Ford, John Frederick (Oral history)

British boy bugler served with 15th Stationary Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps in Egypt, Gallipoli, Turkey and Lemnos Island, Greece, 3/1915-9/1915; NCO served as laboratory technician and clerk with 155th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, North Russia Relief Force in Russian State, 4/1919-9/1919

REEL 1 Background in Folkestone, GB, 1912-1914: prior movements as result of father's career in Royal Army Medical Corps; decision to join Royal Army Medical Corps; acitivites with Boy Scouts. Recollections of enlistment and training as boy bugler with Royal Army Medical Corps at Royal Army Medical Corps Regimental Depot, Aldershot, GB, 8/1914-3/1915: enlistment as boy bugler into Royal Army Medical Corps at Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe Camp, 12/8/1914; role of bugle calls; bugle training; origins of boy recruits; sleeping arrangements; meaning of bugle calls; lack of availabilty of uniform for adult recruits; daily routine training; relations with NCOs; passing education certificates; posting on passing out as bugler to newly formed 15th Stationary Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps, 2/1915. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT City of Edinburgh from Avonmouth, GB to Alexandria, Egypt, 3/1915: sight of damaged ship at Avonmouth. REEL 2 Continues: prior issue of pith helmet; units present aboard troopship; sea sickness; coaling ship at Malta; period in transit at Gabbari Camp, Alexandria, Egypt, 3/1915-4/1915. Aspects of voyage aboard HMAT Hymettus from Alexandria, Egypt to Mudros, Lemnos Island, Greece, 4/1915: origins of and water carrying role of Zion Mule Corps; rations; running aground at Mudros, Lemnos Island. Aspects of period as boy bugler with 15th Stationary Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps aboard HMT Dongola off Cape Helles and Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Turkey, 25/4/1915-4/5/1915: voyage aboard HMT Arcadian from Mudros Lemnos Island to position off V Beach, Cape Helles, Gallipoli, 24/4/1915-25/4/1915; role as temporary hospital ship; arrival of untreated wounded from beaches; attached Royal Navy medical officers; acting as untrained anaesthetist in makeshift operating ward for minor wounds in ship corridor; question of view of fighting at Cape Helles; question of strategy employed during Gallipoli Campaign; question of adequacy of medical arrangements aboard HMT Dongola; casualty case; move to Anzac Cove, 2/5/1915. REEL 3 Continues: casualties brought aboard from Anzac Cove; transport of seriously wounded to Alexandria, Egypt. Recollections of period as boy bugler with 15th Stationary Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps at Mudros, Lemnos Island, Greece, 5/1915-9/1915: duties blowing Last Post at funerals; tented accommodation for wards; visits to Mudros; climate; problems with lice; story of special milk diet on contracting dysentery after being moved from hospital bed needed by casualties; story of father posting his arrangements to get Ford sent back to Egypt. Aspects of medical evacuation from Lemnos Island to GB, via Egypt, 9/1915: sightseeing visits with father in Cairo, Egypt, 9/1915; effects of dysentery; voyage aboard HMT Asturias from Egypt to GB, 9/1915. Aspects of period in Dysentery Convalescent Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps in GB, 9/1915-10/1918: effects of war experience; background to beginning specialisation as laboratory technician in Royal Army Medical Corps, 1919. REEL 4 Continues: posting to Royal Army Medical Corps depots, 10/1918-4/1919; posting as laboratory technician to 155th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Czar from Southampton, GB to Archangel via Murmansk, Russian State, 4/1919: role and composition of North Russia Relief Force; send off received at Southampton, GB; period waiting for ice breaker at Murmansk, Russian State; issue of British War Medal and use for propaganda purposes. Recollections of period as NCO with 155th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, North Russia Relief Force in Russian State, 4/1919-9/1919: mosquito problem in initial billets at Archangel; boat journey with baggage party up River Dvina to headquarters at Beresnik; horse fly problem; posting to hospital barge at Beresnik; bridge constructed from bank to barge; story of difficulty in collecting names of Russian wounded; appointment as clerk; local flowers; question of contact with Russian civilians; question of Russian political situation and role of North Russia Relief Force; return with headquarters to Archangel, 7/1919; attending local musical hall; story of Russian interpreter in Slavo-British Legion. REEL 5 Continues: duties as clerk at Archangel; evacuation aboard HMT Czarina from Russian State to GB, 9/1919 including issue of rifles and precautions against Russian refugees, rough crossing and railway strike on arrival in Liverpool, GB; morale of troops in Russian State; absence of casualties; question of relations with Russian civilians. Reflections on service with Royal Army Medical Corps, 1914-1919: pay; basic medical training; story of meeting ex-member of Zion Mule Corps whilst serving with Royal Army Medical Corps in Iraq during Second World War.