War Diaries for the 11th Field Ambulance

Discussion in 'RAMC' started by RAMC researcher, May 9, 2013.

  1. RAMC researcher

    RAMC researcher Junior Member

    As a beginner starting out in tracing my father's progress from North Africa to Austria (with the 11th Field Ambulance), I just wanted to say what a fantastic source of information the war diaries are. I spent 3 days in Kew going through literally hundreds of pages, photographing some and jotting down notes about others. I now have a list of all the places they passed through and next month my wife and I are going to Italy to try follow the route he took through the country and up into Austria (and taking in some of the touristy bits on the way!).

    As expected it is usually only the officers who are mentioned by name in the diaries but I did find my father's name on two occasions - once when he was in a field hospital as a patient! (he once told me that he had had malaria and was very ill for a while) and once when it was recorded that his "whereabouts are unknown". I do wonder what the latter may mean!

    I'm sure the experts on here are well aware of the usefulness of these diaries but I thought it might be of some encouragement to those who like myself are just starting out on their research to share my exprience.

    (As an aside, why isn't there an RAMC section in this part of the forum?).
     
    Thistle746 likes this.
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Remind me in a week or two and I'll be happy to oblige.
    (A few setup issues with the new software means I'm leaving adding forums for a while, otherwise I'd do it straight away.)
    ~A
     
  3. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    RAMC Researcher.

    Would you mind listing the places that 1 Fd Amb went through during their time in Italy?

    Regards

    Frank
     
  4. RAMC researcher

    RAMC researcher Junior Member

    Von Poop: thank you. No panic at all! (Sorry didn't mean to put anybody under pressure, just wondering if I was missing a section somewhere).

    Frank - I am Jeff who will be joining you in June at Cassino! I am still in the middle of putting together in MS WORD a potted summary of the movements of the 11th Fd Amb (I presume you mean the 11th not the 1st). Currently I only have hand written notes but I do need to the finish typing up the summary!
     
  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Jeff.

    I am a muppet!

    See you in June.

    Regards

    Frank

    Was in Cassino last week. In Anzio at the moment.
     
  6. ChrisBowden

    ChrisBowden New Member

    I am also just starting out. Having just received my fathers service record I am trying to fit his movements (with the 11th Field Ambulance) from North Africa through Sicily to Italy. Would it be appropriate to post a copy of his service record in the hope that someone may be able to interpret his movement and possible casulaty. I have a picture of him marked "Marino? Staff R.A.M.C. 3 general Hospital V.E. day 9th May 1945" there are 5 signatures on the back of the photgraph....." Harry Wright s/sgt: Arthur E Machin Sgt, (Fiddles): M Gratson: F.C.Danke: * Holden: I would be interested to know this location and details of his travel from Africa to Italy.
    Chris Bowden
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Yes, start a new thread in the service records of the forum.
    > Service Records
     

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