World War 1

28 Field Ambulance formed part of the 9th Scottish Division.  The Division came into existence from Army Order No. 324, issued on 21 August 1914, authorising the formation of the six new Divisions of K1. It was formed of volunteers, under the administration of the War Office. Initially without equipment or arms of any kind, the recruits were judged to be ready for war by May 1915. The 9th Scottish Division served on the Western Front throughout the war, and was regarded by many as one of the best fighting formations of the 1914-18 war.  It took part in the following actions:

1915

The Battle of Loos.  On 27th September 1915, S-9937 Pte Charles Lyons, 11 Platoon, “C” Company, 5th Cameron Highlanders, was admitted to 28 Field Ambulance with wounds suffered in the action of Little Willie Trench, in which he and Cpl J.D Pollock attempted to attack advancing German bombers from the flank.  Lyons was wounded by a gunshot wound to the hip, and fell back into the trench – he was later awarded the Military Medal.  Pollock was subsequently awarded the VC for this action.  Lyons, (by then a Cpl), was awarded a Bar to his MM at Passchendaele, and died in 1941.

1916

Battle of Albert, (first phase of the Somme Battle 1916).
Battle of Bazentin, (second phase of the Somme Battle 1916).
Battle of Delville Wood, (third phase of the Somme Battle 1916).
Battle of Le Transloy, (eighth phase of Somme Battle 1916).

1917

First Battle of the Scarpe, (first phase of Arras Offensive).
Third Battle of the Scarpe, (fourth phase of Arras Offensive).
Battle of Menin Road, (third phase of Third Battle of Ypres).
First Battle of Passchendaele, (seventh phase of the Third Battle of Ypres).
The Action of Welch Ridge.

1918

Battle of St Quentin, (first phase of First Battles of the Somme 1918).
First Battle of Bapaume, (second phase of First Battles of the Somme 1918).
Battle of Messines, (second phase of the Battles of the Lys).
Battle of Bailleul, (fourth phase of the Battles of the Lys).
Battle of Kemmel, (fifth phase of the Battles of the Lys).
Second Battle of Kemmel, (seventh phase of the Battles of the Lys).
The Advance in Flanders.
Battle of Courtrai.
The Action of Ooteghem.

On the 16th March 1919, the Division ceased to exist, having suffered 52,055 casualties.

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Field Ambulances of the RAMC attached to 9th Scottish Division.
27 Field Ambulance, (joined October 1914).
28 Field Ambulance, (October 1914 – November 1918).
29 Field Ambulance, (joined October 1914, left May 1916).
South African Field Ambulance, (joined May 1916, left September 1918).
2/1st East Lancs Field Ambulance, (joined September 1918).

World War 2

Malaya Command.
(Order of Battle on 8th December 1941, compiled in Changi POW Camp 1942-45).

18 Field Ambulance.
27 Field Ambulance.
28 Field Ambulance.
40 Field Ambulance.
43 Field Ambulance.

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Post World War 2

From 1952-53 the unit served in Korea.

28 Field Ambulance was located at Hohne, (Bergen-Belsen), in Glyn Hughes Barracks, which was situated just outside the main garrison and named after Brigadier Glyn Hughes RAMC, purportedly the first doctor into Belsen concentration camp when it was liberated by British troops in April 1945.  Glyn Hughes Barracks was formerly an SS hospital.

During the 1950’s and 1960’s, it appeared to have been a cadre-strength unit, manned largely my MSO’s, (Mixed Service Organisation).  MSO’s (affectionately known as “Mojos”), were comprised of displaced persons from Eastern Europe, mainly Poles, who worked for the British army, usually as drivers, dog handlers and cooks.

In 1968, it was decided to bring the unit up to strength, and regular British soldiers began to be posted in, initially on a trickle basis, but by 1969 the influx was more numerous, until it was brought up to strength.  It comprised 4 armoured sections using AFV 432 armoured personnel carriers / armoured ambulances, and two dressing stations.  Two other (wheeled) sections were mothballed as war reserve.

At the end of July 1977, it was amalgamated with 29 Field Ambulance at Hohne, to form 1 Armoured Division Field Ambulance (1 ADFA), whereupon 28 Field Ambulance ceased to exist.

In the second week of April 1945 a rumour reached war correspondents attached to the British Army in Germany that a concentration camp had been found nearby and that it was to be handed over to the British. Richard Dimbleby was the first journalist in the camp.
The 11th British Army Division was in Northern Germany that day.

In the middle of the day a large German staff car arrived at the 159th battalion HQ. A large white flag was on the bonnet and out stepped two Wehmacht Colonels. They told the British that directly across from 11th Armourer’s line of advance at a place called Bergen-Belsen was a concentration camp full of people seriously ill with Typhus. A truce was agreed in the area surrounding the camp. A battalion of German Infantry and 2000 Hungarian Troops would be kept at the camp to guard the perimeter and stop a mass break--out. About 50 SS men would also say behind acting purely in an administrative capacity to await the arrival of the British Commandant and hand over the camp to him.

Brigadier Hugh Llewellyn Glyn Hughes was Second Armies Chief Medical Officer. He entered Belsen on the 15th April 1945. He was present at the interrogation of Joseph Kramer (The Beast of Belsen) the SS Commandant. Glyn Hughes ordered 11 Light Fd Amb and 32 Casualty Clearing Station into the camp. (The desk which Kramer used at Belsen is on display at the RAMC museum)

The actual Concentration Camp was referred to as camp 1. Hohne camp as we know it today was a panzer Training School. This was divided into camp 2 and 3. The camp including the Round House and the SS Military Hospital became the largest hospital in Europe. Approximately 13,000 inpatients.

After the war the SS Military Hospital was renamed Glyn Hughes Barracks and was occupied by 28 Fd Amb RAMC. During the 50’s and 60’s the unit was at cadre strength and was manned mainly by National Service Men and members of the Mixed Service Organisation (MSO). MSO’s (affectionately known as “Mojos”), were comprised of displaced persons from Eastern Europe, mainly Poles, who worked for the British army, usually as drivers, dog handlers and cooks.

The MSO had their own rank structure, uniform and cap badge. The other ranks had their own accommodation block above the cook house; but they eat with the British soldiers. They had one officer and the equivalent of two senior NCO’s. They lived in the Offices and Sergeants messes respectively. They also had a war role with the unit.

In early 1968 saw the posting “in” of extra staff to bring the unit strength up to an operational level. This was a slow process but was speeded up in 1969.

28 Fd Amb was an Armoured Unit with Mark 1 (petrol) 432 Ambulances. These vehicles were classed as “A” vehicles and were driven by the RCT. The 3 tonners as they were then and the land rovers were classed as “B” vehicles and were driven by the MSO.

The Unit operated under the Knott (after General Knott) conception. It comprised 4 armoured sections using AFV 432 armoured ambulances, and two dressing stations.  Two other (wheeled) sections were mothballed as war reserve.

The Dressing Station was known as the ADS (Advanced Dressing Station) and the Alternative Advanced Dressing Station. Knott’s idea was that ADS would set up first and the Alternative ADS would remain packed on the vehicle; and if the unit had to move the alternate ADS would set up in the new location whilst the ADS remained were it was until all casualties had been evacuated. It would then pack up and rejoin the unit. The equipment however would remain packed until the next move. At the end of July 1977, it was amalgamated with 29 Field Ambulance at Hohne, to form 1 Armoured Division Field Ambulance (1 ADFA), whereupon 28 Field Ambulance ceased to exist.

Association History

Bob Jordan the current Chairman of the 28 Feld Ambulance Veteran's Association arrived in March 1968. He was the only RAMC Private soldier in the Unit at that time. He was closely followed by Graham (Spot) Motley, current Treasurer. Bob and Spot had previously served together as RAMC Boy soldiers at the Junior Tradesmen’s Regt. Rhyl. Roger (Satch) Owen current President, Steve Ginge Westley member and Don Park Secretary followed not long after.

Don and Bob had long talked about forming a 28 Field Ambulance reunion and after many beers in Stockport, plans were made and the rest is history as they say.