15th Australian Field Ambulance

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Brief History

This unit had served during WW1 with distinction. The WW2 Militia's 15th Field Ambulance was in camp at Seymour, Victoria when the army was mobilised in December 1941. In March 1942 they moved to Hume Weir, and then when troops were sent north t defend Brisbane, they moved first to Casino in NSW and then Caboolture (Qld) in September, with detachments in Kilcoy and Elimbah. When they moved their HQ to Cooroy in December, they left a detachment at Caboolture.

In February 1943, the 15th Brigade, to which they were attached, moved to Port Moresby. The Field Ambulance relieved the 2/1st Australian Field Ambulance at Wau, moving there between April and June, establishing a Main Dressing Station at Bulolo and an Advanced Dressing Station at Missim. In September the unit moved to Salamaua after its capture before returning to Port Moresby for a rest. In January 1944 the 15th Australian Field Ambulance relieved the 2/6th Field Ambulance which was manning the Main Dressing Station at Mene River, and an Advanced Dressing Station at Kesawai, along with staging posts supporting the attack on Shaggy Ridge. In April the unit moved to Saidor following the capture of Madang, and to Madang itself in May 1944.

In August the 15th Infantry Brigade Group, including the Filed Ambulance returned to Australia for leave, reassembling at Mapee in Queensland. In January 1945 the Field Ambulance moved with the 15th Infantry brigade to Torokina on Bougainville. In April they moved to Motupena Point where their Brigade was in reserve, and then to Toko when it took over the advance. By June they were at Rusei, with staging posts in the forward areas. They saw out the rest of the war here.

Patients

Bougainville

• Edward Charles Vickers 19 - ? Jun 1945

Individual Honours

• 1 x Officer of the Order of the British Empire
• 9 x Mentioned in Despatches