Gallopili Casualties at Gibralter 1915

[Chris Grimshaw]

Hi All

Currently researching a casualty from 1/5th Batt Bedfordshire Regiment in the Royal Naval Hospital Gibraltar posted 21st October 1915

View Card datelined 20/10/15 sent back to the UK by Corporal  Robert A  Franklin, C Company No 3164 (medal cards show him as 3619 & later renumbered 200281)  Writing to his Mother & talks about his arm getting better.

1/5th Battn Bedfordshire Regiment took part in a major attack on Kidney Hill , Suvla 15/16th August 1915, casualties 14 Officers & 300 O.R, he was probally wounded then, War Diary is available on line during their full time at Gallopili but give no details of O.Rs casualties.

I think he was probally on a Hospital ship bound for the UK and  landed at Gibraltar due to his condition, unless all Hospitals at Malta & Egypt where full and so Gibraltar Naval Hospital was used.  References on line talk of the Hospital caring for Gallopili casualties.

Anyone any clues which Hospital ship he was on?

Cheers

Chris

[Alan Green]

Hi Chris,

An interesting question and I can provide some information re:Malta, although it doesn't provide a total answer.

I believe your theory is correct that his condition was probably the reason for transfer at Gibraltar. Malta had surplus hospital capacity in Sep/Oct.1915, so even if Egypt was full, Malta could have accommodated him if coming direct from Gallipoli. See image of Bed Capacity/Occupancy.

The numbers of sick & wounded transported by sea at this time are staggering - I've attached two monthly reports for Malta in Sep/Oct.15 with approx. 9,600 & 8,000 arrivals respectively. Perhaps more relevant are the numbers of departures to the UK (approx. 7,300 & 6,000 resp.) - maybe your man was amongst them?

As I understand, the policy was to move sick & wounded to the UK if they were unfit for further service or could be safely moved for further medical treatment.

As regards which Hospital Ship, I have transcribed the following HS movements at Malta for Oct.15 from the Malta National Archives. Although these are all arrivals at Malta, the comments include previous ports of call. Maybe this information will come in useful? With over one HS per day on average during Oct.15, it would be hard to pinpoint an actual ship without further specific date information regarding your man's arrival at Gibraltar. Maybe there are similar records for Gibraltar?
Hope the formatting is OK!

Kind Regards,
Alan

Date             Ship's Name           Comments
1915.10.01 HMHS Gloucester        526 S&W; 64 RAMC
                          Castle No.2068         
1915.10.02 HMHS Delta           Southampton (24.9). 364 RAMC to  Alex.
                        HMHS Gascon           From Gallipoli (28.9), Mudros (29.9). 440
                                                                S&W; 88 RAMC
                HMHS Rewa           From Devonport (25.9). Empty
1915.10.04 HMHS Nevasa           Cape Helles (1.10), Mudros (1.10)
                                                                S&W 32 Officers, 689 men
1915.10.05 HMHS Kanowna   London (25.9). 426 Hosp. Staff
                HMHY Grianaig E.2806  Southampton (20.9)
                HMHS Grantully Castle  Lemnos (3.10) 555 S&W; 51 Medical Staff
1915.10.07 HMHS Hunslet             Liverpool (27.9). 48 RAMC
                HMHS Massilia           Liverpool (29.9). 43 Medical staff
1915.10.08 HS Regina d'Italia Southampton (1.10). 24 medical staff
                HMHS Panama         Newport, Mon. (30.9). 213 Medical staff for Malta
                                                        + 57 proceeding east
                HMHS Dunluce        Mudros (6.10). S&W – 636 British + 289 French.
                          Castle                  + 64 Medical staff. French from wreck of Amiral
                                                        Hamelin, from 17th & 26th Artillery Regts
1915.10.09 HMHS Assaye         Anzac Cove (6.10), Mudros (6.10). 599 S&W
1915.10.11 HMHS Karapara Mudros (9.10). 446 S&W
1915.10.13 HMHS Soudan         Mudros (10.10). 445 S&W.
1915.10.14 HMHS Gascon         Gibraltar (10.10). 89 Medical staff
                HMHS Nevasa         Suvla Bay (11.10), Mudros (11.10). S&W – 39
                                                        Officers & 686 OR. 10 died en route
1915.10.15 HS Formosa (Fr.) Mudros (12.10). 475 British S&W
                HMHS Devanha Southampton (8.10). 114 Medical staff
1915.10.16 HMHS Carisbrook Southampton (9.10). 56 RAMC (5 Officers,
                          Castle                        12 Nurses, 39 Orderlies)
                HMHS Egypt         Southampton (13.10). 89 military
1915.10.20 HMHS Glenart          Suvla Bay (16.10), Mudros (17.10).
                          Castle                        396 S&W + 91 Medical staff
1915.10.21 HS Re d'Italia (It.) Naples (19.10)
                HS Italia (It.)         Southampton (14.10)
                HMHS Rewa         Mudros (19.10). 465 S&W + 91 Medical staff
1915.10.22 HS Brasile (It.)         Southampton (15.10). 98 Medical staff
        HMHS Oxfordshire Gibraltar (19.10). 153 Medical staff
        HMHS Karapara Mudros (20.10). 376 S&W
1915.10.23 HMHS Soudan         Mudros (20.10). 426 S&W + 86 Medics
1915.10.25 HMHS Somali         Mudros (22.10). 385 S&W + 2 Nurses +
                                                            66 Medics
1915.10.26 HMHS Karoola         Southampton (19.10). 17 Wounded
1915.10.27 HMHS Nevasa          Anzac (23.10), Mudros (24.10)
                    Hospital Ship No.29     S&W 38 Officers + 532 men
                HMHS Morea         London (20.10). 244 Medical staff – 50 nurses
                                                            for Malta, 194 proceeding
1915.10.28 HS Formosa         Mudros (25.10). 496 S&W
1915.10.30 HMHS Neuralia Suvla Bay (25.10), Mudros (27.10)
                            HS.11                      194 S&W, 194 Military + 69 RAMC
1915.10.31 HMHS Panama         Newport, Mon. (24.10). 56 military

[Chris Grimshaw]

Hi Alan

Many thanks for your reply, some very interesting information.  I don't think I can go much further with this chap without a date when he arrived at Gibraltar.

The references to officers sent to Italy on the monthly summary is interesting, transferred to convalescent homes on Corfu perhaps?

The CWGC site gives details for North Front cemetery at Gibraltar, 101 army casualties are recorded for the period 25th April 1915 to 31st December 1915, a randam trawl shows quite a number with Gallopili connections. Majority in the September to December 15 period.  This suggests that Gibraltar was used more after the Suvla landing or casualties were sent direct to the UK with some landed at Gib if their condition warrented it.

I've so far not found any information regarding shipping arrivals for Gibraltar like what exists for Malta.

Information exists on line reference Addmissions of casualties into hospital covering originally all theatres I believe, however only 2% of these records now exists.

Peter High may have more information on Hospital ships which called at Gibraltar.

Best Regards

Chris

[Chris Weddell]

Hi Chris

            I have 8 hospital ship items for the Gallopili campaign, all of which picked up their patients from Malta. I have had a look in all my notes and cant find any mention of hospital ships taking on patients from Gibralter. I have also checked out a few websites i use for info when i research hospital ships and have had no luck. Could your man be transferred from Gibralter to Malta. There were a small number of  HMS Navy ships called TO4s which transferred the wounded to waiting hospital ships just a thought, HMS Clacton was one, but just out of your timeline.

                                        Chris ;D


                                       
         

[Frank Schofield]

Chris

Suddenly remembered a book in my daughters small Gibraltar library
"The History of the Old Naval Hospital Gibraltar 1741 -1922" by Christine Lawrance in 1994

Extract from page 144, First World War

"On 15th October 1915 HM Hospital Ship "Caledonia" disembarked 7 Naval Officers, and 77 ratings, plus 54 Army Officers and 782 Other Ranks"

Seems to tie in with the Franklin item

Frank Schofield

[Frank Schofield]

Chris

A bit more on Robert Albert Franklin Cpl 3619 5th Bedfordshire Regiment

According to my database, he was DISEMBODIED 4th May 1919
He then crops up as Private R.A. Franklin as 200281 in the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment

BUT these two regiments according to Gould (R.W.) did not merge until July 1919, very strange, probably some sort of Territorial Reserve

Frank Schofield

[Chris Grimshaw]

Hi All

Chris not sure if he'd transferred from Malta, not enough information on his movements unfortunately.

Frank, This info certainly ties in with when he was in Gibraltar, the numbers landed, 920 in total are greater than the quoted figures I've found for the Naval Hospital at Gib, online gives a figure to 300 beds in three buildings but mentions satellite buildings, it would be interesting to know the total bed capacity in Gibraltar in WW1, perhaps the Medical History has some information.

With reference to the renumbering, the Territorials where re-numbered in March 1917 as part of a reorganisation of the Territorial Army. The Bedfords were allocated  a block of numbers around the 200000 figure onwards.

Re-numbered again in 1919/20 when the Territorials received new numbers from 500000 onwards.

His new number suggests he returned fit for Front line service and remained with the 5th Battalion Bedfords.

5th Bedfords were disembodied in Beirut in June 1919 so it appears he served overseas until the end.

Regards

Chris

[Frank Schofield]

Chris

Can only quote bed capacity for the Naval Hospital from my daughters book

"In July 1915 they were ordered to make 400 beds available for incoming sick & wounded"

No idea about the Military Hospital (Army) capacity

Frank Schofield