| Description | This volume, marked "Log IV", describes Cruickshank's experiences as Medical Officer on ambulance trains.It opens with a description of Cruickshank's journey back from Boulogne to Le Havre and on to Britain, first London and then Aberdeen, with details of his activities while on leave. From the start of November he is again on Ambulance Train 17 (and later on A.T. 8), transporting wounded soldiers from the Casualty Clearing Stations at the Front.
The diary includes a number of accounts of his experiences of aerial warfare, including descriptions of attacks by aircraft and Zeppelins, and anti-aitcraft defences. On 8 November he describes an air raid and anti-aircraft guns at Longueau near Amiens: "Down showered the shrapnel on trucks and railway lines around us, a most unhealthy sound. Searchlights were all over the place, but seemed at one late period to have discovered their prey for they held on steadily and the numerous anti air craft defences did their utmost to justify their existence, if not by hitting the Tauben [German aeroplanes] at least by awakening the joint population of Longueau and Amiens" (p. 19). The entry for 11 November 1916 gives a long description of how he and others watched enemy aircraft from a hilltop and came under attack themselves, with general reflections on the part played by aeroplanes in the war (p. 23 ff.). Cruickshank also refers to the bombing of a Casualty Clearing Station, and in that context mentions the sinking of the hospital ships HMS Britannic and HMS Braemar Castle in the Mediterranean.
There are also some reflections on the war situation. In the entry for 14 November 1916 (p. 31) Cruickshank gives his views of the British and French contributions to the war. On 7 February 1917 (p. 60 ff.) he refers to newspaper reports of the row between the USA and Germany over Germany's resumption of all-out submarine warfare, and discusses the situation at length. He considers that the United States have not understood British attitudes to the war so far but have pursued their own interests, and if they should come in against Germany at this stage, "My feeling is that the British public will not want to settle terms of peace with America alongside, when she has only become definite when her own interests, financial interests at that, are at stake."
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Enclosures in this volume:
(Mostly pasted in; loose enclosures marked *)
3 French rail tickets, used for local visits in the evenings (p. 2)
Newspaper photograph of tank (p. 3)
Magazine map for the retreat from Mons, with commentary and annotations by Cruickshank (p. 4)
Newspaper map showing the line in Romania at 27 October 1916 (p. 5)
Three cuttings of honours to J. Douglas Brown, Miss Sinclair of ARI, Edward John Massie (p. 6)
Newspaper photograph of heavy gun (p. 7)
Two newspaper cuttings; German view of tanks and retirement of General von Kluck (p. 8)
German 1-Mark voucher (Darlehenskassenschein) given to Cruickshank by a German prisoner (p. 9)
Newspaper cutting with sketch of tank (p. 9)
Newspaper cutting: map, The new line at Verdun with note by Cruickshank 23 Oct 1916 (p. 10)
Movement order 26 October 1916, for Cruickshank on passenger train from Abbeville (p. 11), and French transport order from Boulogne to Le Havre at start of his leave (p. 12, with Cruickshank's description of the reaction of the RTO (Railway Transport Officer) to the use of a non-military train on p. 13
Various small clippings of awards to acquaintances etc., some mentioned in text (pp. 49, 59, 72)
* Programme for dramatic performance by the crew of AT 17 for Christmas 1916: "A Dream of Christmas. A Phantasy in 3 Scenes", with dramatis personae and list of the 3 scenes. Also contains calligraphic label "Dr. Cruickshank", probably a seat marker, and small photograph of officer marked on back "Capt. H.H.P. Morton R.A.M.C., O.C. 8 A.T." (inserted between pages 50 and 51)
Telegram from Nicholson, Aberdeen, from Aberdeen on 29 December 1916, stating that 'Gilbert' is dangerously ill in hospital in Rouen (tipped in p. 52, mentioned in text p. 54)
* Notification of Cruickshank's appointment to a temporary commission in the RAMC from 2 February 1917 and associated certification by the Scottish Medical Service Emergency Committee dated 30 August 1916 (between pages 66 and 67)
Letter to the editor of The Lancet on spontaneous burns, by Martin Cruickshank (Ernest Cruickshank's twin brother) 30 Oct 1916 (tipped in at p. 74)
* Note to O.C. Ambulance Train 17 stating that the train will load at Doullens CCS the next day and proceed to Etaples. (between pages 75 and 76)
Photograph of Cruickshank (? centre, face on to camera) and companions in the ruins of Arras, September 1916 (p. 76)
Magazine photograph of observation balloon (p. 77)
Newspaper map of the East Africa campaign, January 1917 (p. 78). |