J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

253

STAFF TOURS. (Continued.)

By MAJOR F. J. WADE-BROWN. Royal Army Medical Corps.

ON June 2nd and following days, I had the pleasure of attending a Staff Tour carried out by the Officers of the Senior Division of the Staff College, CamberIey. By the kindness of the Commandant, Brigadier-General H. H. Wilson, D.S.O., I am permitted to publish the" general" and" special" ideas and also one of the" narratives"; I regret their taking up so much space in the Journal, but unless 'published in extenso they are apt to be valueless. The theatre of operations was intended to represent that of the 1859 campaign, in the valley of the River Po, between Austria on the one side and France allied with Sardinia (Lombardy) on the Protected by copyright. other. An account of this campaign will be found in "L'Histoire abregee des Campagnes modernes," by Colonel J. Vial, vol. ii.

SENIOR DIVISION, 1908. STAFF TOUR, JUNE 2ND TO 5TH. Reference: t inch and t inch Ordnance Survey Maps.

GENERAL IDEA (SEE MAP). (1) Four countries are concerned in the operations about to take place :- (a) NORTHLAND, i.e., all that part of England lying north of a line joining the mouths of the Rivers Mersey and Humber. http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ (b) EAsTLAND, i.e., all that part of England lying south of a line join­ ing the mouths of the Rivers Mersey and Humber, and east of the Counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, the from Reading to the sea being the southern frontier. (c) BLUELAND, i.e., all Wales plus the Counties of Cheshire, Shrop­ shire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, , Warwickshire, Ox­ fordshire and , the southern frontier being the River Avon from its mouth below , the Avon and Kennet Canal, and the River Kennet to its junction with the River Thames at Reading.

(d) REDLAND, i.e., all that part of England lying south of the Bristol on October 1, 2021 by guest. Avon, the Avon and Kennet Canal, the River Rennet and the River Thames. (2) REDLAND has often attempted to conquer and absorb BLUELAND, but the assistance which NORTHLAND has extended to BLUE LAND has J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

254 Staff Tours always prevented REDLAND from succeeding. EASTLAND has invariably been, and is, a neutral. (3) During the present year N ORTHLAND and BLUELAND have made an alliance with a view to crushing REDLAND and putting an end to the constant state of menace on BLUELAND'S southern frontier. (4) During the month of May all three powers mobilized, and RED­ LAND, coming to the conclusion that it was impossible to avert a war any longer, sent BLUELAND a peremptory order to demobilise by June 1st, failing which she threatened to move into BLUELAND. . (5) No answer having been received by 12 mianight on June 1st to 2nd, the REDLAND columns moved across the frontier. (6) The following information is common property to all three countries :- (a) The REDLAND army is about 100,000 strong, and is standing ready to move across the River Avon. This army is likely to be rein­ forced by another 30,000 to 40,000 men in the next two or three weeks. (b) The BLUELAND regular forces amount to between 60,000 and 70,000 of all arms, about one-third being on the left bank of the River Protected by copyright. Severn, covering about Worcester; the remainder being on the right bank of the , in the triangle Brecon-­ , some light troops being in observation of the southern frontier. Bridgnorth is not only the capital of BLUELAND, but it is also its greatest manufacturing town, its most important arsenal, and its seat of government. (c) The NORTHLAND army, about 200,000 strong, is destined to co­ operate with BLUELAND by advancing both from the NORTHLAND frontier on Bridgnorth and from Milford Haven (the only possible landing-place on the west coast) via Brecon. Owing to the physical difficulties of these lines of advance, and the time necessary for disembarkation, the

NORTHLAND troops are not expected to exercise an important influence http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ on the operations before June 8th. (d) Plans for field fortifications to be erected along the Worcester­ Birmingham Canal have been prepared. Ross and are pro­ tected by semi-permanent fortifications, those at the latter place embracing both sides of the River Severn. Some old field works stand opposite Gloucester on the right bank of the River Severn, but these are not of a. serious nature against modern artillery. The Severn Tunnel does not exist. The only bridges over the Severn are those now standing at Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Worcester, Stourport, and Bridgnorth. (e) The BLUELAND troops, for various reasons, are inferior in all respects both to those of the enemy and to their own allies. on October 1, 2021 by guest. (f) The railways and telegraphs are available as they would be in a. theatre of war. (g) The inhabitants of BLuELAND are not all loyal to that country. Those on the left bank of the River Severn, from the Worcester­ Birmingham Canal down to Bristol, are friendly to REDLAND. J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

F. J. Wode-B1'own 255 --7--,7'------1 ~.

~ NORTHLAN D {J 'ry o Protected by copyright.

REDLAND I

I http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ I

Scale. about 75 Miles to I Inch . i . ------..------~ SENIOR DIVISION, 1908. STAFF TOUR, JUNE 2ND to 5TH. Reference 1 inch and! inch Ordnance Survey Maps.

REDLAND. SPECIAL IDEA.

(1) The Commander-in-Chief, REDLAND, has been fully aware for some on October 1, 2021 by guest. days that war would break out any moment, and the Emperor of REDLAND has continually impressed on him the fact that it is of great importance that the BLUE LAND army should be destroyed before the NORTHLAND reinforcements can reach their allies, and also that the capital should be captured before the arrival of large northern reinforcements would J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

256 Sta.U' Tours render such an operation impossible. A brief extract of the Emperor's last letter, written from the REDLAND capital on May 29th, and received by the Commander-in-Chief at Bath on June 1st, will perhaps make the state of affairs clearer. After referring to previous dispatches received from the Commander­ in-Chief, in which the latter had clearly stated the particular difficulties of operating by the left bank of the Severn, or the right bank, or astride of that river, and after fully admitting the difficulties imposed by each course, the Emperor went on to say: "You are given a free hand in the coming operations, but I would again impress on you the importance of crushing the BLUELAND field force" before they can be reinforced by the NORTHLAND troops. All my information here leads me to the belief that the greater portion of the reinforcements will reach the lower Severn Valley by Milford Haven and the Brecon. On the other hand, you are to bear in mind that a large number of the inhabitants of the left bank of the Severn are friendly to my cause. The BLUE LAND troops are of inferior quality. The immensely important capital of Bridgnorth and its stores and manufactories are therefore peculiarly susceptible to your Protected by copyright. attack, and its capture and occupation would have a marked effect on the course of the coming campaign." (2) No further information regarding the enemy or his intentions has reached the Commander-in· Chief, REDLAND, than that already contained in the" General Idea." (3) The REDLAND reinforcements mentioned in the "General Idea" will reach the present frontier about Bath as follows:­ Two Divisions by train on June 18th. Two Divisions by route march on June 25th. (4) The positions of the REDLAND troops are as shown in the accom­ panying Table A.

(5) It may be assumed that all troops are in camp or billets, and http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ ready to move on receipt of orders, which, however, cannot be issued from Army Headquarters until 12 midnight on June 1st to 2nd. Establishments. Strengths are as laid down in War Establishments, 1907·8. TABLE A. REDLAND FORCE. Distribution! on the afternoon of June 1st, 1908. Army Headquarters and Army At Bath (left bank of River Avon). Troops First Army consisting of 1st and On left bank of River Avon at 2nd Divisions Bristol. on October 1, 2021 by guest.

I The detailed location of these troops is left to the Commander· in· Chief. They are in camps on the left bank of the River Avon at and near the places indicated above. The Commander-in·Chief will detail Staff Officers to go to Bath and Bristol, a.nd to bring him back definite information as regards the camps or billets, and also all necessary details as regards the River Avon, its bridges, &0. J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

F. J. Wade-Brown 257

Second Army consisting of 3rd and On the left bank of River Avon 4th Divisions at Bath. Cavalry Brigade, Mounted Brigade On the left bank of River Avon and 13th Infantry Brigade at Devizes.

A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RIVERS AND TOWNS IN NORTHERN ITALY AND THE RIVERS (AND WATERWAYS) AND TOWNS IN THE SEVERN VALLEY. (1) The Severn, between Bridgnorth and Bristol, is, in its course, not unlike the upper waters of the River Po between Turin and Pavia. (2) Of the affiuents, the Avon may be taken to correspond to the Ticino, the Stroud and Swindon Canal to the Agogno, the Avon Canal (near Tewkesbury) to the Sesia, the Worcester-Birmingham Canal to the Dora Baltea, and the W orfield Brook to the Dora Riparia. On the right bank of the Severn, the Wye may be taken as corresponding to the Tanaro, and the U sk to the Scrivia. (3) The relative position of :- Bristol may be taken to correspond with Pavia. Protected by copyright. Tewkesbury "" Casale. Evesham" "" Vercelli. Brusasco. Worcester " " Stourport " Chirasso. Bridgnorth " " " " Turin. Ross " " " Alessandria. Brecon " " Genoa. Gloucester " Valenze. Devizes "" " Vivegano. A comparison of the distances between the English places named will show that they are nearly the same as the distances between the

corresponding Italian towns. http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/

GENERAL REMARKS. The tour, as usual, brought out some very interesting points; the actions were severe and the number of killed and wounded very great. On one day alone (vide narrative, June 3rd) there were no less than 2,444 wounded, and it taxed one's powers to know how to deal with so large a number. The railway could not be used, the field ambulances were required to advance in a few hours, and local trans­ port Was not procurable. Of the 2,444 wounded, 489 were able to

walk, 1,465 required sitting down accommodation, 367 required lying on October 1, 2021 by guest. down accommodation, and 123 could not be transferred on account of their severe injuries. Fortunately a large amount of mechanical transport arrived from the base during the night with supplies for the troops, and as these waggons were returning empty at dawn J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

258 Staff 'Pours

1,954 wounded were transferred in them to the base hospitals at Bath and Bristol. The 490 who required lying down accommoda­ tion or could not be moved any distance were taken to neighbour­ ing buildings and attended by the personnel of some of the tent subdivisions, and so the greater part of all the field ambulances were able to go forward with their respective divisions, the subdivisions left behind rejoining their headquarters shortly afterwards, the sick being taken over by lines of communication medical units. During this rapid advance it was found necessary to bring up by road the personnel (less Q.A.I.M.N.S.) of two general hospitals (mobilised and waiting at Bath and Bristol), and establish hospitals at Gloucester and Cheltenham, taking over buildings and procuring equipment locally. Railway communication was shortly afterwards restored, and three ambulance trains quickly relieved the congestion; an advance

depot of medical stores and a sanitary section also came to rail­ Protected by copyright. head. Several clearing hospitals, which had all along been badly wanted, but could not leave the base for want of transport, came up in the empty ambulance trains and were soon in full working order between the field ambulances and the hospitals before mentioned at Cheltenham and Gloucester. The enemy had also suffered severely; their sick and wounded during the rapid retreat were left in the towns before mentioned, and this fact had to be borne in mind when making arrangements for the accommodation and treatment of our own wounded. The RED side had two armies. Each army had a Director of Medical Services attached to the Staff of its General Officer

Commanding. There was also, I presume, a Director of Medical http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ Services on the Staff of the Commander-in-Ohief; consequently, there were three great masters. I would like to know if I was correct in presuming that there was a Director of Medical Services on the Commander-in-Chiefs Staff, and if not, who was at the head of medical affairs? Again, if only one Director of Medical Services is to be found with a field force of two armies, what officer is attached to the Staff of the General Officer Commanding each army? Is there no one between the Director of Medical Services on the Commander-in-Chiefs Staff and the Administrative Medical Officers of Divisions? In short, should there be three Directors of on October 1, 2021 by guest. Medical Services or only one? 11 Oombined Training" distinctly lays down what medical unit should accompany an advance guard, but says very little about the composition of a rear guard. During this Staff Tour our enemy J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

P. J. Wade-Brown 259

must have had several rear-guard actions and lost very heavily. vVe were supposed to be a civilised nation, and, of course, the wounded left behind were protected and cared for in accordance with the rules of the Geneva Convention, but had we been savages the case would have been very different, and a large medical unit with enormous transport would have been required with our enemy's rear guard. It would be very interesting and instructive if one of our officers used to savage warfare would give us his opinion and experiences on tbis point. I have heard the opinions and experiences of combatant officers, and am told that five or six dhoolies are allowed per 100 men in a rear guard; many officers, I am sure, would like further instruction on this point. "Combined Training" states that, in the main body, field ambulances should follow the ammunition column; in front of the ammunition column would perhaps be better, as they would probably be required before the reserve ammunition, and would be in a better position to follow the brigades should the division be Protected by copyright. ordered to be split up. In stating the number of daily casualties, officers are very apt to forget the number of daily sick from causes otp.er than actual fighting; this fact should be mentioned by medical officers attending Staff Tours to the various officers commanding divisions. The number of daily sick will probably increase during the first week of a campaign and then decrease, as the men get harder, unless some epidemic takes place. This is an important matter with a large force and should be taken into acconnt. Lately several officers have asked me to let them know briefly the whole routine of a Staff Tour. I would refer these officers to http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ Captain Marindin's book on " Staff Rides" (published by Hugh Bees, Ltd., 119, Pall Mall, S.W.). I think they will find in that small volume most of the things they want to know; a glance at pp. 177, et seq., "Combined Training," might also help them. Briefly the procedure is as follows :- The General and Special Ideas, maps, &c., are sent from the District Staff Office some days before the Tour commences. "Appreciations of Situation" are called for by a certain date. An appreciation is selected to be worked out on the Tour, and

"operation orders" are written to carry out the plan proposed on October 1, 2021 by guest. in the appreciation selected. Of course the medical officer sends in his appreciation, as I have stated before; but as soon as he becomes aware of the appreciation selected he should write a second appreciation and keep it by him J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

260 Staff Tours for reference; he will find it a very great help. The daily work depends upon what position the medical officer is ordered to occupy. As a rule he should on the first day (evening of arrival) assume the post of Director of Medical Services. The second day he should be the Administrative Medical Officer of a Division, and this, in my opinion, is the most important position for a medical officer on a Staff Tour, for we all aspire to being Divisional Administrative Medical Officers some day, if nothing higher. As an Administrative Medical Officer he should issue orders to officers commanding field ambulances! and instructions to the other medical officers of his division-orders for insertion in General Officer Commanding's operation orders should be sent to the General Staff. He communicates with the Director of Medical Services respecting evacuations, &c., and writes sanitary reports on towns, bivouacs, and camps if he has the time (acting as his own Sanitary Officer). On the third day he should be the Administrative Medical Protected by copyright. Officer of another Division, and on the fourth day act as Deputy Director of Medical Services of one of the lines of communication. As such he will arrange for the evacuation of the sick by ambu­ lance trains or road transport and carry out the several duties connected with clearing hospitals, sanitary sections and sanitary squads, hospitals on the line of communication, depots of medical stores, and hospital ships, and leave the officers commanding Divisions to write their own operation orders, which is very good practice for them. Each day the work begins about 9 a.m.; the medical officer will probably accompany one of the officers commanding a division and with him reconnoitre a position, inspect towns for hospital accom­ http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ modation, report upon a camping ground, inspect roads and sites for field ambulances with their dressing stations (acting as though he were the officer commanding each field ambulance in turn), and throughout the day be as much as possible in consultation with the aforesaid General Officer Commanding; it is wonderful what useful knowledge one acquires in this way. Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. headquarters will be again reached, and on October 1, 2021 by guest. I I know this action has been queried, and it is sometimes asked, "Does an Administrative Medical Officer command the field ambulances in the same way that an artillery officer on the General Officer Commanding's Staff commands the batteries?" No doubt the new edition of "Regulations, Army Medical Services (War)," will explain this and many other details we are all anxious to know. J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

F. J. Wade-Brown 261 before 5 p.m. the narrative will be published. Many officers have asked me what is meant by a " narrative"-it is for their edification that the narrative of June 3rd is hereby appended in full.

NARRATIVE (RED), JUNE 3rd, 1908. Situation 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. (1) Nothing serious happened during the night, and the troops moved off this morning at the times and by the routes ordered. (2) The cavalry became engaged, and about 10 a.m. were manreuvring on the line, Coates-Siddington, against a somewhat inferior mounted body with artillery. Between 10 and 11 a.m. the Devizes detachment came up in support, reporting its arrival to the General Officer Command­ ing Independent Cavalry, under whose orders it had been placed. (3) The IV. Division arrived north of Rodmarton, where it was halted by order of the Commander-in-Chief and retained by him as the General Reserve. (4) The nI. Division, having deployed its leading Brigade in rear of the Minchinhampton Ridge, advanced to the Stroudwater Canal and Protected by copyright. became lightly engaged with the enemy, who was posted on the further bank. (5) The n. Division, moving down the Nailsworth-Stroud ravine, was fired on by artillery and infantry as it neared Stroud, and came into action against hostile infantry on the further bank of the canal. (6) The 1. Division, on the top of Nympsfield Hill, moved some light troops down toward the canal on the left of the n. Division. (7) The n. Mounted Brigade, closing to its left in the early morning, had effected a lodgment on the opposite side of the canal, and at this time (10 to 11 a.m.) held the line Wheatenhurst-Whitminster-Nastend. (8) The fighting up to this hour (11 a.m.) has not disclosed either the numbers or exact positions of the enemy; but it has been estimated that the enemy has brought two Brigades field artillery into action between http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ Sapperton and the Severn. (9) Situation 5 p.m. The Independent Cavalry slowly forced back the hostile cavalry through Cirencester to the neighbourhood of Win­ stone. The RED cavalry halted in touch with the enemy on the line Rendcomb-Moor Wood. The 1. Mounted Brigade at Duntisbourne Abbotts. The Devizes detachment halted between Duntisbourne Rouse and Daglingsworth. (10) The IV. Division remained in reserve at Rodmarton. The Ill. Division reached the line Edgeworth-Bisley-Stroud, with

two Brigades supporting the Il. Division and pressing back the enemy. on October 1, 2021 by guest. The Reserve Brigade remained south of the canal at Hyde. (11) Two Brigades Il. Division, supported by a portion of the Divi­ sional Artillery, attacked Randwick and Haresfield Hills from Stroud. Two Brigades 1. Division, supported by Divisional Artillery and n. Mounted Brigade, also attacked these hills from the south and west. 18 J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-11-03-04 on 1 September 1908. Downloaded from

262 Staff 'Pours

The attacks were delivered simultaneously between 3.30 and 5 p.m. After desperate fighting Randwick Hill was captured by the RED troops, but an assault on Haresfield Hill was repulsed with great loss. The Reserve Brigades of the I. and H. Divisions only reached the canal. (12) The troops of the RED army are exhausted by their long and arduous day's work. CASUALTIES. MEN HORS... Killed-----"----- Wounded Missi~g Cavalry 0 0 30 120 10 so I. Mounted Brigade 50 180 60

XIII. Brigade.. . 0 15 40 IV. Division 1 10 0 Ill. .. .. 47 230 17 II. (IV. Brigade 91 411 130 1 v. " 73 394 112 1. " 79 440 30 1. { IIo" . 0 0 0 so 512 45 IIo Mounted Brigade o. 20 107 37 As soon as the narrative is issued the General Officer Com­ manding in Chief writes his operation orders, and it is well that Protected by copyright. the medical officer should be with him when he does SO; many points concerning medical units will be embodied in his orders, alld he will probably need the medical officer's advice. An account of all the work, meantime, that has been done during the day has been handed in to the Directing Staff (on which there should certainly be a medical officer). This work is criticised, corrected, and handed back to its originator. After dinner a conference is held, and then the work for the following day is given out, the subordinate com­ manders writing their orders. It is here that a medical officer can again be of great use by assisting the aforesaid officers to write their orders respecting medical units properly; at the same time he writes his own orders and instructions as Deputy Director http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ Medical Service, Administrative Medical Officer, or Officer in Com­ mand of a field ambulance, whichever the Director wishes him to be . . In conclusion, I would ask some medical officers to disabuse themselves of the idea that they are going on a Staff Tour as a sort of duty that has to be done somehow, and that other officers could' get along just as well without them. We have to learn and we have to teach-an interchange of ideas takes place; it has been proved over and over again that officers of other branches of the Service are exceedingly keen to learn our organisation, and are only too glad if they can help us to understand theirs. On the on October 1, 2021 by guest. last day of a recent Staff Tour a very senior combatant officer remarked to me as I left for London: "I am sure this Staff Tour has been a most instructive one, and I hope it has also been to our mutual advantage." This alone, by no means a solitary instance, hears out what I have just stated.