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New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy
MDS at Viserba
MDS at Viserba
As it was necessary towards the end of September to have an MDS further forward than Riccione, 4 MDS moved on 26 September to the vicinity of Viserba, 2 miles north of Rimini, where it was joined by 1 FSU, 2 FTU, and NZ Section MAC. It occupied an area of hard level ground on which the tents were erected and on which was sited a large factory. Heavy and medium artillery was posted page 613 nearby and was responsible for considerable noise and also prompted enemy retaliation.
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5 NZ Field Ambulance MDS Operating Theatre (2 IPP tents) For the operating theatre in Italy in a modified form either two IPP tents or two rooms were used. The staff consisted of: 1 sergeant alternated as assistant to surgeon and in supervising the sterilisation and preparation of trays. 1 corporal alternated as assistant to surgeon and in supervising the sterilisation and preparation of trays. 2 orderlies who alternated as theatre assistant and steriliser orderly.
There was a fairly steady stream of casualties—in the five days to the end of the month they totalled 140 battle casualties and 209 sickness cases. The greater proportion of battle casualties (120) was dealt with adequately by the MDS and FSU surgical teams, and after due rest many were evacuated direct to 1 General Hospital at Senigallia. In the heavy rain from 28 September onwards the MDS area with its hard roads and good drainage proved very satisfactory, but the whole divisional area became bogged. This held up operations and slowed down the tempo of the battle, with a resultant diminution in the numbers of casualties.