Can anyone tell me what anything about the history of this unit? were they part of a bigger RAMC unit? where did they serve? anything really as Google isn't being of any help. Thanks Alistair
Hi Alistair, Each Brigade in an Airborne Division had their own PFA or ALFA with 2 surgical teams each. In the case of the 1st Airborne Division which was in North Africa and was later involved in the invasion of Italy there were 4 Brigades - 1st, 2nd and 4th Parachute Brigades and the 1st Airlanding Brigade. Your only other clue is "No. 4" which immediately makes one wonder if they were connected to the 4th Parachute Brigade whose PFA was 133 Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC. Another more remote possibility is if the surgical teams were numbered in a Division depending on how they ordered their Brigades in the Order of Battle. I haven't found any evidence for that as yet. The surgical teams usually self identified as No. 1 or No. 2 of their particular PFA or ALFA. The Pegasus Archive has a 1st Airborne Division Order of Battle for Sicily but not Italy: Order of Battle Of course that is pure speculation and someone else may have an answer that makes better sense. Regards ...
Cheers for your observations, I recently got a paybook to a member of the unit so trying to find more info - I'm in touch with a family member but he has no real information on him, he is planning getting his service records at some point which will help a bit. Thanks again Alistair
