Dowson, James (Oral history)

British NCO served with Royal Army Medical Corps at various military hospitals in GB, 1949-1951; served as officer with various military hospitals in GB, Singapore, Germany and Hong Kong, 1962-1990

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Sunderland, 1930-1949: social circumstances; education; evacuation to Osmotherley, 9/1939-12/1940, including relationship with billeting family, relationship with local children, educational progress, relationship with soldiers billeted in area, question of homesickness and parents' visits; return to Sunderland, 12/1940; education at Bede Grammar School, 1941-1949; following progress of war; German air raids; brick air raid shelters. REEL 2 Continues: blackout; question of father's attitude to war; question of food and clothes rationing; VE Day, 8/5/1945; changing attitude to Germans; socialist political views; failure to qualify for medical studies at Oxford or Cambridge Universities; call up for national service, 4/1949. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at Depot, Royal Army Medical Corps, Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Aldershot, 4/1949-7/1949: reception and kitting out; barrack room; food rations; intelligence and aptitude tests; question of failure of tests at War Office Selection Board. REEL 3 Continues: question of failure of tests at War Office Selection Board; webbing; PT; question of weapons training; first aid training as nursing orderly including anatomy, bandages, dressings, Thomas and Gooch splints, artificial respiration, question of hygiene and sterilisation boilers, disinfectants and eusol, making beds and bed baths; value of prior Boy Scouts activities. REEL 4 Continues: value of prior Boy Scouts activities; selection as regimental sergeant major's runner; preparations for kit and room inspections; relationship with recruits, NCOs and officers; recreations including canteens and visits to Aldershot; squad competition and passing out parade, 7/1949; question of posting; friendship with Private David Fletcher. Recollections of period as nursing orderly at Shaftesbury Military Hospital, ca 7/1949-10/1949: first impressions. > REEL 5 Continues: accommodation; daily routine duties and role of matrons; treatment of patients; question of group number for discharge; shift system; duties in operating theatre; sterilisation; prior experience watching operations; closure of hospital. Period at Wheatley Military Hospital, Oxford, ca 1950: work in dermatology ward; skin diseases and treatments; question of infection; role as night ward master; head injury cases; drinking habits. Period in charge of sick room at Regular Commissions Bard, Westbury, ca 1950. Period running sick bay at School of Infantry, Warminster, ca 1950: relationship with officers and NCOs. REEL 6 Continues: relationship with ORs; smoking cigarettes; syphilis case; question of VD; tree avenue; evacuation of serious injuries fro treatment; question of continued use of sulphonamides and replacement by penicillin; riding motorcycles; background to posting to military hospital. Period at Hindhead Military Hospital, ca 1951: status following acceptance as medical student; illicit use of trylene anaesthetic as drug; heat treatment of syphilis; treatment of tuberculosis; reactions to Korean War and possibility of extended NS; demobilisation, 10/1951. Period as medical student at Leeds University, 10/1950-4/1956: advantage of military experiences; nature of course; value of practical ward experience during course. REEL 7 Continues: service with RAMC, Leeds University OTC including influence of permanent staff instructor Warrant Officer Ernie Marno and weekend exercises. Period as student and doctor working with National Health Service, 1956-1962: activities with Glasgow University OTC; duties as medical officer with 6th Bn, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at Newcastle upon Tyne, 1960-1962; background to enlistment into RAMC, 1962. Period at Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot, 1962-1963: change in culture from NHS; rented accommodation; status as short service commission MO; nature of duties as ophthalmic specialist. Period at British Military Hospital, Singapore, 1963-1965: flight out and first impressions on arrival; rented accommodation; question of education of children; duties as ophthalmic specialist; treatment of children's squints; arrival of Australian troops prior to Vietnam service. REEL 8 Continues; treatment of Australian troops; acclimatisation to climate; stories illustrating importance of treating squints; clinics held in Hong Kong; operation on horse's eye; question of medical qualifications and conversion to permanent commission. Period at Catterick medical Hospital, 1965-1968: duties and role treating civilians; question of methods of treating squints and cataracts; officers' mess; question of promotion. Period at Ophthalmic Hospital of St Johns, Jerusalem, Israel, 1968-1969: situation; role treating Arab civilians; question of value of experience; question of relationship between Jewish and Arab civilians. Period at British Military Hospital, Rinthelm, Germany, 1969-1973: travelling eye clinics. REEL 9 Continues: taking on regimental MO as assistant ophthalmic specialist; hospital exercises; relationship with German civilians. Period at Catterick Military Hospital, 1973-1978: move into new hospital buildings; assisting local civilian eye specialist and volunteering to treat 'watering eye' cases; background to leaving army. Period working as ophthalmic specialist at Darlington Memorial Hospital, 1978-1981: comparison of conditions of service in RAMC and NHS; question of duties as orderly medical officer in RAMC; background to decision to rejoin army. Period at British Military Hospital, Kowloon, New Territories, Hong Kong, 1981-1984: role treating civilian population; family situation; married quarters; developments in treatment of cataracts; enjoyment of army service and importance of comradeship. REEL 10 Period at British Military Hospital, Rinthelm, Germany, 1984-1990: improvements to hospital; relationship with German optician; promotion system and question of move into hospital administration; story of squint operation and subsequent reactions of parent; retirement, 1990. Post-service career as consultant ophthalmic specialist, 1990-1996. Importance of improvements to pay and conditions for specialists in RAMC in 1960s.