1990s Research by Mike McKeon (part 6)

1990s Research by Mike McKeon (part 6)

The county town of Buckinghamshire is Aylesbury. I decided to see if the record office there had any information on the Territorial Army. In Aylesbury, I spent a fruitless morning reading trench logs and company orders for the Bucks Battalion. I’m sure it would have been more interesting if I knew which company Jack was in. That afternoon I came across a casualty book. I looked at it in disbelief. I was shaking when I opened it. It was in alphabetical order, within a minute, I found the complete casualty record for H. J. Shanks 2613 / 265855 D Company. The details are listed below. Casualty List TA 6/11 Page 271 2613 Shanks, H. J. 265855 30/3/15 D Company Reported Date 13/11/15 1/2nd S. Midland F. Ambulance - Influenza 12/11/15 (In the field) 21/11/15 No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station - Debility 20/11/15 (In the field) No. 10 General Hospital - N.Y.D. L. 22/11/15 (Rouen) Trans : to Conv Camp - Influenza 28/11/15 Adm : to Conv Depot 29/11/15 (Rouen) 25/12/15 Joined 48th (S. M.) Base Depot (from Rouen) 21/12/15 (Le Harve) 5/2/16 Granted 7 days leave to England 31/1/16 to 7/2/16 27/2/16 Rejoined Battalion for Duty 18/2/16 (In the field) 16/7/16 Pyrexia adm : 48th DivWR Stn 10/7/16 Trench Fever adm : No. 11. Stat Hosp. 16/7/16 (Rouen) 18/7/16 Trench Fever 18/7/16 Trans : to England H. S. St Patrick ** see page 278 1/2/16 Prof: Pay increased from Class II to Class I 16/9/16 O.C. Unit In the field) Casualty List TA 6/11 Page 278 Shanks, H. J. Re-emb : S’Hampton 28/1/17 Disemb: Rouen 29/1/17 Reported Date 25/2/17 Joined Battn for Duty ‘D’ Cmy 17/2/17 (In the field) 19/8/17 “Wounded in action” 16/8/17 (O.C. Unit) 17/8/17 “S.W. Femur L” Adm: 17/8/17 (1/3rd S.M. F. Amb) 19/8/17 “S.W. Cp. Fr : Femur and R. Arm” 17/8/17 c/r Fr. Humeus (3rd Aus) 17/8/17 S. Wds (C.F.) R. Femur and (C.F.) R. Humeus 17/8/17 DIED OF WOUNDS (3 Aust. C.C. Stn) (See Appendix 10) This find opened so many possibilities and new avenues. It was one of the best days of my life. After the initial excitement, the first step was to ‘translate’ all the medical terms. I started by examining the medical records still retained by the public record office which I referred to earlier. 2nd November 1995 I checked MH 106/2124 and 2118 (thigh and forearm wounds). All of these case sheets are from 1914/1915 but they have given me an insight into the type of wounds and treatment available. Amputation was very common. MH 106/2081 (Debility). Jack was diagnosed with Debility on 20/11/15 in No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station. The symptoms seem to be deafness, nervousness, giddiness. There are many references to pains in the back and legs. However, all close medical case sheets are from hospitals in England. 3rd November 1995 (Influenza) MH 106/2089 - all sheets are from 1914/1915 and appear to be from military hospitals based in England. I checked through around 800 sheets as there are sometimes irregular insertions. Jack recovered from influenza in a convalescent camp in Rouen (admitted 28/11/15). MH 106/2095 (Pyrexia) - also known as Trench Fever. The symptoms are similar to influenza. Debility is also mentioned. Generally, its a weakening disease. One patient, Sergt. S. C. Murrell admitted 2/10/15 was in hospital until 20/12/15. On discharge, he was declared fit for overseas service within three months. This is over five months out of the field. The symptoms are very wide ranging; dizziness, high temperature, abdominal pain, weak limbs and headaches. Jack was admitted to No. 11 Stationary Hospital, Rouen on 16/7/16 with Trench Fever. He was transferred to England on H. S. St Patrick on 18.7/16. I believe that he went to a hospital in Eastbourne. He sent a postcard to his sister from Eastbourne on 31/8/16. He mentioned coming home on Friday. He did not re-embark for France until 28/1/17. It appears that he was out of the field for over six months.

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  • Profile picture for Henry J Shanks

    Born 1896

    Died 1917

    British Army 2613 Private Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

    British Army 265855 Private Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry