2/14th Australian General Hospital

Singapore campus post WW2 AWM photo 11471
History
Name	2/14th Australian General Hospital
Where formed	South Australia
Capacity	400 beds
Locations	Townsville, Cairns, and Singapore (post war)

General Information

Formed in South Australia, the hospital moved to Townsville on 11 Dec 1942. Initially established near the Quarantine Station at Pallarenda, it was primarily comprised of tents with a 200 bed capacity.

This was soon after increased to 400 beds as during 1943 casualties began to come in regularly from hospital ships and aircraft. The hospital was severely damaged by a cyclone that hit Townsville. As the cyclone hit in March 1944, the tent poles snapped, the tents and equipment were scattered and valuable medicines were lost. Some patients were rushed to the railway station and put on Ambulance Trains, while others were rushed to the American Naval Hospital.

The hospital was rebuilt at Mundingburra on the banks of the Ross River. For members of 2/14th Australian General Hospital it was a long hard year or two ahead until 1945, when they were selected to go to Singapore to assist with the repatriation of Australian Prisoners of War.

Patients

1942 Cape Pallarenda

• Francis Malarkey 21 - 22 Dec 1942

1943 Cape Pallarenda

• George Charles Owens 6 - 12 Sep 1943
• Robert Henry Fletcher 25 - 30 Oct 1943

1944 Mundingburra

• Robert Henry Fletcher 1 - 14 Mar 1944
• Harold Herman Hilbert 20 May - 1 Jun 1944
• Philbert John Charles Morel 25 - 26 Jun 1944

1945

• Stanley Upton Hammond 9 - 23 Feb 1945
• Herbert Patrick Carter 17 - 26 Jun 1945
• Basil Fitzgerald 6 - 29 Oct 1945