CONFIDENTIAL
No. 203.
Date of visit: June 28th, 1943.
RESERVE-LAZARET COSEL
|
German Chief Physician: British Medical Staff:
Man in charge of Red Cross medical and food supplies: |
Stabsarzt Dr. Preyss Major Slater, NZMC (surgeon) Capt. R.F.K. Webster, RAMC Capt. B.H. Forman, RAMC Capt. P.E.R. Tattersall, RAMC
Staff Sgt. Stewart, RAMC |
31 British medical orderlies.
As shown above a British surgeon has now arrived in this lazaret, namely Major Slater of the New Zealand medical corps. The German Stabsarzt stated him to be a good surgeon.
The reception as the lazaret was a pleasant one; the Delegate of the Protecting Power was told on arriving that everything was in perfect order and that none of the medical officers had any complaints, except that the hospital was desperately short of drugs; lacking above all are spirits, antiseptics, iodine, dressings. The British doctors would be very grateful to the Red Cross for larger and more frequent supplies.
On the day of the visit the hospital was occupied by
73 British patients
92 French "
274 Russian "
5 Serbian "
Food was stated to be excellent as now and for some time in the past this lazaret received the same rations as the German lazarets. There is a stock of Red Cross parcels for about three months.
The hospital is constantly being improved. The British doctors declare that their collaboration with the German Stabsarzt is pleasant and easy.
The camp compound has been extended still further and much of the gained ground has been turned into a well kept garden; as it happened one of the British patients, a professional gardener, was retained after his recovery and with the assistance of the camp authorities and some fellow prisoners he was able to construct clean, dry paths leading to the various hospital - barracks, to create pleasant lawns and colourful flower beds, not to speak of the fine vegetable garden.
Gabriel Naville.
