Old Ledbury - World War One in Ledbury - Allen ROGERS

World War One in Ledbury - Allen ROGERS

World War One in Ledbury - Corporal Allen ROGERS R.A.M.C

Ledbury Guardian Newspaper 24-10-1914
Letters From The Front
In a letter to his parents, Corporal Allen ROGERS, R.A.M.C., son of Mr. Tom ROGERS, South Parade, Ledbury, said:-
"You want to know what part of the game the R.A.M.C. play. Well, a Field Ambulance is a kind of travelling hospital. It is composed of two sections, stretcher bears[sic] and a tent section (nurses, cooks, etc.). The stretcher bearers go into the trenches, pick up the wounded, take them to ambulance waggons, which bring them down to the tent section. They are then treated and if it is a serious case they are sent farther back, probably to England. That's about the best way I can explain it. It's not very exciting, but of course, we sometimes see a bit of fighting.
"Our infantry are about the coolest lot of chaps you ever met. Most of 'em don't care a d---- what happens, but they can fight just a bit. I was speaking to a fellow a week or two ago who had been rather badly wounded in his right side. He didn't mind that, but said he wished it was in his left side; you see he lies on his right side to sleep. I can't tell you any experiences of my own, haven't had any yet worth mentioning."

Ledbury Guardian Newspaper 12 12 1914
LEDBURY MAN'S EXPERIENCES WITH THE R.A.M.C
The following letter has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Tom ROGERS, South Parade, Ledbury from their son, Corporal Allen ROGERS, R.A.M.C. -
I am taking the opportunity of sending a line through by a pal who is coming to England sick. I hope you are well and I am pleased to say I am, although I have had a rough passage. We are resting in a little village, 14 miles South of Ypres, where we were shelled out of. You could not imagine what it was like. We had a temporary hospital in a college, and the Germans were bombarding the town very heavily. Big shells were dropping all around and finally they dropped one which blew off the roof, so we quitted very quickly. I can assure you previous to that we had a dressing hospital in a chateau right in front of the Reserve trenches, about 100 yards from the firing line. It was the hottest place I was ever in. Right in between two batteries and shot and shell flying. They absolutely smashed the place up. We were very lucky to get out at all, but we did so all's well. All the troops seem to think the war won't last long, and the big Russian victory put a very cheerful light on things. We are appreciating the rest we are having, and when our turn comes to go up again we shall be ready. We are billeted in a barn. It's a bit cold, but we are very lucky not to be in the open.

Sources
1914 - 1919 Ledbury Guardian Newspaper - Herefordshire History

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