AMPUTATION IN THE FIELD BY NO.6 MOBILE SURGICAL UNIT [Allocated Title]

A Gurkha of the 3rd Battalion 2nd Gurkha Rifles has a leg amputated in a field hospital at Myebon, Burma, after he was captured and left for dead by the Japanese.

Rifleman Kayiman Rai took part in the attack on Feature 262 on 15 January 1945. He was wounded by a grenade and captured by the Japanese who bayoneted him in the hand, chest and wrist. The Japanese left him for dead and he was discovered by advancing British troops three day later, after being in the jungle with no food or water, with gangrene setting into his leg. He was taken to a Main Dressing Station on Easy Beach (58 Indian Field Ambulance, 25th Indian Division, XV Indian Corps). Number 6 Mobile Surgical Unit perform an amputation of the leg. The leg is examined and prepared for surgery. The surgeon, Major A C Greene (Indian Medical Service, Officer Commanding No.6 Indian Mobile Surgical Unit), carries out the procedure and the stump is inspected before it is bandaged and the patient is returned to the ward.

35mm