R.A.M.C.
Living History Group
Forthcoming updates
Once again, I have been having access problems with the site, hopefully now fixed!
One of our members has finally finished his jeep to Airborne RAMC specs, and the photos will be online shortly.
I have a large amount of original text to type in, and some more photos from last year's shows to add.
Wish me luck?
Site updates
Seems a long time between updates, and it is!
I have been having a lot of problems being able to both access the site and upload things. It's still not 100%, but I'm getting there.
I've added a copy of Don Bartrum's account and a couple of additions to the Nominal Roll.
There is a lot more sitting here in front of me, ready to go online as soon as I can finish it.
We have just returned from our annual trip to Holland, no photo's yet, but work has begun at the Tafelberg. The staircase was being removed whilst I was there, hopefully for safekeeping, and some sections of the foyer floor have already been removed. One section is currently in the Hartenstein, some more were piled up outside the Tafelberg.
30/12/03
Visitor numbers
Over the Christmas break this site had it's 1000th visitor. Thank you all.
Site updates
I've added a few new links on the links page.
Other news
181 will be displaying at the Stoneleigh militaria fair, near Coventry, on January 24th and 25th.
I have been contacted by the 1st Field Ambulance Association, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, to write an article for their magazine. Don't worry chaps, I'll get it finished and sent out soon. (I hope!)
RAMC operational orders for Market-Garden added
Thanks to the generousity of Rene Swankhuizen, I have been able to transcribe and post the complete orders for all 1st Airborne RAMC units for Market-Garden. Click here to view the document.
More glider information added
I have added the Load Manifests for gliders C/N 286-290 (1st lift, Down Ampney) to the gliders page. These can be seen by clicking on the relevant Chalk Number.
Nominal Roll Updates
I have been contacted by Mr. R. Green, son of Cpl. Wally Green (7399587), who may have cleared up the confusion over there being two Cpl. W. Greens with 181. His father was the one with the HQ Section, and was in Horsa C/N 289. The list has been amended to add both men's Serial Numbers.
More on C/N 289
Mr S. Murray, son of S/Sgt. Sam Isaacs DFM, has contacted me. He has kindly allowed me to post a letter written to him about his father, the pilot of C/N 289, by Cpl. G. Aldred, HQ Section.
This I'll be doing shortly, but you can read it as part of his father's biography at the Arnhem Archive by clicking here.
Yet another site update
I have added more information to the gliders page, with examples of loading lists, and photo's of one of 181's gliders on the landing zone after the battle. Also, the history page has had some more pictures added.
Another Site Update
I have added Major Frazer's Post-Action report. It can be viewed here.
Site Updates
I have been working on a Nominal Roll of 181 personnel for September 1944, and I have posted up the partially completed list. I will update it as more information comes in. A list of the gliders that took 181 to Holland has also been added.
I have been in contact with Mr Stuart Jebbitt, son of the late Mr David Jebbitt who was in 181, most likely in the HQ Section. He has sent me a great deal of new information, and has given me permission to post it up on this website, which I will be doing shortly. Thank you once again Mr Jebbitt.
You can find a link to Mr Jebbitt's own website on the Links page.
59th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden
We have just returned from our annual trip to Holland. Whilst staying in Oosterbeek, we revisited many of the locations used by 181 A/L Fld. Amb. during the battle. Since the partial demolition of the Tafelberg Hotel last year, nothing more seems to have been done, with the site having become overgrown. The Schoonoord is as busy as usual, and the Vreewijk still being used as offices and kept in good order. We were unable to visit the Dressing Station sites in Wolfheze due to lack of time.
Below are two photos taken of the Tafelberg this year.
Whereas the frontage has been made the subject of a preservation order, the rest of the building was not, and as can be seen in the right hand photo, has been completely removed, right down to the floor of the cellar.
When we visited the building a few years ago we were shown graffiti still on the walls of the cellar, due to their height obviously written by patients lying on stretchers on the floor. It's a shame that none of the photos I took of these turned out, as they are now lost forever.
"Leeches to Lasers, military medicine through the ages"
We were proud to be invited to display as part of the National Army Museum's military medical weekend on the 8-9th March 2003.
It was a very good event, covering, as the name suggests, the progress of medicine to the fighting man through the ages, from the medieval period to the present day.
A team of 5 were in attendance, portraying a small advanced field surgical unit, 20th September 1944.
Following on from the NAM show, we were invited to attend this event. Held in the Manor House, it covered general medical practices from Roman times, to our own WWII display.
The show was held in the Manor House, Donington-le-Heath, Coalville, Leicestershire, and opened to the public at 11am, closing at 4pm.