| Description | This volume of the diary, marked "Log III", describes Cruickshank's experiences as Medical Officer on Ambulance Train no. 17 in France.
At the start of the volume, Cruickshank is transferred to Ambulance Train no. 17. He notes that "Staff coach not so luxurious as in no. XI. But I think the social atmosphere … will be better", and goes on to make some comments on the staffing of the train. He gives an account of the process of loading patients from the Casualty Clearing Stations at the Front, treating them and taking them back for evacuation to hospitals, or to the convalescent camp at Rouen. On 14 September he is loading patients at Contay Casualty Clearing Station.; he gives a description of the CCS, and of carrying out operations with Dr Pryce Mitchell, also of A.T.17. Further descriptions of Ambulance Train work throughout the volume; on 5 October 1916 at Gazincourt, Cruickshank records that the A.T. had loaded 502 casualties in 45 minutes, 170 of them stretcher cases (p. 38).
There are also general accounts of Cruickshank's experiences of the war, and his reflections on them. For instance, he describes enemy bombardments ("straffs") and Allied heavy artillery firing during and after the Battle of Guillemont. On 24 September he and others watch the shelling of Thiepval from a ridge some distance behind the front line. Cruickshank gives a description of the battlefield, the destruction in the area, and the rear lines and communication trenches p. 25). Elsewhere he gives an account of the destruction in and around the town of Albert on the Somme, and relates the story of the "leaning Virgin" on the church there. On p. 21 he has draen in a map of the area around Albert.
The written entries end at p. 44, 23 October 1916, when Cruickshank is given 7 days leave.
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Enclosures in this volume:
(Mostly pasted in; loose enclosures marked *)
Newspaper photograph of heavy gun with caterpillar tractor (p.1)
Press photograph: "leaning Virgin" at Albert (tipped in, p. 22)
Map of battlefield of the Somme, from illustrated magazine (tipped in, p. 37)
Photograph (very faded) of soldier in doorway (p. 45)
Two press cuttings of war news (shipping)with pencilled dates March 1917 (p. 45; p.49)
Photograph of French 75 anti-aircraft gun and cre, 2 photographs of British anti-aircraft guns, and aerial view of a bombardment (from magazines); pp. 51 - 54)
Magazine photographs:
"Verdun unvanquished" (p. 60); 2 pictures of zeppelin brought down by an aircraft (p. 65); two letters to the editor of the Spectator (on fear, and astronomy; not by Cruickshank, pp. 80 - 81)
Loose inserts (all together, between pages 90 and 91):
Piece from Spectator on Lt. Hankey, annotated in pencil by C, '2/Lt Donald Hankey, killed in action Somme'
Newspaper map: "The Allies' advance", annotated July 5th 1916
Newspaper map, Somme, annotated "Line: July 1st 1916"
Circular letter, headed "secret" from the Commanding Officer of the 41st Battalion MG Corps 23 April 1918, with instructions on precautions to be observed against gas attacks
Newspaper photograph of the war cartoonist Captain Bruce Bairnsfather in uniform (p. 96)
Ticket for Comédie Française stamped for Friday 10 September 1909 (tipped in, p. 99)
French transport order from Vecquemont to the British Army at Etaples for 2 officers and 336 other ranks, dated 30 December 1916 (p. 100). |