Description
Object description
British medical officer served with Royal Army Medical Corps attached to Iraq Levies in Iraq, 1920-1924
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as medical officer with Royal Army Medical Corps attached to Iraq Levies in Iraq, 1920-1921: background to joining Royal Army Medical Corps, 1918; posting to Iraq, 1920; disturbances during voyage out amongst officers unwilling to serve in Mesopotamia again; description of tropical kit; fellow travellers; reception in Basra; attachment to 17th Machine Gun Bn, Iraq Levies at Karrada; boat journey to Baghdad; conditions at Karrada; treating Russian refugees; common medical problems and prevalence of bilharzias; daily routine at Karrada; use of servants.
REEL 2 Continues: posting to 35th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps near Karrada; duties; detachment on column to Mandali; ambulances used; lack of lines of communication; character of visits to Baghdad. Recollections of period as medical officer with Royal Army Medical Corps attached to Iraq Levies in Iraq, 1921-1924: secondment to Iraq Levies as inspecting medical officer, 1921; duties; nature of lifestyle at Diwaniyah including rations; travelling between outposts; composition and role of Iraq Levies.
REEL 3 Continues: medical assistants and equipment; health of and accommodation provided for Arab troops; posting to Erbil, 1922; improvement in conditions at Erbil; work as civil surgeon whilst awaiting arrival of cavalry unit; visits by mule to cavalry units; invitations to dine in Arab villages; medical evacuation of sick officer by aircraft; Royal Air Force co-operation in flying Escritt to isolated outposts; Royal Air Force's flying in of extra supplies; memories of his servant; description of Erbil; problems of treating Muslim girls.
REEL 4 Continues: isolation of Muslim women; civilian doctor's experiences of treating Arab patients; character of Iraq Levies and effects of reorganisation; unit discipline; character of Iraq Levies including lifestyle, beliefs and recruitment; routine at Erbil; recreational activities; leave; joining column to Rawanduz, 1923; inadequate footwear and clothing; lack of mobile medical units; improvised casualty clearing station.
REEL 5 Continues: use of camels with improvised casualty clearing station; arrival of motorised ambulances and later evacuation of casualties by air; reasons for casualties; invisibility of insurgents; arrival at Rowanduz; operational rations; stay at Rawanduz; story of crossing ravine; transfer to Headquarters, Iraq Levies in Mosul, 1924; description of mess; memories of his servant; local brothel; duties at Mosul; visit by French general to Mosul.
REEL 6 Continues: recreational activities at Mosul; character of Assyrian troops and their relations with Arabs; meeting with Lady Surma; British officers' attitude towards Assyrian and Arab troops; health problems and precautions against sandfly fever; accommodation for troops; relationship with fellow officers; working within medical budget; return journey to GB from Mosul including using Nairn Transport, 1924; impressions of Damascus, French Syria; limited contacts with Iraqis; impressions of Baghdad.
REEL 7 Continues: Iraqi attitude to British presence; story of mutilation of British soldiers; respect shown for Muslim religion; opinions on British presence in Iraq and role of Iraq Levies.