Hi Folks, have added a thread already but any info on my Uncle would be great. Tributes paid to former teacher - Local - Blackpool Gazette
Hi Folks, have added a thread already but any info on my Uncle would be great. Tributes paid to former teacher - Local - Blackpool Gazette Welcome.....I don't live too far from Blackpool but missed this.....as Jonathan says it would be good if you posted any more details of your Uncle such as his unit.....one of the first medical units into Belsen was a Field Ambulance......just need to find the number which I do have.....have you got your Uncle's service record by any chance?
I see he was evacuated from Dunkirk-Happy to shed some light on this aspect of his service if like AM asked, you know the unit he was with at the time of his evacuation during May/June 1940. Cheers Andy Ps give that Brim a Trim, its not ally
Rest In Peace In Arduis Fidelis Was it not the 11th Light Field Ambulance RAMC the first RAMC unit to go into Belsen ?
Im sorry but I have not been able to trace his service docs at the moment, will try and speak to Martyn, his son but as Medic7922 said, he was one of the first in. Im also not sure if he was an officer. I have looked through a lot of the Belsen section of the Nuremberg war trails but can't find anything. I and my wife are ex military so understand about service numbers and units. ( Missus is ex RAMC and I'm ex RN )
Rest In Peace In Arduis Fidelis Was it not the 11th Light Field Ambulance RAMC the first RAMC unit to go into Belsen ? I'd agree the first 'medical' unit to go to Belsen was 11 FA but it seems the first RAMC personel there were Brigadier G Hughes DDMS of 2nd Army and some of his staff closely followed by 76 Field Hygiene Section RAMC but they were more interested in the water supply and sanitation etc......
76 Field Hygiene rings a bell due to his previous civvy job but as soon as I find more info will post
76 Field Hygiene rings a bell due to his previous civvy job but as soon as I find more info will post I would be interested in more about your uncles exploits, Although I was more involved in the Blood Transfusion side of things during my RAMC career, I have an interest also in Hygene units as my role now in the NHS is involved in Infection Control.
Will speak to his son Martyn in the next day or two to try and get more info. Im sure my Mum has a photo of him in uniform??? At least I should be able to get his rank.
Just an update as still waiting on photo's and service number from Martyn, his son. I can confirm the following. Joseph was a Sgt. He was one of the very first people through the gates within the first hour of discovering the camp so this possibly confirms a hygiene. He grabbed a camera he had with him and documented what he found, this evidence was the reason he was at the Nuremberg war trails as some of the photo's were used for the convictions. During his first day there, he came across what he thought was a bunch of rags in the corner of the camp. It turned out to be a female prisoner close to death. He called more medics over and she was then cared for over the next few days by him. After the war, the lady, who survived and married a wealthy businessman, traced Joseph and thanked him ( Still trying to find out who this was ). He stayed at the camp for a number of weeks, his team deployed to clear the bodies and reduce the risk of infection in the area. I should have more info within the next week.