9th Field Ambulance

A portable stretcher and carriage, designed by 9th Australian Field Ambulance, towed behind a motor cyclist. AWM C04780

Shoulder patch

Brief History

The unit was formed on 3rd Mar 1916 at Liverpool, New South Wales. It was composed of men from the AMC Depot at Liverpool and was originally formed on a three section basis. After forming, the unit trained at Liverpool and sailed from Australia in several Ships - HMAT A24 Benalla on 1st May 1916, HMAT A20 Hororata on 2nd May 1916 and HMAT A74 Marathon on 4th May 1916. On 11th May 1916, the remainder of the unit, sailed on the HMAT A8 Argyllshire; a total of 248 Officers and men.

On 23rd November 1916, the unit left Larkhill for France the same night on two ships - the Paddle Steamer HMPS Mona's Queen and HMT Bellerophon - Disembarking at Le Havre on the following day. They moved to Steenwerck, opening an Advanced Dressing Station at the Brickfields, and a Main Dressing Station at Armentieres. The unit cleared from three Battalions in the line, and during February 1917, admitted a total of 1047 patients.

In March 1917 they moved to Pont d'Achelles where they operated as the 2nd Anzac Corps Main Dressing Station, At the end f the Messines operation they moved to Neuve Eglise where they provided the Main Dressing Station for the 3rd Australian Division. Following this they spent three months in rear, rest area before moving to the Ypres area to participate in the Battle of Broodseinde. The second Battle of Passchendaele commenced on 12 Oct 1917 and it resulted in very heavy casualties. A quieter period of rest and front line support followed before they, like all other Australian units found themselves pushed south to support units trying to stop the German advance, and then to follow the infantry up the Somme valley from Hamel to Bois du Roonsoy via Suzanna, Halle, and St Emile. Removed from front line support the Ambulance moved to Abbeville where they were wen the Armistice was signed.

One month later, a move was made to Valines, and from here drafts began to leave for Australia, and eventually the unit was disbanded. In all, 61 Officers. and 502 Other Ranks served with the 9th Field Ambulance. Thirty four men died while posted to this unit.

Patients

• Arthur Leworthy Bettenay 8 Jun 1917
• Alexander Donald 9 Jun 1917
• William Wright Casterton MM 8 Jun 1917
• † Felix Edmund John Sainsbury 9 Jun 1917
• Thomas Ramsell 3 Jul 1917
• Samuel Buckland 4 - 9 Jul 1917
• George William Piesley 6 Jul 1917
• Jason Howard 1 week in July 1917
• John Arthur Patterson MM 1 Aug 1917
• Leslie James Godfrey 10 Aug 1917
• Stanley Victor Coney 13 - 15 Nov 1917
• Joseph William Smith 31 Aug - 1 Sep 1918

Individual Honours

• 2 x Military Cross
• 4 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
• 24 x Military Medal
• 1 x Distinguished Service Medal
• 1 x Meritorious Service Medal
• 3 x Mentioned in Despatches
• 1 x Belgium Croix de Guerre

Notes

Information comes from several sites but primarily from the RAAMC and Health Service Corps Association Inc. See [1] for further detail.