'REPORT on the Working of the Line of Communication AND ON THE Withdrawal of the British Military Mission IN EAST PERSIA, 1919-20. GENERAL STAFF INDIA. [‎57v] (123/168)

59 Clearing General Hospital (Less
Section).
1] 0 Indian Staging Section . •
74 Indian Staging Section • •
21 British Staging Section • •
one Left Shusp, 23rd October.
Left Duzdap, 6th November.
, Left Sistan, 1st November.
Left Duzdap, 10th November.
. Left Hurmuk, 12th November.
Left Duzdap, 14th November.
. Left Duzdap, 13th November.
5. Evacuation of sick during withdrawal.
Instructions were sent to Senior Medical Officers, Malmiss Force, Meshed,
on 9th July to hold a medical inspection of all troops and followers and to
send weekly men to hospital immediately.
At the same time Officer Commanding, 58th Combined G eneral Hospital,
Meshed, was ■ ordered to commence eyacuation of sick by 1 ourgons as far as
Birjand at intervals of one week.
By this means 98 sick were brought down to Birjand whence evacuation
proceeded either by motor ambulance or camel convoys.
In addition to the above, 29 men who were reported as being unfit to
march, but not sick, were sent dowm by camel convoy.
On Zero day there were 14 British other ranks and 194 Indians awaiting
evacuation in medical units, or in transit down the line.
The transport available consisted of 10 Ford ambulances of the old
East Persia Motor Ambulances Corps Section, 15 ambulances of B Section,
45th Motor Ambulance Corps and 9 Hupmobile Ambulances of the East Persia
Hup. Ambulance Section.
Owing to shortage of spares for Hups, these latter were an uncertain
quantity and were therefore kept in reserve at Birjand for use in emergencies.
Owing to delays on the railway and consequent late arrival of Ford ^tyres
and tubes, the Ford Vans of No. 5 Mechanical Transport Company were
not available for evacuation of sick until August 14th.
The maintenance of the vans and ambulances was a cause of considerable
anxiety during the early weeks of the withdrawal, but owing to the timely
arrival of spares and the untiring zeal and energy of all ranks of the Motor
Ambulance Corps and No. 5 Mechanical Transport Company, in keeping cars
on the road, the evacuation proceeded without any hitch.
The distribution of ambulances and Ford vans, and Graph showing the
working of these in the different section of the Lines of Communication is shown
in Appendix (Y) and (VI).
These arrangements worked smoothly and sufficient sick to fill the two
ambulance coaches, collected at Duzdap week by week, any excess of sick
being despatched by ordinary carriage.
It was found unnecessary to ask for the complete ambulance train.
The numbers evacuated from Bailhead each week were as under :—
—
British.
India.
Remabks.
Week ending 1st August . ,
...
40
» }> 8th ,, ...
1
1
»> i» 15th ,, ...
6
60
» »> 22nd „ ...
1
” » ^th „ ...
5
105
(Ambulance Coaches
left twice in this
week on 23rd and
29th.)