only two sitting casualties. The top stretcher rack could be lowered and used to seat two casualties thus the alternative loads were
- two stretcher cases and three sitting cases
- five sitting cases.

Some CMP light ambulances were also used. These were based on the 8cwt 4 X 4 Chevrolet Heavy Utility. The rear widows of the body were replaced by sheet metal and stretcher racks fitted on the nearside. Loading was awkward since there was a fairly small central rear door. The stretcher racks were pivoted at the front and the rear end was swung out allow the stretchers to be loaded. The racks were then swung back and secured before sitting patients could get in. Accommodation was as for the Humber.

3ton 4 X 4 with penthouses
The 3ton lorries with penthouses were simply 3ton GS which carried large canvas sheets which stretched across the existing tilt and extended to the sides and rear where they were supported on metal frames which were hammered into the ground. These could then be used as wards, preparation rooms and operating theatres. A sketch of one such lorry being used as an operating theatre is included below.

Jeeps (car 5cwt 4 X 4).
Jeeps were available in considerable numbers and all units used them for casualty evacuation. They could be used unmodified but a stretcher frame kit was available and this could rapidly and easily be fitted to any jeep. All jeeps in NW Europe had fittings to accept these frames. Two stretchers could be carried on top of the frame and a third could be carried below, in which case there was room only for the driver in the front. This was a simple and effective means of casualty evacuation although it left the casualties exposed to enemy fire and to the elements.

Jeeps with these frames have been seen with Field Ambulance Company markings. It is assumed that these were issued instead of the ambulance 2 berth, 4 X 2, light which is listed in the 1942 establishment.

Universal Carriers.
These maids of all work were often used by infantry battalions for casualty evacuation. They were very versatile and very mobile and if they were not needed for reconnaissance, flank guards and other such tasks then they were made available for delivering ammunition and food, and for evacuating casualties. Some units carried out modifications but most simply laid the stretchers on top of the rear compartment. There was a modification which removed the rear of the fighting compartment and lengthened the sides so that stretchers could be accommodated and protected from enemy fire.

Jeeps and Carriers used in the evacuation role usually flew a small white flag with the red cross on it.

Bedford QLT.
These were standard troop carrying vehicles with wooden seats for thirty troops.


Markings.
In 21st Army Group ambulances were clearly marked with large red crosses, larger than applied to vehicles in the UK. All British red cross markings were on a white circle and not the white square used by US forces and by the British post war. The red cross was carried in the following positions

On the Austin K2
- On each side of the body
- On the cab roof
- On each of the rear doors
- On a small plate mounted centrally on the front of the cab roof.

On the Humber FWD
- On each side of the body
- On the cab roof
- On each of the rear doors
- On a small plate mounted centrally on the front of the body roof.

On 3ton lorries
- On each side of the canvas tilt and the penthouse
- On cab roof

On vehicles being used for casualties but not RAMC (jeeps or QLT)
- A white flag, often triangular, with a red cross.

Note:
In forward areas there was always a judgement to be made between clear red cross markings and camouflage. Even stretcher bearers and other medical personnel took to wearing khaki armbands with a red cross on them.

The arm of service square for medical units was black with white numerals
In the Infantry Division
Field Ambulance 1 carried the number 75
Field Ambulance 2 carried the number 76
Field Ambulance 3 carried the number 77
Field Hygiene Section carried the number 78
Field Dressing Station 1 carried the number 82
Field Dressing Station 2 carried the number 83

In the Armoured Division
Light Field Ambulance carried the number 89
Field Ambulance carried the number 90
Field Hygiene Section carried the number 92
Field Dressing Station carried the number 93

In a Corp
Field Hygiene Section carried the number 66
Field Dressing Station carried the number 65


Vehicles were painted in dark earth or khaki drab, with the latter becoming more common as the campaign progressed. Camouflage patterns were rare. Interiors were off white but the insides of doors matched the vehicle exterior.

White stars in circles were displayed on top surfaces but stars on vehicle sides seem to be rare. Possibly red crosses took all the space.