Thanks to The Airborne Soldier for this diary.

 

Abbreviations

2 i/c

351755

ADMS

Amb

Amn

Bde

CCP

CCS

CRE

DADMS

DDMS

Fd

GOC

i/c

MDS

RAMC

RAP

RASC

Recce

Second in Command

Map Reference

Assistant Director Medical Services

Ambulance

Ammunition

Brigade

Casualty Collection Post

Casualty Clearing Station

Command Royal Engineers

Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services

Deputy Director Medical Services

Field

General Officer Commanding

in Command

Main Dressing Station

Royal Army Medical Corps

Regimental Aid Post

Royal Army Service Corps

Reconnaissance

 

 

13th September

Place: Nr Louvain

 

Major H.J.A. Richards visited D.D.M.S. 30 Corps located near Diest, details given of location of Corps Medical Units for forthcoming operation.

 

14th September

Place: Nr Louvain

 

Orders received and preparations made for move tomorrow morning.  Conference held in the evening.  It was decided to once more collect all ambulance cars and stores into medical group, these vehicles to move tomorrow with their Bde Groups, unit rear transit area, when they will pull out and form a separate medical group.

 

15th September

Place: Helchteren Belgium and N.E.France 351755

 

Left location at 0745 hrs.  Proceeded to transit area between Lilo and Helchteren.  Command Group Headquarters established at Helchteren 351755.  M.I. room located with Camp Group.  Medical Group established in transit area just North of Helchteren 350772.

 

16th September

Place: Helchteren 351755

 

Major H.J.A. Richards visited A.D.M.S. Guards Armoured Division new located at Area K3588.  Saw D.A.D.M.S. and obtained details of Medical units for forthcoming operation.

 

17th September

Place: Helchteren 350772

 

Clock put back one hour at 0300 hrs.  Conference with Commander Seaborne Bodies (Lt.Col.Curtis) at Headquarters Rear 30 Corps. Informed that Division had been dropped about 1400 hours.  Column at half an hours notice to move.

 

18th September

Place: Helchteren 350772

 

Remained at half an hours notice ready to move.

 

19th September

Place: Helchteren 350772

 

Remained at half an hours notice ready to move.

 

Due to move at 1600 hours - Cancelled.

 

Due to move at 1st light tomorrow.

 

20th September

Place: Helchteren 350772

 

0545 - Major H.J.A. Richards left Command Group Headquarters to command Medical Group.  M.I. room remained with Camp Commandant and is to remain there for all future moves.

 

0600 - Medical Group move off at 0600 hours-Message received from Commander Seaborne Echelon- Ref, defence, vide Appendix 'B'

 

0930 - Column proceeded until about 1200 hours when it halted just south of Valkenswaard 3905.

 

1230 - Column probably remain in present location for the night- vide message from Commander Seaborne Echelon Appendix 'C'

 

1730 - Column to get off the road onto the verge and to remain for the night, and be ready to move off at 0600 hours- vide Appendix 'D'

 

21st September

Place: Valkenswaard 3905

 

Column remained at side of the road all day.

 

1800 - Column moves off towards Eindhoven.

 

2359 - Approaching Eindhoven. Much traffic congestion.

 

22nd September

Place: Eindhoven

 

0100 - Proceeding from Eindhoven towards Grave.

 

During the night the road was cut between Son 4426 and Vechel 4837 and two groups only got through ie Medical Group and R.A.S.C. Amn. Group.  The M.I. room remained with the Camp Commandant Group, and traveled with them.

 

0500 - Column arrived at D.P. South West of Grave 611519.  It remained here for some time.

 

0800 - Major H.J.A. Richards proceeded to Headquarters Airborne Corps (S.E. of Nijmegen 725605) and saw the D.D.M.S.

 

1000 - Returned to D.P. South West of Grave.

 

1700 - Column proceeded to transit area S.E. of Nijmegen 745600.

 

23rd September

Place: Valburg 663699

 

1000 - Conference at Headquaters Airborne Corps with D.D.M.S. and Officer Commanding 163 Field Ambulance (Lt.Col.Herford R.A.M.C.)

 

1300 - Medical Group moved to join 163 Fd Amb at location ie Jonkerbosh 6959.

 

1400 - Moved off in column with 163 Fd.Amb.

 

1800 - Column arrived at area Valburg 663699 and moved off the road.

 

2200 - Recce party moved forward consisting of C.C. and 2i/c 163 Fd Amb. (Lt.Col.Herford R.A.M.C. and Major McKenzie R.A.M.C.) Major H.J.A. Richards and Capt. Louis R.A.M.C. and 20 volunteers of the 163 Fd.Amb. plus the seaborne lift of the Polish Fd. Amb.  Party proceeded South of Driel 6874 and conducted the Polish Fd.Amb. vehicles into Driel to rejoin parent unit, recce party then returned.

 

24th September

Place: Valburg 663699

 

0800 - Lt.Col.Herford and Capt.Louis R.A.M.C. to 130 Bde for conference. Above

 

1000 - Officers returned with information that two attempts were to be made to get medical stores to the Division together with a party of volunteers from 163 Fd. Amb. who were to try and join up with the Division.  Attempts to be made as follows: (1) During the afternoon crossing of river N.E. of Driel towards Oosterbeek 6977 to be made with Lt.Col.Herford and Capt. Louis R.A.M.C. with 10 cwt of stores in an assault craft under the protection of the Red Cross Flag.  (2) Major H.J.A. Richards to establish a Medical Report Centre at the east side of Driel during the afternoon.  (3) Three tons of Medical Stores to be ferried across the river at night as a part of a general re-supply scheme which was being organized by 130 Bde and C.R.E. 1st Airborne Division.

 

1000 - (Contd) (4) Two officers and twenty five other ranks from 163 Fd.Amb. to be ferried across in an assault craft at the same time.

 

1030 - Medical Stores from all three Airborne Fd. Amb. Packed in (a) two blocks of ¼ ton each for daylight crossing. (b) six blocks of ½ ton each for night crossing these stores of Blood Plasma, Sylpha Drugs, Dressings and Blankets.

 

1400 - Lt.Col. Herford and Capt. Louis R.A.M.C. with 10 cwt stores departed on mission.

 

1415 - Rest of party detailed above then proceeded to Driel, Major H.J.A. Richards going on ahead to contact 130 Bde and establish report centre in Driel.

 

1500 - Medical Report Centre with Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. establish just east of Driel in a house vacated by Polish Bde. (688753)

 

1700 - D.A.D.M.S. Airborne Corps called at the Medical Report Centre with the object of trying to contact Lt. Col Herford near the river.

 

1900 - Arrangements made for crossing as follows- Medical Stores accompanied by

 

25th September

Place: Driel

 

1230 - Major H.J.A. Richards Major McKenzie R.A.M.C. proceeded to Nijmegen to attend a conference of D.D.M.S. Airborne Troops and D.D.M.S. 30 Corps reference medical arrangements for evacuation tonight.

 

1600 - Return to Medical Report Centre at Driel.  During the afternoon there was heavy mortar fire in Driel- Polish Hospital knocked out.  Noted that reception camp for evacuates South of Driel 680743 and C.C.P established an R.A.P. near the river N.E.Driel 696765

 

2030 - Lt (QM) Tiernan R.A.M.C. arrived at Report Centre having swan the river. He reported that the previous evening he had crossed the river with ½ tons of Medical Stores in a assault craft and Lt. Tansell R.A.S.C. had crossed with the dukws.  All craft were sunk on landing and could not be loaded.  He remained all day pinned down by fire in the 4th Dorset's area.  They had all returned back across the river after dark.

 

2100 - Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. visited C.C.P. and there met D.D.M.S. Airborne Corps (Brigadier A.E. Eagger) and Major Blair R.A.M.C. and with them returned to Medical Report Centre.

 

2230 - First elements of 1st Airborne Division commenced to pass up from the river to transit area, road badly signed so guides sent up the road and sentry posted to direct later parties.

 

2330 - With D.D.M.S. visited R.A.P near river where there was congestion and retention of casualties due to lack of vehicles. R.A.P. was under heavy mortar fire.

 

26th September

Place: Driel

 

0100 - Party returned to Medical Report Centre. D.D.M.S. proceeded to visit reception camp south of Driel.  Major H.J.A. Richards visited C.C.P. where again casualties were being retained owning to lack of transport.  About this time D.A.D.M.S. 43 Division also visited the C.C.P. and promised to send some ambulance cars.  Next visited the Reception Camp and there met D.D.M.S. Party returned to Medical Report Centre.

 

0430 - Brigadier Eagger proceeded to R.A.P. Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. to C.C.P. and Reception Camp and procured five jeep ambulance.

 

0500 - Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. visited C.C.P. and Reception Camp. Casualties now being cleared fairly well.  Reception Camp run out of food and blankets. Returned to Medical Report Centre.  Mortar fire on road East of Driel had increased also in vicinity of C.C.P.

 

0700 - Brigadier Eagger Major Blair R.A.M.C. departed.

 

0830 - C.C.P. almost clear of casualties.  Reception Camp closed down. About 200 to 300 men who had swum the river at first light now beginning to arrive, making their own way back if possible and if not evacuated through the C.C.P.

 

0930 - Road South of Driel still being heavily mortared.  Medical Report Centre closed-returned.  Proceeded to 163 Fd.Amb.  Mortar fire on road south of Driel still heavy also some shell fire.  Road being used by Polish Bde moving out.

 

1030 - Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. arrived at 163 Fd. Amb. M.D.S. Valburg 663699 Medical Groups 1st Airborne Division packed up ready to move.

 

27th September

Place: S.E. Nijmegen

 

0800 - Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. departs to H.Q. Airborne Corps.

 

0900 - Met D.D.M.S. and received instructions to dispose of all Medical and Ordnance Stores to No.3. C.C.S.

 

1000 - Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. attended G.O.C's conference at Police Barracks.

 

1500 - 163 Fd. Amb. And Medical Group left Valburg for Nijmegen.

 

1830 - Medical Groups arrived at last night after handing most of our stores to 3 C.C.P.

 

2100 - Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. saw D.D.M.S. Airborne Corps.

 

28th September

Place: Louvain

 

0600 - 1st Airborne Division column moved from Nijmegen to Louvain starting at first light.  Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. and Lt (QM) Tiernan R.A.M.C. remained to complete the handing over of stores etc.

 

1100 - Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C. and Lt (QM) Tiernan R.A.M.C. departed for Louvain.

 

1600 - Arrived at Louvian.

 

29th September

Place: Louvain

 

1430 - Major H.J.A. Richards R.A.M.C., Cpl Reymonds, and Cpl White R.A.M.C. departed by air for the U.K.  Pte Coates, R.A.M.C. and Pte Morgate R.A.M.C. remained with the M.I. room.  Duties of Medical Officer i/c taken over by Capt Willard, R.A.M.C.

 

1930 - Airborne Party arrive at Barkstch Heath.

 

30th September

Place: Fulbeck

 

1000 G.O.C's. conference- Discussed the future policy regarding the Division