R A D C -Mike Vee /Tim

[49lassiepen]

Purchased in Nov 21 from Canterbury auctions 3 uniforms with all insignia to a Lt Colonel with the South Atlantic ribbon with rosette -in my album Though not badge related I have found out that 3 R A D C officers officers joined the QE2 for the South Atlantic attached to 16 field ambulance R A M C
In 1983 one officer Lt Colonel K A Watt wrote can article in the B D J of his time ,as an resuscitation officer in 1 of 2 field surgical teams in Ajax Bay ,Port Stanley .He had only just disembarked the Sir Galahad when it was bombed ,members of the team were killed I have been trying to identify the ranks of the other 2 officers
and would be surprised if all 3 were Lt Colonels ,this would hopefully help to name the uniforms So far have contacted museum of military medicine [very helpful ],R A D A association , I W M ,dental and medical journals +many on line searches
2 members here Mike Vee and Tim are very good ferrets -any help would be appreciated

[mike_vee]

Found another BJD article "Some reflections on Operation Corporate - the Falklands Campaign" the site only has an abstract :

At the time of the Falklands Campaign (Operation Corporate), apart from performing clinical dentistry, the Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC) dental officer's combat role included acting as a resuscitation officer attached to a field hospital or a field ambulance. It was in that role that three dental officers from the RADC became involved in the campaign. This paper reflects their experiences in the operation. Describes the deployment from the UK of four Royal Army Dental Corps personnel aboard an unlikely troopship, the QE2 - a ship taken up from trade (STUFT).Illustrates the difference between the peacetime and wartime roles of an army dentist of that time.Mentions the attack on RFA Sir Galahad and describes the subsequent employment of the dental officers. Describes the deployment from the UK of four Royal Army Dental Corps personnel aboard an unlikely troopship, the QE2 - a ship taken up from trade (STUFT). Illustrates the difference between the peacetime and wartime roles of an army dentist of that time. Mentions the attack on RFA Sir Galahad and describes the subsequent employment of the dental officers.

I have contacted the author to request a full pdf copy ot the article , will keep you informed.


Edit : The author of the article is John Aitken and I just found some details.

John Aitken, 71, who served in the army as a dentist for 20 years and fought in the Falklands War

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[49lassiepen]

Mike many thanks
David

[grey_green_acorn]

David,
Mike seems to be hot on the trail!
I did various searches including “Medical Support to Operation CORPORATE which surfaced a long report written by three of the surgeons involved. Also in PARADATA https://www.paradata.org.uk/article/...lands-campaign
A good read from “Above All Courage” by Max Arthur with a personal account by Doc Hughes the MO for 2 PARA in which there are references to 16 Field Ambulance but could not see anything RADC related.

Tim

[grey_green_acorn]

John Aitken is likely to be John Flett AITKEN 2Lt (Dental Cadetship) 14 September 1970
Lt Col 14 July 1985.

Tim

[49lassiepen]

Tim many thanks
David

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

John Aitken is likely to be John Flett AITKEN 2Lt (Dental Cadetship) 14 September 1970
Lt Col 14 July 1985.

Tim

ROYAL ARMY DENTAL CORPS
REGULAR ARMY
Short Serv. Commn.
John Flett AITKEN (489966) to be 2nd Lt. (on probation) Dental Cadetship, 14th Sep. 1970.



Maj. John Flett AITKEN, B.D.S. (489966) from Short Serv. Commn. to be Capt., 10th Oct. 1977, with seniority 14th Jul. 1972. To be Maj., 10th Oct. 1977, with seniority 14th Jul. 1977.

ROYAL ARMY DENTAL CORPS
REGULAR ARMY
Maj J F AITKEN (489966) to be Lt-Col, 14th Jul 1985.


He is mentioned in the book "The Toothwrights' Tale: A History of Dentistry in the Royal Navy 1964-1995".

HMS Mercury (shore establishment ) and HMS Cardiff. (Early 1980's ?)

Left the Army in 1994 after 24 years of full time service.


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[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by 49lassiepen

He had only just disembarked the Sir Galahad when it was bombed ,members of the team were killed

I can find no one from RADC listed on the Roll of Honour of those who died during the Falklands War (260 names listed).

It is possible/probable that his "team" were members of the RAMC.

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[49lassiepen]

Mike I think you are correct that members of the team were R A M C ,found 1 named R A M C private
David

[grey_green_acorn]

David,
Do you think that the three uniforms you purchased in 2021 once belonged to Lt Col Aitken?

Perhaps an enquiry to the Canterbury auction house might confirm that through the seller’s details?

Tim

[49lassiepen]

Tim Found an email address for him -started with his middle name E mailed him last night 11/2 /23 ,no reply as yet I'll wait a couple of days to see what happens Age wise I think he would be 73 now
David

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by 49lassiepen

Age wise I think he would be 73 now

In September 2018 he did a 100km walk in France and Belgium to commemorate the end of the First World War and to raise money for The Soldiers' Charity. He was 71 .

History of 22 Field Hospital

In April 1982, following the invasion of the Falkland Islands by the Argentines, 2 Field Hospital was mobilised and deployed in three phases and in three differing roles.

Phase 1: The two surgical teams (later known as FSTs 1 and 2) from 55 FST and the equivalent of a field ambulance holding section, totalling 7 officers and 29 servicemen drawn from cadre and selected Category 1 and 2 personnel, were detached to 16 Field Ambulance RAMC, sailing for the Falklands on 1 May 1982 aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2. FST 1 was led by Major David Jackson with Major Bannerjee as anaesthetist and Lt Col Watt RADC as resuscitation officer.FST 2 was likewise led by Major Jim Ryan supported by Lt Col Anderson and Major Aitken RADC.

https://www.friendsofmillbank.org/do...d_Hospital.pdf

Haven't yet found out who the third officer was or the rank of the forth RADC member on the QE2.

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[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by 49lassiepen

Mike I think you are correct that members of the team were R A M C ,found 1 named R A M C private
David

There was 1 RAMC private and 1 RAMC Lance Corporal both from 16 Field Ambulance (attached to Welsh Guards) mentioned in a Times article about those lost on the Galahad.

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[49lassiepen]

Mike thanks again
David

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

David,
Do you think that the three uniforms you purchased in 2021 once belonged to Lt Col Aitken?

Perhaps an enquiry to the Canterbury auction house might confirm that through the seller’s details?

Tim

Aitken lives in Kenilworth , Warwickshire.

Would he use an auction house in Canterbury ?

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