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This story was submitted to the People's War site by Paul Trainer of Torbay Library Services on behalf of Graham King and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's Terms and Conditions.

The unit was started in March 1939 by a Dr. Robinson, who was a local practitioner. At that time conscription was imminent but those who volunteered for any of the reserve units would be able to choose the branch in which they wished to serve. The Territorial Army was one of those options.
A Casualty Clearing Station was expected to operate about 15 to 20 miles behind the front and care for all types of wounded. Such a unit would be able to, in theory, handle 50 bed cases and 250 on stretchers. Among the medical staff were surgeons, physicians, anaesthetists, dental surgeons and radiographers; on the strength were eight SRNs.

Within a short time the unit was practically at full strength regarding other ranks. We shared the Drill Hall in Rock Road with the Devonshire Regiment for all our squad drills. Theoretical lectures on anatomy, physiology, nursing and gas defence were held in the old Upton School - now the Magistrates’ Court in Higher Union Street. The ARP was set up there and had a gas chamber where we became accustomed to wearing gas masks and operating in a cloud of tear gas which was certainly something to make you cry!

Our officers were local doctors. Drs. Malim, Hooper and Parkes from Torquay and Dr. Dowell from Brixham. Most of the other ranks came from Torbay area and some from Newton Abbot and Totnes. We were mobilised on 1st September and were stationed in the Technical College at the bottom of Abbey Road, off Rock Road, where we lived until we moved to our war station at Maristow House, Roborough. Shortly after, we became 11th CCS RAMC, as part of the Regular Army. Eventually I and Sid Jones were transfered to 13 CCS at Maristow and both units sailed for France on 31 March 1940. In May 1940 I was ‘detained’ by the Germans and all my TA friends in 11 CCS returned to England. Several transfered out of the Medical corps but the others eventually went to North Africa and on through Sicily and Egypt. 13 CCS was disbanded, as it was considered too unlucky.

Captain Dowell went to the Far East where he met with the Japanese ad sufered their hospitality. Drs Malim and Hooper returned to their local practices, Lt. Colonel Robinson disappeared and Major John Parkes became a paedetrician and set up the John Parkes Childrens Unit at Newton Road Annexe of Torbay Hospital.

A more detailed account of this is can be found in Torquay Library Reference Department under the title ‘Robbo’s Boys’, I believe.

Graham King a founder member of 4th CCS, RAMC (TA)

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