National Archives catalogue number WO 177/359.
Abbreviations
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2 i/c ADH ADMS Amb A/Tk Bde Bn BNAF Bty CCS CO Coy DADH DADMS DDMS DMS Field Gen GOC Hosp LAA Ldg MO OC Pk RAMC RASC RE Regt RMO SMO Sqn Sth |
Second-in-Command Assistant Director Hygiene Assistant Director Medical Services Ambulance Anti-Tank Brigade Battalion British North Africa Force Battery Casualty Clearing Station Commanding Officer Company Deputy Assistant Director Hygiene Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services Deputy Director Medical Services Director Medical Services Field General General Officer Commanding Hospital Light Anti-Aircraft Landing Officer Commanding Park Royal Army Medical Corps Royal Army Service Corps Royal Engineers Regiment Regimental Medical Officer Senior Medical Officer Squadron South |
Month and year: July 1943
Commanding Officer: Colonel A.A. Eagger O.B.E. R.A.M.C.
1st July 1943
Place: Field
Major General D.M. Cowell, D.M.S. B.N.A.F. and Brigadier Smith D.D.M.S. Tunisia visited A.D.M.S. Conferred with O.C. 16 (Parachute) Fd Amb.
2nd July 1943
A.D.M.S. inspected 133 (Parachute) Field Ambulance. Turn out very good. Officers and men all keen and well trained.
4th July 1943
A.D.M.S. interviewed O.C. 16 (Para) and 127 (Para) Fd Ambs and Major Prouse Medical Specialist 18 C.C.S. Conference with S.M.O.s Brigades on "Bigot Husky". Issue of Medical Administrative Order for "Bigot Husky". Appendix "A".
5th July 1943
A.D.M.S. inspected 127 (Para) Fd Amb. Interviewed O.C. 133 (Para) Fd Amb on suitability of officers. Had interview with G.O.C. re:- (i) Sick Officers unlikely to be available for Bigot. (ii) Arrangements for casualties - Bigot. (iii) Location and responsibility of A.D.M.S. on Bigot Husky. A.D.M.S. inspected accommodation of 261 Fd Pk Coy R.E., 9 Fd Coy R.E. and Recce Sqn.
6th July 1943
Lieut C.H.K. Daly R.A.M.C., R.M.O. 5th Bn (Scottish) Parachute Regt, injured while evacuating casualties during an ammunition dump fire in the afternoon, will be away 2 months or so. 127 (Para) Fd Amb cleared 6 casualties, none serious.
7th July 1943
A.D.M.S. visited by Brigadier Dowse, D.D.M.S. Force 141, Lt. Col Wilson, A.D.M.S. and Lt Col Martin A.D.H. Various problems of supply discussed with the D.D.M.S. particularly plasma and expendable stores. He will obtain approval for the immediate supply of requirements from 10 B.D.M.S. Accompanied by Brig. Dowse A.D.M.S. went to 127 (para) Fd Amb for briefing of officers for Bigot Husky.
8th July 1943
General Sir Bernard Montgomery visited Division and inspected all units. A.D.M.S. lunched with him. A.D.M.S. visited 127 and 16 (Parachute) Field Ambulances. Major A.T. Marrable R.A.M.C. arrived as 2 i/c 16 (Parachute) Fd Amb.
9th July 1943
A.D.M.S. left at 14.00 hours on Exercise Bigot Husky. Airborne about 1930 hrs - with 2 sections and surgical team 181 (Air Ldg) Fd Amb (O.C., Capt Rigby Jones surgeon, Capt Graham Jones anaesthetist, Capt Greeves section officer attached to Borders, Lieut. Brownscombe section officer attached Sth Staffords). All our gliders are away.
10th July 1943
First indirect news that Col. Eagger was walking wounded, later altered, misread message. 127 (Para) Fd Amb's party postponed.
11th July 1943
Lieut Brownscombe returned during the day. Apparently the tug pilot was upset by the small amount of flak took them off their course and cast them off into the sea. After 5 hours they were picked up by an assault craft. The party were separated after ditching and he was accompanied by his batman who could not swim and one N.O. Transferred to a cruiser he acted as an anaesthetist on trip back. 2nd Parachute Bde party cancelled, all very depressed.
12th July 1943
Capt. Greeves, 181 (Air Ldg) Fd Amb said to be missing, so the two Section Officers failed to each port. 181 (Air Ldg) Fd Amb Officers in this show:- C.O. - Lieut Col G.M. Warrack, Surgical specialist - Capt Rigby Jones, Anaesthetist - Capt Graham Jones, Section Officer - Capt H.G. Greeves, R.M.O. 1 Bn Border - Capt. Black. Section Officer - Lieut. B. Brownscombe, R.M.O. 2 Sth Staffords Capt J.E. Miller. 16 (Parachute) Fd Amb party postponed.
13th July 1943
16 (Parachute) Fd Amb with 1st Parachute Bde airborne at 1940 hours. The following Medical Officers taking part:- O.C. - Lt. Col. P.R. Wheatley. Surgical Specialists - Major Longland, Capt Lipman-Kessel. Section Officers - Capt Wright, Capt Percival and Capt Keesey. Regtl Med Officers, 1 Para Bn - Capt M.H.K. Haggie, M.C., 2 Para Bn - Capt. R.R. Gordon, M.C., 3 Para Bn - Capt. J. Rutherford.
14th July 1943
One man in Capt Lipman-Kessel's stick refused, lying on the floor so that no one could pass him, when they were straightened out the pilot refused to make a second run, so they returned. Lt Col G.M. Warrack with all other M.O.s in Air Ldg Bde, except Capt Graham Jones, returned in the evening by boat to Sousse; except for Capt H.G. Greaves all now accounted for. Some of the men from his glider said to be in Algiers so he may be there also. Capt Graham Jones stayed behind to help A.D.M.S.
15th July 1943
Capt Percival, 16 (Para) Fd Amb, returned with 10 men this evening, they had been picked up in the sea near Malta. Four men missing probably drowned.
17th July 1943
Brigadier Boland called in passing.
18th July 1943
1st Parachute Bde returned with 16 (Parachute) Fd Amb who have done very well, 2 S/Sjts wounded and Capt Percival's men missing. Capt M.J. Ingram R.M.O. 1 Bn Glider Pilot Regt arrived from England.
20th July 1943
A.D.M.S. returned from Sicily. Malaria cases so far discovered - 48 cases. BT(P) 28; relapses 8; MT(P) 10; Clinical 2.
22nd July 1943
A.D.M.S. inspected accommodation of 1 Bn Glider Pilot Regt and 1 Air Ldg Recce Squadron.
23rd July 1943
A.D.M.S. visited D.D.M.S. 15 Army Group H.Q. to discuss operation Bigot Husky and the deficiency of personnel. D.A.D.M.S. proceeded to Tripoli to arrange evacuation of casualties.
24th July 1943
A.D.M.S. attended conference at 4 Parachute Bde H.Q. re equipment to be carried in bag attached to leg. Inspected 156 Para Bn, 10 Para Bn, 1 Air Ldg A/Tk Bty, 2 Air Ldg A/Tk Bty and 1 Air Ldg L.A.A. Bty.
26th July 1943
A.D.M.S. visited 71 General Hospital to see Brigadier Hicks, Commander 1 Air Ldg Bde, Major J.P. Parkinson R.A.M.C., 2 i/c 127 (Para) Fd Amb, who has Otitis media, and Major V.A.J. Swain, Surgical Specialist, 181 (Air Ldg) Fd Amb who has epidermophytosis which may make his stay in this country impossible. D.A.D.M.S. returned from Tripoli.
27th July 1943
Conference on use of jumping bag, present:- A.D.M.S.; Lt. Col. W. Alford, O.C., 133 (Para) Fd Amb; Capt P Hewlings, 133 (Para) Fd Amb; Capt R.R. Gordon, M.C. R.M.O. 2 Para Bn; Major R.E. Bonham Carter, D.A.D.M.S. A.D.M.S. had an interview with Maj Gen Crawford, Director of Air, on deficiencies of equipment and personnel. Visited 2 Bn & 5 Bn Para Regt.
28th July 1943
A.D.M.S. (Col A.A Eagger) admitted to 71 Gen Hosp with P.U.O. D.A.D.H. visited Div Holiday Camp at Hamman Lif.
30th July 1943
D.A.D.H. visited 2 Bn South Staffords Regt, 1 Air Ldg Bde H.Q. and Signals.
31st July 1943
Colonel Walmsley, who is now A.D.M.S. of Sousse as well as Kairouan, visited us to discuss the hospital needs of the Division. D.A.D.H. visited 93 Coy R.A.S.C.
