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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: gbuttery on Sunday 12 November 23 16:36 GMT (UK)
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I have been checking as much as I can on my grandfather George Henry Farnell's war records (b. Hull, 1892. In the Durham Light Infantry, as a bantam)
I have come across the fact that he was admitted to the 139th Field Ambulance on 4th Sept 1918 with an 'unspecified wound' to the leg. He was discharged the same day to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. (Not sure where)
My question - is there likely to be any records of those soldiers sent there. I do not know the nature of the injury or how long it took before he was back in action. He never mentioned the incident to me at all, but my mum said he kept the German dagger that caused the injury, for years.
I was wondering about the severity of the injury. He survived and died in 1976 aged 84 years. But whilst in hospital in his last days I discovered he was still having the wound treated! (with honey if my memory isnt playing tricks!)
The Bamtam link is another story, but you do wish you'd asked for more stories from your ancestors don't you. But as a child, it doesn't cross your mind until it's too late.
Regards
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I read it as GSW Leg (L). Gun Shot Wound to his left leg. Could be bullet, could be shrapnel.
The "GSW" is dittoed down from above
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2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. (Not sure where)
They were at Remy Sidings on the Belgian/French border up until 16/9/18.
Not seeing him on any lists yet.
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To add to ShaunJ's info he was 1 of 2 men wounded that day while in the reserve trench at Bonnay France.
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I was wondering about the severity of the injury. He survived and died in 1976 aged 84 years. But whilst in hospital in his last days I discovered he was still having the wound treated! (with honey if my memory isnt playing tricks!)
Often a wound to the lower leg, the bony part (shin) with not much in the way of covering can be a real difficult part of the body to fully heal. This is especially so if flesh has been lost and the skin covering has to stretch. I had a relation who had an old injury that was always breaking down, ulcerating and was treated with all manner of treatments including honey.
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GEORGE HENRY FARNELL BORN Hull 1892 Durham Light Infantry (Bantam)
Thanks to all who helped last year with the continued search of my grandfathers war service.
As I reported, the last I had heard was that he was sent to the Casualty Clearing Station in 1918 after receiving a leg wound. I could find no further information as to the rest of his war career.
I have just returned from visiting my sister, who gave me some information I need to follow up. My sister visited my grandfather in his dying days when he gave her a couple of snippets. Apparently he was sent home to convalesce "at the other end of he country" (he was from Hull, East Yorkshire) and that he never went back to France (she thinks).
How would I go about verifying that information? I did try when I discovered the date of his injury, but to no avail.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Gill
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Your sister is right he wouldn't have gone back as by the time
he had recovered & convalesced the war was over.
There is a pension ledger for him dated 9/3/19 so he would have been demobbed
at around this date.
I say demobbed rather than discharged as he went onto the "Z" list after he recovered.
The Z list was the post-war Reserve made up of men deemed fit to serve who may have
been required to go back if the Germans resumed hostilities.
Seems a bit odd as he was paid a pension.
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The war diary of the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station is linked below (Sept 1918 starts at image 576).
Although he's unlikely to be mentioned anywhere by name, the diaries may give you some idea of the general comings & goings.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01tff/
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This link has some information and photos about the post generally.
https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/explore/online/Robertson/Canadian_Casualty_Clearing_Station.aspx
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Thank you.
Makes some interesting reading