129 Field Ambulance, 43rd Div - Normandy, Market Garden & crossing the Rhine.

Discussion in 'RAMC' started by Jonathan Ball, Aug 27, 2010.

  1. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    I might as well put the lot on from June 1944 to May 1945! :)

    I will start by adding more of the reports and then the diaries, month by month.
     
  2. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Excellent idea
     
  3. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  4. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

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    dbf likes this.
  5. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    There is no report at the NA for the period March - May 1945 however the diaries exist and I will start to add them later. A Vet of the Field Ambulance did record his experiences with the IWM sound archive:

    Uncat Record

    Here is a synopsis of the interview with regards to NWE.

    REEL 4: Recollections of operations as medical orderly with 129 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in Normandy, 6/1944- 8/1944: disembarking at Arromanches in Normandy, 6/1944; reasons for associating Intermezzo from Cavalliera Rusticana with disembarkation, 6/1944.

    REEL 5 Continues: character of landing; removal of waterproofing from vehicles; first attempt to smoke army cigarettes; intervention by regimental sergeant- major during handling of mines casualty; move to Caen area; danger of German counter battery fire; handling casualties; orders to say put under German advance; friendly fire problem in St Lo area; treatment of Germans and French civilians; work with casualty receiving station; story of French civilian women's pleasure in seeing soldiers bathing. Recollections of operations as medical orderly with 129 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in North West Europe, 1944-1945: contracting dysentery during advance to Louvain, 9/1944.

    REEL 6 Continues: dealing with cases of VD and scabies; problem of when to use penicillin; occasion when female civilian had cyst removed by unit at Louvain; advance along Arnhem corridor; story of medical officer reaction to death of Royal Army Service Corps driver-batman to sniper fire; sight of dead Germans tied to girders on crossing Nijmegen bridge; need to withdraw from front-line at Lent; his refusal to play football on a Sunday; contact with Salvation Army officers in Lent; eye injury caused by horse play.

    REEL 7 Continues: treating Dutch female collaborator for scabies; problems of sheltering from German artillery in terrain with high water table; role of 4th Bn Dorsetshire Regt in rescuing survivors from Arnhem bridgehead; reaction to crossing river on pontoon bridge; rest period in Tilburg; rapid move to Ardennes, 12/1944; treating civilians for scabies in Ardennes; move to Brunsum area; story of young boy who prolonged his treatment and present he received from boy's mother; making friends with Salvationist family at Hoensbruck; question of competence of new medical officer and reaction of medical orderlies.

    REEL 8 Continues: crossing Siegfried Line; treating difficult abdominal wound case; sight of Canadian casualties at Kalkar; crossing of River Rhine at Wesel; adjusting to being under shell-fire; threat of booby traps; dealing with casualty with hand grenade trapped in his pocket; sight of concentration camp survivors in Belsen Concentration Camp; reason for issue of photographs of concentration camp survivors; arrival in Bremerhaven.
     
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  6. Mrmontymagpie

    Mrmontymagpie Junior Member

    Hi Jonathan,

    Thank you for the info, every little helps..I will try to add his image once i work it out and thank you for the War graves commission link, though i already have it. i also have the original telegram from the R.A.S.C. to inform my Grandmother of his death as well as his bakerlite dog tag which i treasure :)

    Jonathan, ive added a few images now that i have worked out how lol
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

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  8. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  9. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  10. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  11. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  12. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  13. Mrmontymagpie

    Mrmontymagpie Junior Member

    Jonathan, thank you for this.....how do i add images from my pc to the threads? :-(
     
  14. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  15. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  16. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  17. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  18. 0.303

    0.303 Junior Member

    Hi Jonathan

    This War Diary of the Field Ambulance is very interesting to read. Would it be possible to get this on CD for me, please send me a PM to work this out.

    Kind regards
    .303
     
  19. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  20. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Hi Jonathan,

    My father was injured early Oct 44 near the Bemmel/Nijmegen-Arnhem Road area serving with the 5th East Yorks. I'd love to see your disc.
     

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