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Evan Griffiths – Mobile Field Hospital

Consultant surgeon Bridgend hospitals, south Wales, 1951-60, consultant geriatrician Wrexham Maelor Hospital, north Wales, 1961-81 (b Llanelly 1916; q St Bartholomew’s 1940; FRCSEd, FRCS), died from a myocardial infarction on 28 July 1998.

After house jobs in London he joined the Royal Air Force and was involved in the Normandy landings and the European campaign as part of a mobile field hospital. He was one of the first doctors to enter the Belsen concentration camp. He continued his surgical training in London under Professor Ian Aird and Sir James Patterson Ross. His surgical career was cut short by a cerebrovascular accident in 1958, leaving him with a residual weakness in one hand. But in 1961 he set up the geriatric service at Maelor Hospital, building it up until he retired in 1981. He loved Wales and everything Welsh, especially rugby, having represented his home town and Barts. He leaves a wife, Joan; three sons (one of whom is also a surgeon); and four grandchildren.

by Nicholas Griffiths

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This archive has been established after my own relative, Reg Price, took part in the liberation and subsequent humanitarian effort of Bergen Belsen in April 1945. Reg produced this famous sign at Belsen. As part of the 113th DLI, Reg and his comrades were at Belsen for 5 weeks and left when the last hut was empty and ceremonially burnt down. This archive compiles all available resources to build a lasting tribute to all the men and women who helped - any unit, any nationality. If you have a relative, or any info, on the relief effort at Belsen, we’d love you to please get in touch. Email us: liberator@belsen.co.ukThank you Nick Price CreativesFacebookTwitter