I was called for service in September 1997 with 24 Armoured Field Ambulance (24 Armd Fd Amb) based in Catterick, who were being deployed to Bosnia in the former republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). Bosnia was being ‘stabilised’ by SFOR/NATO forces. This operation was named OP LODESTAR.
With ongoing unrest in Bosnia, the main ethnic groups remained volatile throughout FRY.
Various packages of training were a pre deployment requisite and were called UNTAT training (United Nations Training Assistance Teams), These were located around the Salisbury Plain Training area. We spent this period billeted in Knook camp near Warminster.
The next days were spent in the Copehill Down Training facility. This being a mock-up village resembling the buildings and villages in the old Eastern bloc countries. The training was geared mainly to the infantry, but we still had to join in. We would to be carrying a loaded pistol with 6 rounds whenever travelling throughout Bosnia. I enjoyed the pistol training at Warminster, which was important but also fun, especially rolling around on the ground then having to shoot targets down the range.
Navigating the buildings in the mock-up village was something new for me! Jumping and climbing up and down buildings then crawling along underground drains was challenging, but all the females completed this. However, I hoped it was never going to be such a bad enough situation in theatre to employ these newly acquired skills.
Once this UNTAT training was completed, we were transported to 24 Armd Fd Amb in Catterick.
On arrival It was the day of Princes Diana’s Funeral, so everyone in the mess was ‘glued’ on the service, as were four Icelandic medical staff, two nurses and two doctors. Despite being part of NATO Iceland has no standing army. However, their government provided doctors and nurses to accompany the Brits or the Norwegian medics. All spoke perfect English and had studied much of their medicine in English.
After meeting the CO and other staff of the unit, a few days later we set off on a Hercules for Split in Croatia. Split being the POE (Point of Entry) via Croatia into Bosnia.
After landing, we collected our baggage and weapons from a transfer store and proceeded in a coach up through Croatia to Bosnia.
I was ‘dropped off’ at a pre located isolated country junction to the east of Tomislavgrad where I was met by a waiting Land Rover and taken to our small camp called Lipa.
Lipa was situated on a Divisional Supply Area between two rough roads named Route Gull and Kite. Weapons and fuel were located at this site for resupply to bases up country, including Sarajevo. Munitions and fuel were kept well apart! All the MSR’s (main supply routes) in Bosnia were named after birds.
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Accommodation was in 2-man portacabins which were comfortable and warm.
The medical centre was in a portacabin.
The RLC (Royal Logistic Corps) oversaw the whole site.
I had been designated as the Officer in Charge of this small medical team which consisted of a Driver/Radio Operator, a sergeant plus seven medics.
Their training had been excellent, and our role was to attend any accidents within the camp and RTA’s on our sections of the MSR’s. My role was as a primary health care and minor injuries nurse to all troops, including Malaysians who patrolled the area in armoured vehicles. Patients requiring hospital treatment were evacuated by our ambulance or helicopter to Sipovo.
There was no water in the camp, therefore water was brought in by a ‘bowser’ (water tanker). This precious commodity was used very sparingly. Most of us managed to stand in a washing up bowl, then use a plastic bottle to recycle the water over our bodies from the bowl. Very refreshing!
There was great excitement when about 700 meters outside the camp a water source was found. Engineers attached a pump to provide a water supply up to the camp. All worked well until unfortunately, the locals spotted this valuable equipment, and it got ‘nicked’. So back to the bowser again. Another little bit of ‘fun’ indulged in by the locals (probably drink related) was to occasionally drive up past the camp and fire a few shots inside.
Our nearest SMO was based an hour away, at Kupres, and both he and the Icelandic doctors would alternate their visits to do small sick parades. This was a nice chance to meet up and for them to see some of Bosnia, which is a beautiful country. Likewise, I found an excuse to visit the medical facility at Gorni Vakuf further up country to drop off some mail and see the countryside. Sadly, much dangerous debris left by the Serbian army was still lying around.
Occasional visitors passed through the camp enroute to Sipovo. One American Officer introducing himself said he had been advised when introducing himself, was to say “Hi, my name is Randy”, not “Hi, I’m Randy”!
The main HQ of 24 Armd Fd Amb, and the hospital were located in Sipovo, the Serbian area. Getting there was a two-hour rough road journey via Kupres, crossing the IEBL (Inter Entity Boundary Line) but only if the snow had not blocked the route. The poor Malaysians guarded this very cold dividing line at a place called Rastacevo.‘Ice Station Zebra’.
During my six-month tour I was dispatched to Banja Luka medical facility for a break and asked to go out on patrol with the Queens Dragoon Guards around local areas.
Having completed my six month ‘tour’, my last duty was to be in charge of weapons being returned to UK. I wasn’t keen on this responsibility!
I enjoyed my time in Bosnia, a beautiful but ‘trashed’ country in parts. I have since read much about their past and recent history. I learned that not all was bad about the Ottoman Turkish rule. Any place name ending in Vakuf became communities, well established with schools and hospitals. Many Bosnian Muslims are converts due to this and were then well prized by the Turks as administrators.
Major M Lane (Rtd)
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