Where was the 119 Indian General Hospital in 1944?

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by bamboo43, Feb 1, 2017.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi All,

    I've had a good look on the forum, but cannot find the locations of the following India based hospitals as of September/November 1944.

    Do we know where the 119 Indian General Hospital was in September 1944 and where the 60 British General Hospital was as of November 1944. I have a feeling the latter was in Poona, but cannot clarify the fact.

    Many thanks as always.
     
  2. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    From Scarlet Finders website re 60 BGH -

    Sarafand 23/5/40 to 1/41 then to Jerusalem; Jerusalem 1/41 to 1/42 then to Bombay; Bombay 1/42 to 2/42 then to Poona; Poona 2/42 to 5/42; Jhansi 1/45 to 2/45 then to Bilaspur; Bilaspur 2/45 to 1/46 (no further War Diary).

    Steve Y
     
    bamboo43 likes this.
  3. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks for the speedy reply Steve. Bit of an annoying gap between Poona and Jhansi, hopefully someone can answer that one.:)
     
  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Change of thread title and a cheeky bump.:)
     
  5. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Steve, hopefully somebody with a fmp subscription can look up these full articles

    12/10/44 Berwick Advertiser "in a press cutting sent home ?? that the British girls went to Kirkee military hospital, near Poona"

    This is slightly earlier than you were looking for but from the Aberdeen Press and Journal 28/9/44, "....the Army was attached to a Field Ambulance unit in West Africa for over a year before being transferred to a military hospital at Poona, a few months ago. Captain Thomson who was born in London, was a son of the late Rev. Dr. William Thomson, Bowes Park, London....."

    Haven't looked to see if Thomson is on the Casualty Lists on FMP or looked him up yet on Geoff s search engine, but thought maybe one of those records might indicate which hospital he died in. Must check in the morning for an obituary.

    Do you know for certain where the hospital was right up until Nov 44?

    There was also a Church of Scotland medical missionary in Poona. I bet they have archives which might make comment about the 60 hospital passing through/setting up.
     
    bamboo43 likes this.
  6. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks for searching those out for me Maria. These were two hospitals frequented by a Chindit 2 casualty after his return from Burma.
     
  7. Maureene

    Maureene Well-Known Member

    Perhaps there may be something in the online volume Medical Services: Campaigns In The Eastern Theatre, part of Official History of the Indian Armed Forces In the Second World War, although a quick look at the index did not reveal anything.
    Campaqigns In The Eastern Theatre : Raina,b.l. : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

    If you have access to a major library, the British Hospital may be mentioned in one of the British Medical Series Official Histories
    History of the Second World War - Wikipedia

    Regarding the post above, Kirkee was a large cantonment and is very likely to have had an existing military hospital, which could well have been enlarged during WW2. Kirkee. close to Poona, was also considered to have a good climate, being at a higher elevation, so not so hot, and is a likely place to have extra hospital beds provided.

    If you have access to the British Library , there is a collection called
    Indian Army Medical
    IOR/L/MIL/17/5/1994-2040 : 1860-1947
    I've no idea what is in this, as the catalogue didn't seem to be working properly, however this reference is part of the Military Department Library, so they would be printed reports

    Cheers
    Maureen

    Edit: Another online volume in the Indian Official History Medical Series is Medical Services: Administration
    A choice of two files
    Official History Of The Indian Armed Forces In The Second World War - 1939-45 Administration : Raina, B. L. : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive (Note Medical Services is omitted from the catalogue details)
    Medical Services Administration : Prasad,bisheshwar : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

    Both are download from Archive.org, Digital Library of India Collection. A Contents link from elsewhere indicates there is a chapter called The Medical Units, which may contain information.
    Official History of the Indian Armed Forces in the Second World War (1939-45) Medical Services. Administration - Official History of the Indian Armed Forces in the Second World War (1939-45) Medical Services. Administration - South Asia Archive
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2017
    kmvenables and bamboo43 like this.
  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thank you Maureen, plenty to be getting on with there.:)

    Steve
     
  9. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Steve and Maureen, Do you know if 31 ICD at Wellington would be covered by the above records?.The reason I ask is that I have some photos of interiors which might be of this complex .Its a bit of a long shot.I have posted pics in another thread .
     
  10. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Sylvia,

    I'm really not sure, I certainly have not come across mention of it. Sorry to be of no use to you.
     
  11. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Steve, It was a convalescence place where my father and a colleague spent time recuperating from hepatitis contracted in Shillong, They had a special programme to return them to fitness, followed by a medical.Then having passed this they had a little leave there before taking a rediculous series of journeys back to their Battalion in Burma.
     
  12. Maureene

    Maureene Well-Known Member

    dbf and bamboo43 like this.
  13. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks Maureen. I'm glad someone could help Sylvia out here.
     
  14. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Maureen,Many thanks for that.I will peruse. As always, this site produces real experts.
     
  15. PatsyM

    PatsyM Member

    Hello
    My father was in 119IGH in Aug 44 and I have been trying to find the location. I have now discovered an article which would suggest it is India General Hospital at Ranchi.
    I found it at www.ncbi.nih.gov - evolution of field neurosurgery by P H Schurr.
    Pat
     
    bamboo43 likes this.
  16. PatsyM

    PatsyM Member

  17. JITTER PARTY

    JITTER PARTY Well-Known Member

    It was a BT hospital at Ranchi in 01/43, but by 04/45 it was an IGH(C) at Calcutta. Don't know where it was 08/44, I'm afraid.
     
    PatsyM likes this.
  18. PatsyM

    PatsyM Member

     
  19. PatsyM

    PatsyM Member

    Hello Jitter Party
    Thanks for above info and it looks like back to the drawing board for me. I thought the number attached just related to the hospital but it would seem it moved around.
    Can I ask what BT stands for and is it possible to know where info came from please? I posted my info on facebook for someone listing the various hospitals so now need to amend that in light of what you have written.
    Kind regards
    Pat
     
  20. JITTER PARTY

    JITTER PARTY Well-Known Member

    BT = British Troops, as opposed to IGH (C) which means Combined, with both British and Indian sections.
    The information is from various location statements and orders of battle at Kew. These are quite thin on the ground for 1942-44, hence the gaps.
     
    PatsyM likes this.

Share This Page