Description
Object description
British private served as medical orderly with Royal Army Medical Corps in India, 1921-1923
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as private with Royal Army Medical Corps in India, 1921-1923: background to enlistment in Royal Army Medical Corps; reaction to posting to India, 1921; prior knowledge of India; issue of kit; nature of voyage from GB to India aboard SS Zeppelin including conditions and recreational activities; train journey from Bombay to Deolali; initial impressions of India; barrack servants; description of barracks; duties, quality of work and trustworthiness of barrack servants; work as medical orderly in mental hospital in Deolali; explanation of term 'Deolali-tap'.
REEL 2 Continues: degree of mental illness amongst troops in India; transfer from Deolali to Ambala; recreational activities in Ambala; contracting malaria and sandfly fever; types of medical cases dealt with in Ambala; contrast between heat stroke and heat exhaustion; treatment of malingers; dealing with cases of venereal disease, scabies, dysentry, malaria, enlarged spleens and livers, infestations.
REEL 3 Continues: comparison between barracks in GB and India; rations; treatment of case of snake bite; adequacy of rations; clothing replacement system; pay; suitability of clothing for Indian conditions; character of Kasauli; abultion facilities; medical orderly duties on day and night shifts; lack of recreational facilities at Ambala; method of swinging Indian club; isolation ward; relations between officers and other ranks; lack of necessity for punishment; brothels in Ambala.
REEL 4 Continues: masturbation case; preference for postings near cities; degree to which troops distinguished between Indian castes; attitude towards Anglo-Indians; degree of contact with Indians; awareness of change in attitude towards British, 1921-1926; lack of threat during service in India; degree of contact with European civilians; attending open air political meetings in Bombay; access to news; benefits of British presence in India; conditions for Indians; duties as medical orderly aboard troopships between GB and India, 1923-1926.