Sanitary Sections

[Chris_Baker]

Can anyone please enlighten me as to the establishment and precise role of the Sanitary Section?

[Ivor Lee]

Chris

You will find the establishments for both Sanitary Sections and Sanitary Squads in series II of War Establishments.

They hold copies at the National Archives.

Sorry I only have a copy of Series III (1918 France)

[Joe Sweeney]

Chris,

The W.E of Sanitary Sections and squads in 1914 were:

Section:

1 ofc (Capt)

2 Staff Serjeants or Serjeants

2 Corp'l

20 Pte's

1 Batman

(1 LCorporal authorized)

Squad:

1 Serjeant

5 Pte's

As far as I can tell the WE did not change through 1917.

Duties are found in RAMC training 1911 paragraph's 148 through 150:

Sections: (i) allotted to districts--inspection work with Water supply and conservency, chemical and Bacteriological work in Labs at Railheads and at Bases, supervision of Disinfecting stations.

squads: (i) execute the skilled work in connection with disinfenction; the provision of pure water, build incenterators--act as sanitary police.

Hope this helps,

Joe Sweeney

[Hoplophile]

The war diary of the 1st Canadian Sanitary Section can be found at this URL

http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e061/e001518687.jpg

The war diaries of other Canadian sanitary sections can also be found on the same web site. (This web site, by the way, also contains copies of lots of British war diaries, particularly for 1915.)

According to the sections of the 1st Canadian Sanitary Section war diary that I perused, the strength of the unit was one officer, four NCOs and 22 men. The duties included:

1. conducting sanitary surveys of billeting areas

2. investigating cases of enteric diseases

3. issuing tins of chloride of lime