New Zealand Medical Services Eye-witness Story Competition (Navy, Army, and Air Force)

Korero (AEWS), Volume 3, Issue 12, 16 July 1945, Page 32

New Zealand Medical Services Eye-witness Story Competition (Navy, Army, and Air Force)

1. An eye-witness story competition has been organized by Army Medical Headquarters. The competition is open to New Zealand servicemen and servicewomen of all branches of the Forces who are serving in New Zealand or overseas, or who have been discharged after service. 2. The competition will close on 31st January, 1946. 3. Prizes are as follows First Prize £ls Second Prize £lO Third Prize £5 Five prizes of £ 1 each £5 Total prize money £35 4. Entries addressed to D.G.M.S., Army Medical Headquarters, Wellington C. I, must be submitted by registered mail. The envelope should be clearly marked "Eye-witness Competition (Medical)” and should reach the D.G.M.S. by the closing date, 31st January, 1946. Competitors MUST use a nom de plume, and enclose a SEALED envelope containing their names and addresses (private and service), with the nom de plume on the OUTSIDE of the envelope. The name of the writer must NOT appear on the manuscript. In the case of demobilized personnel who have served overseas, their regimental number and last unit must be given. 5. CONDITIONS (1) The right is reserved to withhold the award of any of the prizes, or to divide them in any way, should the judges consider that the standard of the entries justifies such procedure. (2) The Army Education and Welfare Service reserves the right to publish entries in Korero or any war souvenir which is published, at contributors* rates. (3) Medical Archives Section, Army Medical Headquarters, has the right to retain copies of entries for reference. Should the Archives Section publish the whole or the greater part of any entry, it will be paid for at current rates out of the expenses of publication. (4) The decision of the judges in this competition is final. 6. SUBJECT-MATTER (o) This eye-witness competition is arranged in order to obtain material of historical value from eyewitness accounts of experiences with the New Zealand Medical Services, either overseas with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East and Italy, with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in the Pacific, with the Medical Services in New Zealand, or with the Naval or Air Medical Services overseas or in New Zealand. (b) Entrants need not be members of the Medical Corps, but their entries must deal with some aspect of the Medical Services, either in the field, or at base. Moreover, they must be recorded from first-hand knowledge. This includes the work of regimental stretcher bearers in the field, and experiences of patients in hospitals or field dressing stations. (c) As the material obtained through this competition will be used for historical purposes, absolute accuracy is essential. Incidents should be described only from first-hand knowledge, and as the writer saw them—not as he imagines they might have been. However, as the main object of the competition is to collect facts for the Official History, there will be no objection to an entry by an interviewer of an eye-witness provided accuracy is assured. (d) Although, in judging the competition, the value of the historical material provided will be considered more Important, the literary standard of the various entries will be taken into account. (e) Entries must not exceed 3,000 words. 7. SUGGESTIONS The following are a few suggested subjects for the competition (1) The work of stretcher bearers in a front line unit (such as Infantry, Engineers, Artillery, &c.). (2) Description of treatment received by patients, especially in evacuation from front line. (3) Observance or otherwise of Geneva Convention rules by the enemy. (4) Incidents in the life of a motor-ambulance driver. (5) Experiences in various types of air and army medical units. (6) Medical treatment in a naval sick bay during action. (7) Stories of medical care and treatment received by New Zealand Prisoners of War in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific.