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.
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
Thanks for the speedy reply Steve. Bit of an annoying gap between Poona and Jhansi, hopefully someone can answer that one.
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.
Thanks for searching those out for me Maria. These were two hospitals frequented by a Chindit 2 casualty after his return from Burma.
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
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 .
Hi Sylvia, I'm really not sure, I certainly have not come across mention of it. Sorry to be of no use to you.
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.
The Convalescent Depot at Wellington is mentioned briefly and in general terms on page 239 of the Indian Official History Medical Series publication Medical Services: Administration Official History Of The Indian Armed Forces In The Second World War - 1939-45 Administration Cheers Maureen
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
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.
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
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.