113th Australian Convalescent Depot
From Our Contribution
 CO's hut at Morotai May 1945 AWM photo I09331 | |
 Library at Kotaki, PNG AWM Photo 07154 by MB Rogers | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | 113th Australian Convalescent Depot |
| Where formed | Brisbane |
| Locations | Redbank 1942, Port Moresby, Sogeri Valley PNG, Morotai 1945 |
General Information
The unit formed at Grovely in Brisbane during February 1942 before boarding SS Canberra in Brisbane for Port Moresby, arriving there on 17 Mar 1942. A Red Cross convalescent home at Rouna became the 113th Convalescent Depot. In September 1943 the Convalescent Depot had moved to Koitaki in the Sogeri Valley, mid way between Port Moresby and Owen's Corner. By September they had expanded to 1,000beds, and with the advance of the Japanese along the Kokoda Trail they did move to Murray Barracks for a short time before returning to Koitaki in October once the advance had been turned back . Many of its occupants were recovering from scrub typhus, which had only an 89% survival rate. In April 1944 they moved to 17 Mile camp following the transfer of Australian activity to the Lae area.
The 113th Australian Convalescent Depot returned to Australia in June 1944 for leave and to prepare for a role north of New Guinea. It moved to Morotai during June 1945 to service those hospital at Morotai, Labuan and Balikpapan.
Two members of staff died, both of illness.
Patients
Sogeri Valley PNG
- Jack Bell 6-27 Oct 1943
- Mervyn Roy Drummond 12 Dec 1943 - 1 Jan 1944
- Ronald Gwynne 11 Dec 1943 - 10 Jan 1944
Morotai Dutch East Indies
- David Deverell 2 - 28 Jul 1945
Honours and Awards
The long term CO of the unit was Mentioned in Despatches twice as was Captain AE Fittock. Two members of staff died, both of illness.
Notes
Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 4 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 4.156 & 4.157 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018