1/1st East Lancashire Field Ambulance was attached to the

127th (1st Manchester) Brigade

42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division during WW1.

The 127th (1st Manchester) brigade was made up of

1/5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment

1/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment

1/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment

1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, Manchester Regiment

The Field Ambulance of WW1

The Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Most Field Ambulances came under command of a Division, and each had special responsibility for the care of casualties of one of the Brigades of the Division. The theoretical capacity of the Field Ambulance was 150 casualties, but in battle many would need to deal with very much greater numbers. The Field Ambulance was responsible for establishing and operating a number of points along the casualty evacuation chain, from the Bearer Relay Posts which were up to 600 yards behind the Regimental Aid Posts in the front line, taking casualties rearwards through an Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) to the Main Dressing Station (MDS). It also provided a Walking Wounded Collecting Station, as well as various rest areas and local sick rooms. The Field Ambulances would usually establish 1 ADS per Brigade, and 1 MDS for the Division.

When it was at full strength a Field Ambulance was composed of 10 officers and 224 men. It was divided into three Sections. In turn, those Sections had Stretcher Bearer and Tented subsections. RAMC officers and men did not carry weapons or ammunition.

The 1/1st East Lancashire Field Ambulance was formed at the Territorial Army barracks on Upper Chorlton Road, Manchester.

British Infantry at Morval France on the 25th September 1916.This photo shows a member of a field ambulance brigade going over the top out of the trench with a stretcher on his shoulder and carrying just a first aid kit, they did not have any sort ofweapons. 

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