| Admin/Biog History | A conscientious objector, Waterfield served in the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) during the Second World War, providing relief to civilian and military casualties. The FAU was led by Quakers, with its first overseas work in Finland following the Soviet invasion in 1939. Waterfield joined the Unit some time between this and 1940, having moved into Hill Pasture, Broxted, in 1938. |
| Description | In this 24-page journal, which is inscribed 'D.H. Waterfield. Finland - April 12th', Waterfield records his time in the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) in Finland, Sweden and Norway. The journal is incomplete, with regular, but not daily, entries. Waterfield's last entry is dated 'Tues 30 April-May 1st', which is followed by an annotation signed Erik Widlund explaining that the journal had been given to him by a Norwegian soldier. An accompanying letter from Ann Kempe to Waterfield's brother Anthony describes how the soldier had found the journal in an abandoned ambulance in Norway.
It includes descriptions of daily life and work in the FAU, with reference to the challenging driving conditions (for example, ruts, snow and ice), Kuopio, Joensuu, ferries, and the appeal of the landscape of pine trees, lakes and snow. It also includes a brief reflection on the German invasion of Norway on the opening page.
Of particular note are the following entries, which cover multiple pages:
-23 April (six pages), includes the Unit's journey by train from Joensuu to Torneo [sic] and shopping for Lappish boots and a knife. It also includes Waterfield's thoughts on dying in the war, leaving Finland and his hope for the English ambulances to be remembered with affection.
-30 April (six pages), includes the Unit's journey by road from Finland to just inside the Norwegian border, via Sweden. The route was Tornio to Luleå, Luleå to Lysksele, Lysksele to Gäddede, and Gäddede to Norway. The final stage of the journey was across a mountain pass, where the Unit made slow progress due to 'ditchings' and other delays. It also includes a description of the Unit being attacked by two German aeroplanes, in which no one was seriously injured. [A digital copy of this entry can be found below]
-30 April-1 May (three pages), includes the remainder of the slow journey across the pass, with difficulties including snow and mud. It also includes Waterfield's thoughts on the achievement of the convoy having made it over the pass safely.
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| Image Caption | Journal entry for 30 April concerning a journey from Finland to Norway via Sweden, 1940 |