I was sent to BMH Singapore to complete a Special Treatments Training so that I could run the VD clinic on arrival at OP Crown, we were very busy and happily, very good at it as I'm sure lot's of you will know. Myself and John Knowles, Dave Davies, and Dusty Miller ran the M.I room with the help of the M.Os. We treated a range of complaints from simple sickness or stitching wounds to treating amputations, we also looked after the inhabitants of the Village.
An incident occured when a driver named Thompson, hit Bill Kier with a starting handle, as you do, when you're high on alcohol and drugs. He 'legged' it through the paddy fields chased by myself, John Knowles, Dusty Miller and several other Medics. The MO was called for but before arriving John Knowles had a Syringe of Paraydehyde, this dropped in the mud whilst we were grappling with him. Not so sure exactly what we injected him with but we then had to carry him back to the guardroom. He smashed that up as well.
Some of the medics helped light a funeral pyre after an old man in the village died whilst in one of the bars. During the Wake the roof collapsed and a Policeman was also injured. AHHHH!!!!!! such were the varied duties of the Op Crown Medics. We medics on duty one evening were sent to the Village to tend a dying women, who was in her 50s. We arrived at the end of the road, turned right and saw a bright light in the near distance. when got there the women we were sent to help was actually on 'fire on a pyre'. I think any treatment would have been wasted, she probably needed a bucket of water at that time. I think Brett threw a couple of Potatoes on to bake!!
As well as running the VD Clinic in the Village, ensuring the local girls were free of VD. Myself and other medics also looked after the villagers health where and when we could. One of the locals in particular I remember was a 16 year old girl named Ute. I was called by one of the older women to look at her. She had a very high temperature and severe rash. I was really concerned and sent for the MO. He diagnosed Meningitis and put her on a high dose of antibiotics. I stayed with her as much as I could, feeding her and bathing her with cool water. I did this for several weeks. I'm proud to say she made a full recovery and denied the Grim Reaper. Hopefully she has gone on to live a full and happy life?Pix below by Cedric Williams
