Notebook inscribed ‘T. J. Fairbank Major RAMC.’ containing 31 pages of manuscript journal entries for the period 20 January to 16 June 1940.
The journal begins on 29 January 1940 with TJF returning from leave and his assignment to the 1st Battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. It records how he spent the first few months of 1940 at the 10th General Hospital in Arques-la-Bataille principally treating sick civilians and military personnel. Following the start of the German invasion of France on 10 May 1940, TJF reports “war started” and describes treatment of the first bomb casualties, his postings to Rennes and Le Mans, the retreat of British troops and refugees fleeing from the invasion, the evacuation of patients, escape through St. Malo aboard the Royal Sovereign and arrival at Southampton on 16 June 1940.
Inserted in the journal are a note ‘Impressions on the first heavy batch of wounded at No.10 GH’ and a combined leave pass and railway ticket from Dover to Exeter for 18-28 January 1940.