Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps. THE HEALTH OF THE MIDDLE EAST FORCE, 1942-1943. A. 'E. RICHMOND, O.B.E., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.P.H., D.T.M. & H. (Deputy Director of Hygiene, Middle East Force.) AND Lieutenant-Colonel H. S. GEAR, M.D., D.P.H., D.T.M. & H, South African Medical Corps. (Assistant Director of Hygiene, Middle East Force.) [Received May 22, 1945.] Contents Full Report Here. Source: http://jramc.bmj.com/content/jramc/85/1/1.1.full.pdf
Charley Many thanks for this fascinating document. Would be interested in seeing the equivalent document, if it existed, for the CMF in 1944-1945 ? Best regards Ron
Sorry, Ron, I'd be interested to see that, too, but I can't find it. Closest I can find (geographically speaking) is Adriatic Forces here: http://jramc.bmj.com/content/85/1/41.full.pdf There's some bits and pieces about the LRDG, the Commandos and the Raiding Support Regiment.
Charley Thanks for trying ! The other link you provided, namely : http://jramc.bmj.com/content/85/1/41.full.pdf i is also of much interest. Best regards Ron
Lt Beadle in hospital Sousse Nov 1943 it seems a great percentage of the 67th Field Regiment suffered from this: I’m in hospital with Infective Hepatitis, our local brand of Jaundice. My complaint is very common out here and mysterious too. Nobody knows what causes it and the treatment is completely empirical. Earlier in the year it was a common complication of malaria but a couple of blood tests have shown that I’m free from that. Do we know the cause with our modern medical knowledge. It seems to have debilitated him later at Anzio and even stopped him drinking too much in Rome.
Poor hygiene conditions it seems, they were discouraged from eating or drinking outside the camps for this reason. Most of them of all ranks seem to have gone down with it towards the end of their time in Tunisia. They spent time training in the hills and on French Artillery Ranges so may have drunk contaminated water. The camp was badly flooded during a heavy storm which may have contributed to the outbreak.
A very interesting summary. A few comments: 1. When it talks of Allied "continental armies" being careless of hygiene, I take that to mean the French and the Greeks. The report gives high marks to the Poles. 2. The high standards of cleanliness among African personnel and units must have surprised some of the whites. 3. I note the complete lack of any discussion of psychological problems, including shell shock.