25^th Jan 1922 84 Rodney Street, Liverpool

I can thoroughly recommend Dr F C H Sergeant as a well trained and conscientious medical practitioner. Having known him throughout his career we appointed him casualty house surgeon at the Royal Infirmary and did his work well.

W Thel ?????

Surgeon Royal Infirmary

26^th January 1922 12 Rodney Street Liverpool

I have known Dr F C H Sergeant for a number of years.

For a portion of his training he acted as clerk in my wards and also as casualty officer in the Royal Infirmary. Since qualifying he has held the position of House Surgeon at Chester.

I have no hesitation in recommending him as Ship’s Surgeon. He knows his work and will make an agreeable colleague.

??? DL. MD. FRCP Hon Physician Liverpool Royal Hospital

2^nd May 1922 Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd

Dear Dr Sergeant

Whilst acting as Surgeon on our SS “Minnedosa” from 15^th February to 11^th April 1922, I wish to record the fact that you carried out your duties to my entire satisfaction, and I was only sorry that you were unable on account of your studies, to remain longer in our Service. When you are free I will endeavour to give you another ship, and have much pleasure in writing this appreciation of you service.

Yours truly

JJ??

Medical Superintendant

Note: SS Minnedosa was a 15,000 steam ocean liner, built on the River Clyde in 1918 for the Candaian Pacific Shipping Line. She carried numerous immigrants to Canda and the USA.

20^th December 1922 War Office (to Capt A S Richmond, MB, 75 Shaw Street, Liverpool)

Sir

I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 15^th December 1922 and to acquaint you that the entrance examinations for permanent commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps are likely to commence shortly, and it is expected a notice to that effect will appear in the press at a very early date.

I am Sir Your obedient servant

M Dawes Coland [?]

22^nd December 1922 75 Shaw Street

Dear Sergeant

Herewith the reply from the War Office, which does not help much.

I enclosed a typed letter for your signature and forwarding to the DG AMS.

I think it will clear everything up.

It is possible that no special forms require completion, until you have finished and passed the entrance exam.

Any how, if you forward the enclosed letter after signing it, I am sure the reply will clear the air.

Best wishes for Xmas

Yours sincerely

A Richmond

22^nd Dec 1922 4 Bentley Road (Copy letter)

To the Director General, Army Medical Service

Sir

I beg to state that I am desirous of obtaining a commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps Regular Army.

I understand that an entrance examination is likely to be held very shortly, and I would be glad to be informed if possible as to the approximate date so that I may adjust my private arrangements accordingly.

Also I presume some sort of application form requires completion in the first instance and I would be very much obliged if the necessary forms could be sent to me accordingly.

Hoping that my request will receive your favourable consideration

I have the honour to be

Your obedient servant

1923 Hygiene Course note book stored at Wellcome Trust.

24^th March 1926

RAMC Mess, Peshawar

Dear Mother and Father

Awful hurry again! Very many thanks for both your letters; they were very pleasant reading. A great deal seems to have happened in the last fortnight. I think my last letter was on the size [?] of the RAF Ball, or rather just after our return from it. It was a great show! Jack has been here during the last few weeks and we have been having a great time together. He has been staying with me in my quarters and gading [?] at the Club. On the 13^th 14^th and 15^th March we had an enormous amount of rain. Jack and Mrs Gupta won the Men’s Doubles in the N.W.7 Tournament.

We had several days good ?? shooting about the same time going out by car Pabbi, about 15 miles away and then walking during the day about 12 miles or more over jheels marches etc. One day we got 40, another 50.

I went up to Abbotabad on the 16^th for three [?] days and stayed with some people there. I really went up there with a very good dancer from here for a big Ball the Gunners were giving there. It is up in the mountains almost 130 miles from here. We had some very exciting experiences as owing to the recent rains, two rivers were in flood. One the Haroo – 200 years across – we got almost across, when the water came over the footboard and the wheels wouldn’t grip and the car listed over owing to the current. It was a wonderful sight. Shoes, stockings etc had to come off and I got 8 or 9 coolies and eventually got the car pulled out. The same thing happened about 30 miles further on, but I was determined to get there that night for the show. Water got into the carburettor but thank leaven the magneto was not affected. On our return 3 days later, both rivers were dry.

Stayed the night at ?? on the way back and had a very cheesy dance there.

Arrived back at Peshawar on Thursday morning just a day late for catching the mail post to England.

On Thursday afternoon I played the 1^st round of another open tennis tournament. I was playing with Jack in the Men’s Doubles and with the same girl – Nora Smith in the Mixed Doubles. To cut a long story short Jack and I won the men’s doubles after a hard fight in the final winning by 3 sets to 1.

One of the most interesting matches was in the Mixed Doubles. Jack playing with Kathleen Leslie Smith and myself with Nora Smith (no relation). We met in the semi-finals. We won in the 3^rd set 8-6 after a terrific struggle, and went on to win the Final (Mixed Doubles) against a Mrs Leigh and Gidney [?]. jack just left before this final was played so I must write and let him know the result. I got a rather nice little cup for each event.

S[a]leem and Jagat Mohan Lal the two well known Indian players came up here and played at the Club on Monday a wonderful performance of course – jack left here on Monday evening by mail train for Piudi [?]: we had dinner together at the Club before he went and I saw him off at the station.

He leaves Bombay on 29^th March on H.M.T. “Lucasa” [?] and should arrive S’hampton about 20^th April. I shall have to give up tennis for a time. My right shoulder gives me such a lot of trouble. I can’t lift my arm above the level of my shoulder without pain. I think I must have ruptured a few fibres of the deltoid. It has really been troubling me for the last two years, but the last bout of tennis has completely done it in. I haven’t heard from Cousin Gertie lately; I wonder what has happened to her. My exam starts on the 29^th March. Am going to a Masonic Dance tonight and I believe doing an Exhibition Fox Trot with Tango Steps in it. Yours ever Hilton.

Cutting from The London Gazette 1^st April 1927

I Frederick Cavendish Hilton-Sergeant of 4 Bentley Road in the city of Liverpool, a Captain in the R.A.M.C., a natural born British subject, heretofore called and known by the name of Frederick Cavendish Hilton Sergeant, hereby give notice that I have renounced and abandoned the name of Frederick Cavendish Hilton Sergeant, and that I have assumed and intend henceforth on all occasions whatsoever and at all times to sign and use and to be called and known by the name of Frederick Cavendish Hilton-Sergeant, in lieu of and in substitution for my former name of Frederick Cavendish Hilton Sergeant. And I hereby give notice that such change of name is formerly declared and evidenced by a deed poll under my hand and seal dated the 10^th day of March 1928 duly executed and attested and that such deed poll was enrolled in the Central Office of the Supreme Court of Judicature on 12^th day of March 1927. dated this 28^th day of march 1927

F C Hilton-Sergeant formerly F C H Sergeant.

19^th April 1928 Permit

The following are permitted to cross the Attock Bridge between the hours of Retreat and Reveille on the night 19^th 20^th April 1928.

Car No F P 3552

Occupant Captain H C Hilton Sergeant RAMC

24^th April ?1928 12 Bungalow

Dear Sargent

The bearer of this is a retired Indian Officer, Jemadar Ashraf Khan, who lives near the Tulandi Jheel, and has several times entertained me when I went out to a school. He also shoots and I know already has a license for a gun. He has come to me today to say that he understands you have a shotgun for sale, and he has asked me to write a letter of introduction. If you have so, and want to find a purchaser, I strongly recommend this fellow. He speaks a certain amount of English.

Yours sincerely E F E Armstrong

16 Aug 1928 Telegram

To Captain Hilton Sergeant, British Military Hospital Nowhera

After much consideration advise you definitely against coming capetonen lucy returning

Father

Major Hilton Sergeant's helmet, found in the demolition of the family home Picket Wood in Merstham in the 1970s. the house lay on the route of the future M25. Photos kindly supplied by collector Tim Collard in 2019. The photo is of  F C Hilton Sergeant wearing his helmet in 1939 on the outbreak of war.