New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy

Main Embarkation, 29–30 May

There was some difficulty with the embarkation authorities on the beaches that night, as they were endeavouring to single out the fighting troops with first priority for evacuation.

The medical parties which had reached the beach, although massed together, had to be identified by Lieutenant-Colonel Twhigg before the beach master would allow them to embark. In the darkness and the confusion among the massed troops some members of the medical units who had strayed, or who did not report to the medical post at the beach, were left behind. A number of NZMC personnel, mostly belonging to 5 Field Ambulance, were embarked on the Glengyle, which took many wounded aboard. Altogether, some 550 wounded were embarked that night. All cases requiring treatment were cared for by the ships' medical staffs and army medical personnel, and officers and men of the Royal Navy excelled themselves in the attention they gave to the wounded.

About six thousand troops were also taken off that night by the naval force comprising, besides the Glengyle, the cruisers Phoebe, Perth, Calcutta, and Coventry and the destroyers Jervis, Janus, and Hasty. The convoy was subjected to several air attacks during 30 May, but all were beaten off, although HMAS Perth received a hit amidships, causing a fire. This, however, did not prevent her page 195 from continuing with the convoy, which reached Alexandria early on the morning of 31 May.

Black and white photograph of New Zealand army officers

GOC and DMS 2 NZEF, Maadi Camp, March 1943 – Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, Brigadier K. MacCormick and Colonel W. B. Fisher

Black and white photograph of army officer

Colonel F. M. Spencer

Brigadier G. W. Gower

Lieutenant-Colonel J.L.R. Plimmer

Black and white photograph of field army medical centre

First NZ MDS tent in the desert – 4 NZ Field Ambulance at Baggush, September 1940

Black and white photograph of army hospital

Camp Hospital and Medical Depot, Maadi Camp, March 1942

Black and white photograph of army officers with Queen of England (UK)

Visit of Her Majesty the Queen to 1 NZ General Hospital, Pinewood, England, September 1940 – Matron Miss E. C. Mackay, Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. Boyd, Colonel A. C. McKillop, Major A. H. Kirker

Black and white photograph of hospital ward

Ward of 1 NZ General Hospital, Pinewood, England

Black and white photograph of army field hospital

1 NZ General Hospital at Pharsala, Greece, April 1941

Black and white photograph of army ambulance in Greece

4 Field Ambulance MDS on slopes below Olympus Pass, Dholikhi, April 1941

Black and white photograph of army medical facility

5 Field Ambulance ADS, Servia Pass, April 1941

Black and white photograph of army medical facility under attack

6 Field Ambulance, Velestinon, April 1941, after being strafed by enemy aircraft

Black and white photograph of field hospital in Greece

7 British General Hospital near Canea, Crete, May 1941. The building on the hill was used as an MDS by 5 Field Ambulance

Black and white photograph of wounded prisoners of war

Wounded German paratroops at 5 Field Ambu-[gap — reason: unclear]

Black and white photograph of military hospital

Helwan Hospital. The New Zealand Base Hospital, July 1940 – November 1945. The new operating theatre is at the right

Helmieh Hospital, Cairo, January 1941. The tents have been given protection from bombing

Black and white photograph of hospital ship

The Netherlands Hospital Ship Oranje which carried New Zealand personnel and casualties

Black and white photograph of ward in hospital ship

A ward in the New Zealand Hospital Ship Maunganui

Black and white photograph of medical army officers

Group at inspection of NZ Mobile Surgical Unit, Maadi Camp, August 1941. Colonel F. P. Furkert, Major-General D. C. Monro, Consultant Surgeon, Middle East Force, Brigadier K. MacCormick, Lieutenant-Colonel L. J. Hunter, Colonel T. D. M. Stout, Brigadier P. A. Ardagh, Lieutenant-Colonel S. L. Wilson

Black and white photograph of army hospital personnel

Maadi Camp, September 1941. Principal Matron Miss E. C. Mackay, Matron-in-Chief Miss E. M. Nutsey, Matron Miss M. Hennessy, Matron Miss M. E. Jackson; Lieutenant-Colonel J. F.

Black and white photograph of army truck

21 Battalion RAP truck, Libya, 1941

Black and white photograph of injured soldiers

20 Battalion RAP, Bir el Chleta, Libya, 1941. Captain W. L. M. Gilmour is shown at right, wearing wrist watch

4 ADS near Belhamed, November 1941

Black and white photograph of field hospital

2 NZ General Hospital, Garawla, November 1941 – March 1942. The tents are dug in for protection against bombing

Black and white photograph of medical facility

1 NZ CCS at Zahle, Syria, March – April 1942

Black and white photograph of ward in army hospital

Ward of 3 NZ Genral Hospital, Beirut, Syria, September 1942

6 ADS, Ruweisat Ridge, July 1942

Black and white photograph of surgery in field hospital

4 MDS, Alamein Line, July 1942 – operating theatre (Major T. W. Harrison)

Black and white photograph of ambulance truck dug-in

21 Battalion RAP, Alamein Line, August 1942

4 MDS at El Mreir, July 1942 – reception ward showing New Zealand and Indian casualties

4 MDS at Alam Halfa, September 1942 – Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. H. Buttle, RAMC, Captain Muir, RAMC (transfusion officers); Lieutenant-Colonel S. L. Wilson, Major T. W. Harrison, Brigadiers P. A. Ardagh, ADMS, Phillips, RAMC, and W. H. Ogilvie, Consultant Surgeon MEF

6 ADS, Alam Halfa, September 1942

Black and white photograph of wounded leg

Large soft-tissue wound, 1 NZ CCS, Alamein, November 1942

Black and white photograph of soldiers showering

Mobile shower unit, 4 NZ Field Hygiene Section, Agedabia, December 1942

During the night of 29–30 May the staffs of 5 and 6 Field Ambulances and 4 Field Hygiene Section set off from Imvros along, the road to the beach, taking with them some more walking wounded. Some forty stretcher cases had to be left behind. An Australian medical officer and two New Zealand and two Australian orderlies remained with them, straws being drawn among the unmarried men to decide who should stay. By daylight on 30 May this marching party was still some miles away from the embarkation beach, having made slow progress during the night. The wounded were treated during the day in caves, which were machine-gunned from the air, and after dark on 30 May the party reached the beach, where an RAP was established for further treatment. On the night of 30–31 May few wounded and no medical staffs were embarked.

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New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy

Main Embarkation, 29–30 May

Main Embarkation, 29–30 May