1914 Star Trio 5th Motor Ambulance Convoy.

1914 Star Trio awarded and correctly named to M1/07570 Frederick James Field ASC.

The 5th Motor Ambulance Convoy was one of the most remarkable units of the Great War. Donated to the War Office by the Du Cros family and commanded for most of the war by George du Cros. The du Cros family had various industrial interests in England at the outbreak of war including a car factory and the W&G du Cros taxi company. The unit was composed largely of taxi drivers from this firm and their vehicles converted by the du Cros family into ambulances. The drivers were enlisted in mid October 1914 and were in France on the 4th November 1914 – presumably the rationale was that as they would be driving the cars they already worked in, no training was required. As such they are amongst a very small number of men who were awarded the 1914 Star that were not part of the pre war regular army. The unit war diary (that reads more like a postcard home than a serious military document) puts their number at 3 officers, 1 warrant officer and 146 NCOs and other men. The diary also describes the convoy as “armed to the teeth” but at their first inspection France they were disarmed and issued with arm bands. It’s unclear if this is because of their medical roll or discomfort at the idea of 150 untrained cab drivers toting guns. The diary also deals with wrangles about who was in charge of the unit, the author of the diary (no entries are signed) referring to it as “the du Cros” convoy and apparently viewing it as a private affair. Very different times.

Frederick James Field was born 31st May 1881. He married Lydia Martin in 1908 and listed his occupation as motor driver on his wedding certificate. On the 1911 census he was living with Lydia and her mother in Fulham and his occupation is “motor cab driver”.  He enlisted in the ASC and “the du Cros” convoy  on or around the 9th October 1914 when he was 32 – no service records survive but cross referencing the SWB roll for members of the units discharged shows M1/07561Cragg enlisted on the 14th, M1/07565 Duncombe on the 9th and M1/07597 Bender also on the 9th.  On 31st October 1914 he left Avonmouth on the SS Artist and arrived at Boulogne 3 days later and disembarked with the unit on the 4th November 1914.  From then until January 1918 the 5 MAC stayed in the Ypres salient when they were moved to the Somme.

Frederick survived the war and on the 1939 register he is living in Ealing and working as bus driver. He passed away in 1951.

The medals are in excellent condition with original ribbons and come with copied medal rolls and census records. Any questions, please ask.

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