Private Papers of Captain E R Winkleman RAMC

29 well written ms letters by a Medical Officer in Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) covering the period January 1943 – July 1945, including active service with 5th Battalion Hampshire Regiment in North Africa, with details of his journey to and landing in Algiers, Algeria (January 1943), descriptions of the sights and sounds, and his first impressions of North Africa, being Senior Medical Officer of a large sick-bay in addition to a Regimental Aid Post, pausing in his narrative to describe a German air raid as it was happening, descriptions of his accommodation in a French farm, local Arab families, the flowers and desert, treating wounded German soldiers (April 1943), feeling sorry for one "even tho' he was a Hun" and being "sick of the sight of wounds", Germans booby trapping their own dead, the Allied victory in North Africa and seeing thousands of Germans surrendering (May 1943), with references to his lucky escape during the Battle of Sidi Nsir, Tunisia, and subsequent fighting, going to an ENSA show in Tunis and seeing soldiers of all nationalities, visiting Roman ruins in Douga, moving to be MO for 52nd Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery (RA), in Italy (November 1943), descriptions of Taranto and his thoughts on Fascist architecture, treating Italians in rural communities, their friendliness, visiting Naples and the opera, hints at the battles he has been in, training beetles to race to raise money for the 'Aid to Russia' fund, the wild west style town made out of their trenches while shelling German positions, and thoughts that humour wins wars (Mary 1944), a sightseeing visit to Rome (June 1944), moving to Egypt (July 1944), visiting the pyramids, a trip to the Holy land on leave (August 1944), fear for his wife in Wimbledon with flying bombs, discouraging her from joining UNRRA, a huge storm blowing down his tent, his personal view of Palestine, the Jews, Arabs, and British, and the problems in the area, visiting the grave of a family friend in Alexandria (February 1945), being mugged in Egypt, moving to Germany (April 1945), the lovely countryside and destroyed towns, streams of refugees of all nations, thoughts about Russian reprisals, capturing German prisoners, the end of the war (May 1945), writing from Lubeck, seeing and treating liberated prisoners and concentration camp victims, his hatred of the SS, taking over the office of the Burgermeister of Behnsdorf, hiring a German ADMS to assist him who talked of treating Rommel after the 'strafing of his car' which killed him [although this was the myth and in fact he had been forced to take his life], and his fears for the future of Germany with Russian soldiers. Dr E R Winkleman later changed his name by deed poll to Winton to set up a General Practice and hide his Austrian Jewish ancestry. Together with: two small appointment diaries, one written in an Italian diary, covering the years 1944 and 1945, with brief entries covering his movements, the weather, his duties, letters sent and received, books read, and leisure time; a letter (2pp, August 1943), and an airgraph (1p, November 1943), sent to him by his wife, Ruth, a Nursing Sister in Atkinson Morley Hospital, Wimbledon (November 1943), talking about parcels he had sent home, and meeting Peter Ustinov; Letters from various colleagues and men in his units using nicknames 'Doc' and 'Winklepop', including a letter from Richard Charlton[?] 1/4th Battalion Hampshire Regt (2pp, February 1943) mentioning that he and another officer were the only remaining from Sidi Nsir; a letter from H E Davidson[?] (2pp, May 1943), writing from 98 General Hospital telling of his operations; a letter from Lt Colonel HN[?] (2pp, plus envelope, June 1943), referring to Winkleman joining 46th Reconnaissance Regiment; a letter from Reverend Bulnam, Chaplain of 5th Hampshire Regiment (2pp plus envelope, July 1943); a letter from Cpl George H Allen, 5th Bn Hampshires (3pp plus env, July 1943), saying the lads miss him but glad that Winkleman was enjoying new job; a letter from Trooper H Downes, HQ Squadron, 46th Regt Recce Corps (2pp plus env, October 1943), wishing him well after he had come down ill; a letter from John Latham[?] 46th Recce Regt (2pp plus env, October 1943), saying sorry Winkleman was ill, and some of the lads are getting sores; a letter from ? Lindsay (2pp, plus env, Oct 1943); a letter from Lieutenant Sam A Osgood, (4pp, November 1943) 'B' Eschelon, 5th Bn Hampshires, filling him in on old friends; a letter from Lt Col F H Cotton, 46 Recce Regt (4pp plus env, November 1943), glad that Winkleman is well but sad he's now in a different unit (52nd Anti-Tank Regiment RA), discussing friends, the work of Patterson, Winkleman's replacement, and having an Aid Post with the Regiment; three letters from Lieutenant R F Pemberton, Hampshire Regt, (6pp plus envs, May 1943 - March 1944), writing from the UK after being evacuated with a wounded leg, talking of old 5th Bn friends, his opinion of HN, and thanking Winkleman and his stretcher bearers for all that they did for him after he had been wounded in a mine field; a letter from Alfred P[?] (4pp plus env, December 1943), 185th Field Ambulance RAMC, menitioning Winkleman's Mention in Despatches. Also a letter (2pp, March 1944) written to Sister Ruth Samways (Winkleman) from Captain Cecil W Richards RAMC in 98th General Hospital, congratulating Edward on his MiD, catching up with news, and telling of his duties.

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