Medical Units of 2 NZEF in Middle East and Italy

4 ADS in the Battle

4 ADS in the Battle

There was heavy shelling in 4 Brigade area all day on 29 and 30 November. The enemy was ranging on a battery near 4 ADS. Several of the wounded in the ADS received fresh wounds, and eight of the staff were wounded and one killed. One of the medical orderlies, L-Cpl C. Munro, 6 carried out his duties during the shelling with complete disregard for personal safety and was later awarded the MM.

In the evening of 30 November the ADS was moved to a more sheltered locality. A convoy which had taken patients to Tobruk on the 29th returned with 300 blankets and 100 stretchers, which were urgently needed, and a further convoy of patients was sent to Tobruk that night.

At seven o'clock on the morning of 1 December there was heavy machine-gun and shell fire to the south of the ADS. A tank battle was in progress, and British tanks manoeuvred among the ADS vehicles. At midday the remnants of the badly mauled 6 Brigade withdrew through 4 Brigade, and the enemy was in full view on the escarpment, south-west of the ADS. Patients were collected from two 6 Brigade medical officers (Captains A. W. Sutherland and G. H. Levien 7), and at 5 p.m. 4 ADS held 120 patients. Eighteen trucks were supplied to carry these patients during 4 Brigade's withdrawal to Egypt that night. Across the frontier the patients were transferred to 14 British CCS at Minqar el Zannan, and the ADS then continued east and reached Baggush on 5 December.

6 Lt C. Munro, MM; born Taihape, 26 Sep 1914; clerk, Wellington; 4 Fd Amb Oct 1939-Aug 1945 (RSM); Registrar 6 Gen Hosp, Japan, 1946-47.

7 Maj G. H. Levien, m.i.d.; born Auckland, 14 Jun 1917; House Surgeon, Auckland Hospital; Medical Officer 5 Fd Amb Jun 1941-Dec 1944; Maadi Camp Hosp Dec 1944-Jul 1945.