Description
Object description
British recruit trained with Royal Army Medical Corps Depot in GB, 1942; officer served with Royal Army Medical Corps 205 Field Ambulance in GB, 1942; officer served with Royal Army Medical Corps 141 Field Ambulance in Persia, 1942-1943; medical officer served with 1st Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Persia, Egypt and Italy, 1943- 1944; officer served with Royal Army Medical Corps 164 Field Ambulance and Royal Army Service Corps in Italy, Palestine and North West Europe, 1944-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Mottingham, GB, 1916-1942: family; education; signs of approaching war; marriage; medical training and work including treatment of bombing casualties and air raids at Claybury Hospital; reactions to work and expectations of war work; staff in hospitals; final examinations; memories of teachers including Donald Hunter; new drug M&B 693; introduction of antibiotics; end of training and work at Claybury Hospital; medical and call-up; buying of uniform; journey to Aldershot. Aspects of period as recruit with Royal Army Medical Corps Depot in GB, 1/1942-2/1942: description of depot; drill; help from school Officer Training Corps; role of training; accommodation; background of recruits; reactions to joining army; treatment from NCO instructors. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Army Medical Corps 205 Field Ambulance in GB, 2/1942-9/1942: posting in Truro; accommodation; make-up of Field Ambulance; pattern of training; story driving motorcycle; periods as locum; reconnaissance walks along coast; make-up and role of a Regimental Aid Post; role of training; reaction to being in position of command; relationship with staff; length of time in Truro; accommodation arranged for wife; tropical medical course attended in London; knowledge of posting abroad; embarkation leave; reaction to posting abroad.
REEL 2 Continues: journey to and stay in Leeds; journey to Glasgow. Aspects of journey from Glasgow, Scotland, to Port Suez, Egypt, aboard the Nea Hellas and New Amsterdam, 9/1942-10/1942: voyage along Clyde; knowledge of destination; passengers on ship; description of ship; boat drill; accommodation; activities onboard; scenes in Freetown harbour; route taken to South Africa; albatross and flying fish; convoy; arrival in Cape Town; accommodation in Simon's Town; relationship with civilians; impressions of South Africa; boarding of New Amsterdam; reason for not needing an escort; rolling of ship; arrival in Port Suez. Aspects of period in transit through Middle East, 10/1942-11/1942: journey to Royal Army Medical Corps Base Depot in Cairo; description of depot and Cairo; story of being given posting in Iraq; train journey to Damascus; stay in Damascus; bus journey to Baghdad; location of base depot; presence of military police; welcome on arrival; posting given in Persia; journey to Qum. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Army Medical Corps 141 Field Ambulance in Persia, 11/1942-2/1943: details of Qum; accommodation; contact with civilians; duties with malaria patients; background of patients; supply of rations; treatment for malaria; casualties; length of time in Qum; joining of King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Aspects of period as medical officer with 1st Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Persia, 2/1943-5/1943: relationship with troops; war history of regiment; respect for and background of troops; sick parade and routine duties; memories of Sergeants Henderson and Chapman; memories of batman Private Weadon; settling into battalion; bugle signalling.
REEL 3 Continues: common ailments; treatment of desert sores; physical and mental health of battalion; terrain; role of battalion in Qum; reason for posting to Kabrit; journey to Kabrit. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Egypt, 5/1943-7/1943: accommodation; invasion training; knowledge of destination; news of war; exercise in Aqaba including description and use of Bangalore torpedo; relationship with officers; make- up of battalion tactical headquarters; contact with commanding officer. Aspects of journey from Port Suez, Egypt, to Sicily, Italy in 7/1943: boarding of troopship; swim at Port Said; news of destination; book and money issued; joining forces with Americans and Canadians; first view of Mount Etna; air support; air raid on Syracuse; condition of sea; boarding of landing craft; seasickness; voyage to shore including paratroopers in water. Aspects of operations as medical officer with 1st Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Italy, 7/1943-c4/1944: arrival and journey to correct beach; briefings for invasion; reactions to first action and having to leave paratroopers in water; opposition faced; story of wounded Italian soldier; march inland to and description of Cassibile; contact with civilians; reunion with transport; German air raid on Syracuse; scenes on water; Naval artillery support; reaction to bombing of hospital ship; action witnessed in Augusta; end objective; story of air raid in Priolo; Battle of the Gorge.
REEL 4 Continues: withdrawal with padre; treatment and evacuation of casualties; memories of padre Wilfred Hill and Major Ambrose; coping with casualties; role of padre; troops opinion of padre; march through gorge; use of artillery support; acquisition of motorcycle and sidecar; period on River Simento; formation of Regimental Aid Post; scenes on advance to Taormina including stay with civilians; difficulties from terrain; retreat of Germans to Italy; opinion of Montgomery; rest period; crossing of Straits of Messina and landing at Reggia; reception from civilians; terrain in mountains; fitness of troops; communications; villages surrendering to quartermaster; amphibious operation; advance to meet up with 5th Army including crossing of rivers; pass through mountains; hospitalisation with jaundice; treatment received; story from journey on hospital train to Bari; convalescence in Taormina.
REEL 5 Continues: scenes in harbour on return to Bari; journey to unit with New Zealand troops; arrival in Lanciano; visit with friend from period in Cornwall; story of Maori battalion close by; Christmas 1943; air activity; joining with 5th Army and crossing of River Garigliano; rest period; stories from time with Battle School near Salerno; smoke cloud emitting from Vesuvius. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Army Medical Corps 164 Field Ambulance in Italy, 4/1944-6/1944: knowledge of unit; changes in role; duties; description of a field ambulance; attachment to 5th Division; make-up of division; reason for posting in Palestine; journey to Palestine. Aspects of period as officer with 164 Field Ambulance in Palestine, 6/1944-8/1944: posting in Haifa; accommodation; work on archaeological site; leisure activities; journey to Brussels including transit camps stayed in. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Army Medical Corps 164 Field Ambulance and Royal Army Service Corps in North West Europe, 6/1944-6/1946: arrival in Ghent; awareness of and reaction to D-Day landings; reformation in Ghent; air activity and opinion the war was coming to an end; route of advance until end of war; posting in Wismar; reaction to bombing in Germany; crossing of Rhine.
REEL 6 Continues: reason for withdrawal to Brunswick; German fear of Russian troops; living conditions for German civilians; reactions to displaced persons; news of concentration camps; accommodation in Brunswick; duties including with demobilisation medicals; duties as temporary Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services; offer of post in army; preparations for posting in Far East and reaction to end of war with Japan; role of medicals given; contact with British POWs from Europe and Far East; demobilisation group; reason for wanting to leave army; journey to GB; process of demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: return to work; award of Military Cross; opinion of medal awards; memories of McCorceland-Rigs; weapon carried and story of using it; leather jerkin issued in Italy; black market; perks of time with Royal Army Service Corps; reconnaissance along River Garigliano; contact with American and Indian troops; memories of Australian surgeon; details of Indian Field Surgical Unit in Persia; opinion of German troops; change in attitude toward German army following discovery of Belsen.
REEL 7 Continues: end of war and celebration parade in Lubeck; relationship with padre; memories of an ambulance driver; use of mules; cases of self- inflicted wounds; treatment and symptoms of shellshock; relationship between officers and troops; opinion of medical treatment received; process of demobilisation; concern about restarting relationship with wife; gratuity and television set bought; treatment of Britain's treatment of war veterans; settling into civilian life; admiration for army; story of soldier who shot cook in Persia; discipline of troops; physical and mental effects of war; disappearance of pre-war friends; discussion about displaced persons; memories of Sue Ryder.