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2/1st Australian General Hospital

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Revision as of 01:53, 7 August 2019 by Linton (talk | contribs) (Patients)
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History
Name 2/1st Australian General Hospital
Where formed Sydney and Melbourne
Date formed Late 1939
Capacity 1200 - 1800 beds
Locations Gaza Ridge, Palestine 1940; Northam Western Australia

General Information

The unit sailed as part of the first convoy to Egypt, US-1, with the nursing staff boarding SS Empress of Japan, boarding her in Melbourne on 11 Jan 1940. Reaching Colombo on 30 Jan 1940, they sailed two days later for Aden where they arrived on 8 Feb 1941. Sailing the next day, the Empress of Japan reached El Kantara on 11 Feb 1941 where the nurses disembarked for the train and truck journey to Gaza Ridge in Palestine.


On its return from the Middle East, the 2/1st Australian General Hospital was rebuilt at Guildford Grammar School before relocating to Merredin on 29 Jun 1943. Located at a junction in rail lines, with plentiful water courtesy of a large dam connected to the Goldfields water pipeline. It remained in the town for approx. 18 months, located on the north-eastern fringes of the town.


Staff

Patients

1940 Gaza, Palestine

1941

1944 Merredin