Interview with L.J. Ounsworth, Royal Artillery (part 4)

Title

Identifier

6700.mp3

GWA_5753_Chapman_-_2B.mp3

Creator

Ounsworth, L. J.

Abstract

Fourth part of six sections of a recording of a long interview with L.J. Ounsworth, Royal Artillery (interviewer unknown), continues directly from the third part. Length 30 mins approx, includes: after receiving 4 gunshot wounds during the battle of the Somme he describes initial treatment at an advanced dressing station in Bernafay Wood, where he was lain next to a shell shock victim, then the ambulance evacuation across former No Mans Land to Belloure Wood [?] then to Dives Copse [?], and then transfer to a school in Corbie. He says that the presence of nurses at the battle front is "rubbish", he does not appear to have received medical attention since the advanced dressing station until reaching a hospital in Rouen. At Rouen the wounded are treated by a Scottish doctor Capt. O'Neill. He explained further about the conditions at the dressing stations like Bernafay Wood. He describes the evacuation by boat from Rouen, and later the journey to Rochdale to a 'hospital'. The hospital is actually the Birchhill workhouse infirmary on Swithybridge Road, Rochdale, (the workhouse continues to operate during this time). Apparently the doctor (Heywood or Heyworth) there was only informed that day that more than 600 wounded were to arrive at his institution built to care for 200. The local churches etc. assist in the preparation of the hospital, and Ounsworth also describes how gifts were pressed on the wounded, or thrown threw the windows/doors of the trucks whenever they slowed down through towns. In Rochdale they are tended by a Dr Wright, Dr Coker, Dr Scar and his son, all civilians, with little visible involvement from the military. Later Ounsworth describes the appalling conditions at North Command Depot Royal Artillery at Ripon. Continues directly into the fifth part.

Date

1916

Date Created

1914-08-01

Temporal Coverage

1918-12-31

Spatial Coverage

France; Rochdale

4 Humberdale Close, Swanland, East Yorkshire HU14 3NS

Source

Tape

Medium

Tape

Type

Interview

pages

4

number of pages

6

Contributor

Alun Edwards

Alun Edwards (Ferrens Art Gallery, Hull submissions day 31st May 2008)

Mrs S. Chapman

Rights

The Great War Archive, University of Oxford / Primary Contributor

Publisher

The Great War Archive, University of Oxford

account

suechapman@quista.net

Media