2/1st Australian General Hospital
From Our Contribution
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | 2/1st Australian General Hospital |
| Where formed | Sydney and Melbourne |
| Date formed | Late 1939 |
| Capacity | 1200 - 1800 beds |
| Locations | Gaza Ridge, Palestine 1940; |
General Information
The unit sailed as part of the first convoy to Egypt, US-1, with the nursing staff boarding SS Empress of Japan in Melbourne on 11 Jan 1940. On reaching Colombo on 30 Jan 1940 and sailed two days later for Aden where it arrived on 8 Feb 1941. Sailing the next day, the Empress of japan reached El Kantara on 11 Feb 1941 where the nurses disembarked for the train and truck journey to Gaza Ridge in Palestine.
On its return from the Middle East, the 2/1st Australian General Hospital was rebuilt at Guildford Grammar School before relocating to Merredin on 29 Jun 1943. Located at a junction in rail lines, with plentiful water courtesy of a large dam connected to the Goldfields water pipeline. It remained in the town for approx. 18 months, located on the north-eastern fringes of the town.