| Admin/Biog History | A conscientious objector, Waterfield served in the Quaker-led Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) during the Second World War, providing relief to civilian and military casualties. Having already volunteered with the FAU in Finland in 1940, he joined the Hadfield Spears Hospital Unit [Hadfield Spears Ambulance Unit], run by Mrs Spears [Mary Borden] in 1941, and served with them in the Middle East and North Africa. |
| Description | In this 130-page journal, Waterfield records the period he spent in the Middle East and Africa while volunteering for the Hadfield Spears Hospital Unit. The journal is complete, although it appears to end abruptly, with dated, mainly chronological entries from 16 July 1941-19 April 1943. The entries are irregular, with some close in date or weekly and others months apart, although the text generally covers the preceding period of time. Some entries are supplemented with notes on the facing page. It includes a range of insights into the work of the Unit (for example, the work, conditions and personnel in field and other hospitals (particularly cleaning and nursing duties); injuries and illnesses of patients including burns, sicknesses and mental health; and experiences of assisting with clinics and the distribution of flour and beans in local communities). It also includes leisure activities undertaken by Waterfield such as a holiday in Haifa with his close friend 'Hammy' [Mills], an expedition up Mount Hermon with John Verney, sightseeing excursions and other experiences on his days off including trips to souks. Many of the entries convey Waterfield's specialisms in gardening and art, together with his interest in literature. For example there are frequent and detailed references and descriptions of plants and the landscape; notes about making drawings and paintings and taking part in a group art exhibition; sketches in pen on c 14 pages of things Waterfield had seen and wished to record or explain visually; and opinions on books he was reading. There are often notes about meals and new dishes that he has enjoyed.
The journal records stays and/or journeys to and from the following places, with other places such as local villages mentioned more briefly:
-Haifa, Palestine
-Mount Hermon, Lebanon/Syria
-Beirut/Beyrouth [Beirut], Lebanon
-Brumana, Lebanon
-Baalbek, Lebanon
-Sidan, Lebanon
-Damascus, Syria
-Lataguie [Latakia], Syria
-Buselli, Egypt
-Cairo, Egypt
-Buqbuq, Egypt
-Alex [Alexandria], Egypt
-Tobruk, Libya
-Derna, Libya
-Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
-Algiers, Algeria
Other entries of note concern the deaths of Waterfield's friend and colleague Nik in a bomb explosion, colleagues James Tonks and Capitaine Rataté due to a lorry accident, and of two patients, with the latter being the first deaths that Waterfield had directly witnessed. He also records several periods of being personally hospitalised and unwell.
There are a few references to correspondence from Waterfield's close friend Nancy Tennant, feelings on friendships including a breakdown of relations with 'Hammy' [Mills], and reflections on personal inadequacy in terms of his volunteer work and loss of purpose, with one brief reference to thoughts of suicide.
Waterfield occasionally records news about developments in the Second World War and muses on the future of England.
The language used by Waterfield in his journal necessarily reflects the attitudes of the period in which he was writing. In consequence, some of the terminology used and opinions about race and class in this journal are outdated.
Related material can be found in DHW/1/4 - Journals: North Africa and the Middle East: 1941-1943: Letter from John Verney to Nancy Tennant (DHW/1/4/1) and Transcript of letters from John Verney (DHW/1/4/2), and DHW/3/3 - Notebooks: Story.
The journal is fragile and several of the pages have become detached. |