Chantler, D E E
Lance Corporal Douglas E. E. Chantler
Douglas Chantler was a medical orderly and was captured whilst looking after wounded soldiers at Dunkirk. His duty at Dunkirk was tending wounded, so inevitably captured and spent next 5 years in Stalag VIIIB. Prison card attached.
In the camp hospital at Stalag VIIIB/344 Lamsdorf the medical orderlies worked on the various wards for about three months at a time, rotating so that no one was too long exposed to diseases such as tuberculosis. These orderlies seem to have provided a high level of care on the wards. Many of them had been well trained in their special field before the war, and since capture they had had years of work under first- rate medical officers to hone their skills and challenge their capacity to improvise. Moreover, the working conditions at Lamsdorf acted to improve care for the wounded and the sick: “We were on duty 24 hours a day, you see. You were there on call at any time. Which didn’t matter because there was nothing else to do. But it meant that people got quick treatment whereas, even in an ordinary hospital, they might have had to wait a while till a night sister came around”.
He said little of his experiences but family aware of `awards` received for organising concerts/maintaining morale. Now transpires `award` included BEM. [British Empire Medal] Photo of medals and note from George V1 attached. He also got a letter back to his Surrey church for their magazine, telling the congregation the forthcoming 1942 Xmas celebrations in prison would be `wonderful` and not to worry about them.
Only time he opened up re war was at presentation by mayor on his release when Surrey Mirror reporter present – article from 20.04.1945 attached.
Pre-war, renowned for his singing (hence prison concerts) but in Lamsdorf, sketched UK scenes on cigarette packets. Examples attached.
Mike Chantler
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