Roberts, John (Oral history)

British officer commanded 16th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps during Falkland Islands War, 1982

REEL 1 Recollections of operations as commanding officer of 16th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps during Falklands War, 1982: background of deployment to South Atlantic, 4/1982 and overview of unit's role, 4/1982-7/1982; reaction to crisis; character of voyage on board QE2; arrival in waters around Ascension Island; experience of his follow up party on board HMS Dumbarton Castle including state of Roger Nutbeam; training on board QE2; organising operating theatres; transfer of brigadier to HMS Antrim; entering ice field; arrival at South Georgia, 27/5/1982; brigade transfer to MV Norland and SS Canberra, 28/5/1982. REEL 2 Continues: obtaining information from BBC World Service; reaction to hearing of British tanker under Argentinean Air Force attack; message to enter Falkland Sound at night; landing at San Carlos Water, 31/5/1982; abortive trip to join Rick Jolly's hospital at Ajax Bay; attempts to get advance dressing station to Fitzroy; problems embarking aboard and loading of RFA Sir Galahad; RFA Sir Galahad's captain wish not to sail at night; arrival at Fitzroy; discussions with Welsh Guards officer about who should take first landing craft. REEL 3 Continues: arrival on shore; Argentinean Air Force attacks on ships at Fitzroy, 8/6/1982; organisation of casualties; character of casualty wounds; unit casualties; reformation of unit, 10/6/1982; absence of photographs of unit's work; increase in military population at Fitzroy; role of unit members during Argentinean Air Force attacks on RFA Sir Galahad and during aftermath; degree of information about the campaign; question of inability of naval helicopters to fly at night; dealing with casualties from Battle of Mount Longdon, 6/1982. REEL 4 Continues: contact with Argentinean medical officer; reaction to Scots Guards initial failure to capture Mount Tumbledown, 14/6/1982; reaction to cease-fire; visiting Port Stanley; return to RFA Sir Galahad to recover Roger Nutbeam's body, 17/6/1982; nature of psychological casualties.