39th Field Ambulance, Indian Medical Service
The 39th Indian Field Ambulance accompanied the 17th Indian Infantry Division to Burma and served throughout the 1942 campaign which resulted in the retreat of British and Indian troops to India.
Group photo of officers and men of the 39th Indian Field Ambulance taken in either 1941 or 1942. (Eastcott family)
This group photograph, taken in either India in 1941 or Burma in early 1942 is reproduced with the kind permission of the Eastcott family.
Major David Frank Eastcott served as Second-in-Command of the 39th Field Ambulance from 1st January 1942 until 27th February 1942. After the Sittang Bridge disaster, Major Eastcott was appointed to the role of Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services (D.A.D.M.S.) with the 17th Indian Infantry Division Headquarters. He survived the retreat from Burma and in 1943 commanded the 23rd Indian Field Ambulance and spent several months in support of the 63rd Indian Infantry Brigade operating in the Chin Hills.
He was mentioned in despatches, gazetted 28th October 1942, and again for subsequent service in Burma, gazetted 5th April 1945. David Eastcott retired from the Army in 1948 with the rank of Lt.Colonel.
15 January 2021