Lethbridge, Harold Octavius (Major, b.1880 - d.1944)

Collection relating to the First World War service of Major Harold Octavius Lethbridge MBE, AAMC. Collection consists of two original diaries, from October 1915 to October 1916, and October 1916 to September 1919. Also included in three notebooks is another handwritten version (in a different hand) covering October 1915 to March 1917. The diaries commence with embarkation on the "HMAT Port Lincoln" and describe shipboard life, medical work and a burial at sea. In Egypt, Lethbridge initially joined No.2 Australian General Hospital (2 AGH) at Gezireh, before being transferred temporarily to the No.4 Australian Auxilliary Hospital (4 AAH) at Abassia for two months to March 1916. He describes hospital conditions, treatments, Gallipoli sick and wounded; as well as tourist impressions of the antiquities of Egypt and his (negative) impressions of the English. In March 1916, 2 AGH was moved to France, where Lethbridge worked initially with infectious disease cases at Camp Moussot, Marseilles. He was transferred to 6th Australian Field Ambulance (6 AFA) in August 1916. Descriptive entries refer to conditions in the Ambulance and the trenches; continuous references to mud, the strain of shellfire and other horrors of war. Lethbridge was transfered in March 1917 to No 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital (2 AAH) Southall, remaining there till August 1919. Diary entries cover his work with amputees and artificial limbs; and tourist impressions. Lethbridge also recorded his impressions of Italy, visited August 1918. Lethbridge survived the war and returned home to Australia. Also see 'The great white father', a biography of Lethbridge held in the book collection at F 610.6952092.