Graded Men: The most important outcome, as far as our New Zealand force was concerned, was the attitude thereafter of the senior officers of all units towards the use of graded men in the Division. The severe strain thrown on men marching across the rough and hilly road so impressed itself on these officers that they considered that, in future, none but Grade I men should ever be accepted in any divisional unit – even if normally transport would be available. Men with foot disabilities, who had been detailed for duty in the ASC and other units with transport, were considered especially unsatisfactory in the Division. This attitude was so prevalent that the name “Creteitis” was given to it. It perhaps brought about some unnecessary transfers of personnel with minor disabilities from the divisional units. Fortunately, never again during the war was the Division faced with a similar problem, so the over-anxiety regarding the use of slightly disabled men proved to be unnecessary.

The Geneva Convention: It was recognised as a result of the experiences in Crete that the only adequate protection for a medical unit was the generous display of large and distinct Red Cross markings. It was proved that the Germans respected the Geneva Convention provided that the medical unit was not sited in an area suitable for airborne landing. The wearing of steel helmets was recognised by the Germans as a sign of combatant troops, and therefore they had to be discarded by medical staffs.

Value of Surgical Teams Attached to Divisional Units: There is no doubt that the attachment of a surgical team from 1 NZ General Hospital to the Division in Greece was of inestimable value in the campaigns in both Greece and Crete. The presence of a senior surgeon, with an all-round surgical experience and a special knowledge of orthopaedic surgery, enabled knowledge of the best treatment of the wounded man to be passed on to those working with him, and in addition his own operative ability and judgment were available. He himself noted the difference between the cases passed on from the ambulance in which he had been working and those coming from its fellow.

Improvisation: The New Zealand units landed in Crete with minimal equipment and supplies, but nevertheless carried out their work under most difficult conditions with quiet efficiency. They showed their ability to improvise, to collect together essential implements, and to work in makeshift quarters. The younger RMOs did a great deal of work single-handed, one RMO putting through nearly 700 cases during the campaign. The lessons learned by those who escaped were of great value to the Medical Corps later in the Desert campaign.

Blood Transfusion Team: The impossibility of carrying out blood transfusions during a rush of casualties, without there being any special team available for that purpose, was recognised. Transfusion sets were available in 189 Field Ambulance hospital, but no transfusions were given. Our surgical team attached to this hospital recommended that a team of one medical officer and two other ranks should be established and attached to the Division, and that equipment, such as portable kerosene-operated refrigerators, should be obtained.

Transport: Naturally, in Crete the supply of transport was of paramount importance and the necessity in modern warfare of having adequate means to transport the wounded from the forward areas to the operating centres only too obvious. Even if it had been possible to embark stretcher cases from Sfakia, ambulances to carry them were not available. It is remarkable how well the medical work was carried out with a minimum of transport.

Dispersal of Medical Stores: The stores of 7 General Hospital were all kept in one tent – in which it was stated that ether was also kept – and unfortunately this tent caught fire during the attack on the hospital. The dispensary tent was also burnt, so that nearly all the medical supplies were destroyed. The dispersal of all essential equipment and stores should be carried out under any circumstances, and especially where damage by the enemy is likely to occur.