With the British Army in Flanders & France

I recently came across this plan of the Casualty Clearing Station at Lillers in France, some fifteen miles behind the front lines, and thought it worth sharing.  The lists at the bottom suggest that by late 1917 there had been a huge increase in casualties from illness and self-inflicted wounds, and you will also note a whole row of tents reserved for those requiring dental treatment.  Army rations had much to answer for.

Happy Christmas all.  See you in 2013.

Some time ago, you may remember, I showed you a drawing of dugouts on the Ypres-Comines canal by Lieutenant Hugh Mossom Boyd of the Royal Engineers.  Well here’s a painting of his from July 1917, not long before he would be posted back to England to become Adjutant at the Royal Engineers Depot at Chatham.  Later promoted to Captain, he would return to the front one more time before the end of the War. We will doubtless meet him again at a later date.

Huge thanks to Brian for allowing me to scan the original.