NX26185 - BUTT, Frederick George (Fred), A/Sgt. - C Company,
15 Platoon
NX38682 - McDOUGALL, Eldred Ernest (Jock), A/U/Sgt. - C
Company, 15A Platoon
NX70668 - HARVEY, Lieutenant Colonel William Cotter Burnell
- 2/10 Australian General Hospital
NX70690 - CLAYTON, Hedley Stanley (Basher Bill), Lt. - C
Company, O/C 15 Platoon
QX22801 HUXTABLE, Captain Charles Reginald Ralston - 13
Australian General Hospital
VX42966 - OSBORN, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Harwood - 13
Australian General Hospital
Capt. Huxtable
a wonderful, wonderful, kindly understanding gentleman of
the old school type of professional medicos. I still have a
clear mental picture of the man, of medium height, sparse
build, straight, with a cleanly trimmed greyish moustache
wearing his Officers cap British style, soft top, front to
back and peaked.
He was also the
Surgeon (I use capitals for him, as a mark of greatest
respect) who operated on Ron Chipps. Ron was knocked over on
the same day as I, at Simpang Rengam about the 41 mile peg.
Ron was shot through his tin hat very nearly centre
forehead. The Capt. Took the bone splinters out of his
cranium.
I'm very
pleased to read that I was good boy in hospital when he
first became aware of me. I remained conscious and fully
aware of everything from the time of the hit, when I told
Jock McDougall they had missed me by 2 inches, being
carried out by our blokes to Capt. Taylor then into the
ambulance not certain of this bit but I think Bill Clayton
(or whom) passed me a couple of grenades and a pistol in
case of trouble with the nips on the way to hospital. I
don't know whether the intention was to blast myself to
pieces on the nips.
Singapore
hospitals full Docs overloaded (history repeats itself) so
Ron and I were dropped at St. Patricks. Into somewhere
Sister with scissors cuts my shirt off I abuse her and am
still embarrasses the blackout.
I recall intermittent periods of consciousness. I was told
that I was left out on the verandah for four days while they
were busy saving the blokes that had a chance. The Good Lord
some prayers , Colonel Osborne (Surgeon) and Colonel
Cotter Harvey (Thoracic Physician) and one other fixed me.
Four
stone plumbing tubes everywhere, one lung and bloody sick,
hurting and starving at Selerang Barracks plain rice no salt
nothing else I couldn't eat and I doubt very much whether
I could have survived except for an Angel Capt. Huxtable -
(I did not know the man at the time) some one would bring me
a mug (or part of) of hot arrowroot made of condensed milk
that turned me around I think and Capt. Huxtable started me
on the road back.
This
practise was strictly against all the rules, and rightly so.
The Docs must come first to keep us going. Capt. Used to
come during early hours midnight.
One of my
greatest regrets is that I was too thoughtless and selfish
to visit or communicate with Capt. or family and convey my
gratitude with the respect and honour he so richly
deserved. I am conscious of how very muchI owe to so many
for the extra 50 odd years of living they, by human
endeavour, gave to me.
(Source:
Letter from Fred Butt,
21/4/1998, 2/30 Bn. Archives)
