3rd Field Ambulance

3rd Field Ambulance located under the cliff to the right on Anzac Beach AWM photo G00932

Advanced Dressing Station of the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, near the Menin Road at Ypres. AWM E00714

Brief History

The 3rd Australian Field Ambulance was attached to the 3rd Brigade, comprised of 9th 10th 11th and 12th Battalions. The 3rd Field Ambulance was deployed to Gallipoli, Turkey, on 25 April 1915 and became known as the unit of John Simpson Kirkpatrick who became famous for his innovative idea of using a donkey to assist in carrying wounded soldiers from the high ground of the front line, back to the dressing stations located at Anzac Cove. Subsequent evacuation was by ship to Lemnos Island, then to Malta and ultimately to the United Kingdom where soldiers might be hospitalised for many months. Then they would undergo rehabilitation, either in the UK or in serious cases they might be repatriated back to Australia. Many of the wounded succumbed to their wounds in transit. They would be buried at sea in the traditional naval fashion.

This unit later served in France and Belgium participating at Pozieres, Fromelles, Flers, Bullecourt, Lagnicourt, German 1918 advance an the Australian counter-attack.

Forty four men lost their life while posted to this unit.

Patients

Gallipoli / Mudros

• † Fritz Robert Jaentsch 26 Jul - 29 Jul 1915
• Arthur Charles Cam 8-9 Aug 1915
• Hugh Henry Smith 13 Sep 1915

France

• Claude Francis Cooper 23 - 28 Apr 1917
• † Elmer Winfred Drake Laing MC 2 Sep 1917
• † Charles Leonard Lockhart 11 Oct 1917
• William Francis Combs 12 - 13 Oct 1917
• Edward Joseph King 12 Oct 1917
• † George Andrew King 12 Oct 11917
• Hubert Maitland Armstrong MM 13 Oct 1917
• William Dobson Stevens 13 Oct 1917
• Daniel Adkins Lewis 14 Oct 1917
• Sydney Chadwick McDonald 26 Oct 1917
• Thomas Hale Kensit 1 Nov 1917
• † Roland Parker Shelley Nov Dec 1917
• Arthur Charles Grafham 29 Apr 1918
• Herbert Lewis Battams 13 May 1918
• Herbert Lewis Battams 11 Jun 1918
• John Grant Watt MM & Bar 23 Aug 1918
• Ernest James Brandon Bettenay 7 Feb 1919

Individual Honours

• 3 x Distinguished Service Order
• 2 x Military Cross
• 5 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
• 45 x Military Medal
• 2 x Bar to Military Medal
• 6 x Meritorious Service Medal
• 12 x Mentioned in Despatches
• 1 x French Medaille Militaire