Hi all Does anyone know where I can get information about British medical facilities in Burma/India? In November 1944 my Dad was admitted to 66 Field Ambulance RAMC (Royal Army Medical) to Hospital, he was medically upgraded "B1" (permanent) at 66 Field Ambulance. On later papers it states He was Malaric (MT (1)) this is the severest form of malaria and is associated with the highest levels of Parasites in the blood then in January 1945, he was attached to 68th Indian General Hospital This is all I have on this period of his service, I want to find out more about the medical facilities and where they were, to fill the information gap a bit, if anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful to hear them.
JKW This thread might help - http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/23366-british-general-hospitals-locations.html Cheers
Hi Chick42-46 Thank you for the link, it's a great site with loads of information on British Hospitals, someone has put a lot of work into it. No luck for me I am afraid because I am looking for No l68th Indian General Hospital and it only goes up to 153 My search is still on!
Hi Do you want 68th IGH or 168th IGH - you mention both above? In April 1944 68 IGH was in Chittagong.
Hi Do you want 68th IGH or 168th IGH - you mention both above? In April 1944 68 IGH was in Chittagong. Whoops! sorry about that, I have double checked the original paper work and it is: 66 F.H.(Field Hospital) on 22/11/1944 Then posted to the 21st reinforcement camp on 9/12/44 Then attached to 68 I.G.H. (Indian General Hospital) on 8/1/1945 - 13/1/1945 that I am looking for ~ thanks for pointing that out Chittagong makes sense, it is in the right area, do you know anymore about it please Skoyen89
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Told of the the signal sent to Tac HQ from a medical officer - up jungle - 'Have two cases Dengue request instructions - Signal from HQ read - Suggest handing cases over to Sergeants' Mess Cameronians - they'll drink anything.
This won't be of much use to you but it may be of general interest. There's an episode of the radio series Cavalcade of America called Burma Surgeon. It's a wartime drama, and is downloadable for free alomg with loads of other episodes here: Cavalcade Of America : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive
There will be a Medical Services Official History volume covering the Far East...will be a copy at the RAMC Museum at Keogh Barracks at least......
My late Father contracted a very serious case of Malaria in the Kabaw Valley 1944/5. It was that severe that he was casevaced back to India and he all but died. He eventually passed away in 1992, the Malaria which had resurfaced every say 7 years had eaten away his Kidneys. john
JKW, Airborne Medic is correct there is a written medilcal history book it is titled 'Army Medical Services' Campaigns Vol V by F.A.E. Crew....and I have a copy ! I have had a quick read up and I can confirm that the 68th IGH was definately in Chittagong in 1943 and 44. It was the HQ for the 3rd British and 7th Indian Sections. With ref to the 66th Field Hospital I can only find a 66th Ind Field Ambulance and 66th IGH. Have you since uncovered any further information? If you have drop me a line and I'll try and help you out further. Good Luck, Chris.
Hi JKW Just wondering if you have found out much else about 66 (Indian) Field Ambulance. From my understanding the 66 Indian Field Ambulance was at the Admin Box (Ngakyedauk Pass) - where there was a relatively well known atrocity committed, and many doctors and patients were killed. It is my understanding as well that the 66 Field Ambulance was commanded by Lt. Col. James Currant. (listed as Major on one of my docs). If you have your dad's service record, and if it was indeed the 66th Indian Field Ambulance where he was treated, I am wondering if you might have any information in there about doctors who treated him? My grandfather was a Captain in the 54 Field Ambulance (at Admin Box as well). I am looking for any names that would be associated with the 54 or 66 unit for cross referencing. I'll pm you too in case you haven't been by in awhile.
I have just found a really interesting link which seems to be a review of medical services, problems and solutions for future wars from the US army medical Dept. There so much info about all things medical in Burma, but also loads of other info about all sorts of things such as which units were fittest, figures on disease v wounds from battle, hygiene, morale etc. Absolutely fascinating...horrific too. Compulsory reading for anyone interested in the Burma campaign... the link is history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/CrisisFleeting/bookfour.htm Sorry don't know how to highlight it.
I have just found a really interesting link which seems to be a review of medical services, problems and solutions for future wars from the US army medical Dept. There so much info about all things medical in Burma, but also loads of other info about all sorts of things such as which units were fittest, figures on disease v wounds from battle, hygiene, morale etc. Absolutely fascinating...horrific too. Compulsory reading for anyone interested in the Burma campaign... the link is history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/CrisisFleeting/bookfour.htm Sorry don't know how to highlight it. Hi zahonado, I sent information about this book to a fellow researcher in Canada about 4 years ago, it is a godsend of information on the medical side of things in Burma. Although like all such books it can be a little heavy going in places. Here's your link, a very good spot by you there:Office of Medical History And a link to our own discussion on this great forum too, see post 30:http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/books-films-tv-radio/30194-abda-cbi-seac-book-thread-3.htm
Lots of pages on that link... checked back and I copied that off seven years back - still not read through it all...
I wonder if someone with access to the right material can help me with a hospital query. My father, who was at Imphal/Shenam with an RA regiment in 1944, was stricken with typhus and spent three weeks (from 28/3/44) at ''5CIMH'. Does the IMH refer to an Indian Military Hospital? Thanks for any pointers.
Sumner, These hospitals are not easy to track down.I think you are correct with your terminology. It seems that men who were injured or became ill in Burma ( they all got ill at some stage) were sent back to India and spent time in hospitals and even convalescent places.They then had to get fit again. The British hospitals moved around but the Scarlett Finders website is useful for helping locate where they were. Not sure if Indian oned did.
Thanks, Patron. I couldn't find anything on 5CIMH, but I now understand the abbreviation might stand for '5 Corps, Indian Military Hospital' instead of an actual location.
Hi I've followed this thread with great interest. I think CIMH stands for 'Combined Indian Military Hospital' Rothy
