Major Francis Raymond Waldron

Dr F.R. Waldron was born in Tuam Galway in 1905 and he died in 1973 in Newport Isle of Wight. He had a distinguished medical career.
He moved around a lot and specialised in lung disease and TB. He worked at Barrowmore Hall near Chester in the 30s. It was a treatment centre for ex service men suffering from TB. He ended up in London at the beginning of the war where he was medical officer in Greenwich. He came to the attention of the army and was commended for his work during air raids. He was then released from Greenwich to the Armed Forces with the RAMC. He arrived in France on D Day plus 13. In April, 1945 he was among the first medical group to enter Bergen- Belsen. It affected him greatly over the course of his life. I am looking for his service record and the War Diary of the unit he was with if it is available. His service number was 257963.
His brother D. H. Waldron also served with the Indian Medical service in the 1930s and also with the British Army. Francis was with the Field Hygiene Unit of the 11th Armoured Division.

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Major Waldron this letter was published in the BMJ on 30 June 1945. He mentions that the first individual to enter Bergen-Belsen was the Divisional A.D.M.S., Col. D. Bluett, who went in about midday on April 15. Lt Col Douglas Bluett was with HQ 11th Armoured Div.

SIR,

My attention has been drawn to an article in your issue of June 9 (p. 814). In the interest of accurate recording it is felt that Dr. Collis should be aware of the following facts:

(1) The typhus area including Belsen Camp was uncovered by the 11th Armoured Division during April 15 and not April 17 as his account suggests.

(2) The first individual to enter the camp was the Divisional A.D.M.S., Col. D. Bluett, who went in about midday on April 15.

(3) The first medical unit began work in the camp at approximately 4 p.m. on April 15. This was the Divisional Field Hygiene Section.

(4) Incidentally this unit was the only medical unit working there until April 18. It spent the first two days completely within the wired enclosure, and during the first 24 hours the S.S. men were still in control of the camp.

(5) It was due to the foresight of Col. Bluett that supplies of A.L.63 and disinfectant were available for this initial effort. Up to the afternoon of April 18, when another Field Hygiene Section came up, some 15,000 inhabitants of the camps had been deloused.

(6) The fact that the 11th Armoured Division provided some troops, water-carts, the greater part of its hygiene section, and its whole laundry and bath unit, while active operations were being carried out, is deserving of mention in any account of Belsen.-I am, etc.,

F. R. WALDRON, 76 (Br.) Field Hygiene Section, B.L.A. Major, R.A.M.C.

 

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