Equipment ashore 3 - SBA uniform
George Hampton
Service: 1949 - 1979
Rate: Warrant Officer Sick Berth Attendant
George joined as a Sick Berth Attendant (SBA) in March 1949 and specialised in operating theatre work. He served in Royal Naval Hospital Portland and in RNH Bighi in Malta. Whilst serving at Malta he embarked in HMS Daring in order to provide humanitarian relief after an earthquake on the Greek island of Cephalonia.
Listen to George recall the uniform he wore as an SBA.
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Extract Text (Duration 1.01)
In those days we wore blue serge trousers and jacket, with a peaked cap. Hmmm, it wasn't until I think in the 1960s or thereabouts that they changed the uniform for the Junior Ratings into the fore and aft sailor's uniform, and the Petty Officers and above kept their tunic and peaked cap. In the operating theatres we wore white trousers and shirt, which is tropical dress really. And it wasn't until much later, probably in the ‘60s, ‘70s that we got into some recognised operating theatre garments.
Nobody would do that these days 1960s
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Maltese medical facilities 1970s
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1.17 mins - mp3 File
Establishment of central sterile unit
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