2/13th Australian Field Ambulance

Civil Treatment Centre Brunei - 2 Section A Coy AWM photo I27690

Brief History

Formed in Northam WA in November 1940, they moved to the Middle East via Bombay in February 1941 and established themselves at Amiriya, west of Alexandria. In April they were warned for service in Greece but were on Alexandria docks when the worsening situation meant they were not sent, instead operating an Advanced Dressing Station for the wounded as they returned to Alexandria from Greece in April and Crete in May 1941.

In June they moved to Nazareth in Palestine to support he invasion of Vichy French Syria. During this time 'HQ Coy' moved to Deraa, Syria to establish a MDS while 'A' Company established a Corps Rest Station (CRS) at Ez Zib. Following the Armistice the unit moved to Bois De Bologne where they established a rest station, in addition to others at Dhour El Choueir and Riachi.

With the start of the Pacific War, the 1st Australian Corps was recalled to Australia, and the 2/23th Australian Field Ambulance left the Middle East in March 1942 for Fremantle via South Africa in May 1942. Following leave they assembled in South Australia before moving to Goodna, Queensland in July. At some point they moved to the Nambour, and from there relocated to the Northern Territory where on 17 Jan 1943 they were positioned 30 miles south of Darwin. In February 1944 they left the Northern territory 1944 and relocated to Wongabel, Queensland.

Following a period of leave the unit reassembled in Adelaide during June before moving to Goodna in Queensland. In July the 'HQ' Company was at Broadbeach, and 'B' Company at Redcliffe. In August 1942 the Field Ambulance moved to Maryborough with the 3rd Infantry Division before moving to Landsborough in September. At this time 'A' Company operated an ADS at Glenview. During December 1942 the unit gathered at Nambour before moving to the Northern Territory to relieve the 2/12 Australian Field Ambulance south of Darwin where amongst other thongs they operated a rest camp at Berry Springs. In May 1944 they moved to Wongabel in Queensland to join the 1st Australian Corps preparing for a role in liberating Borneo.

In April 1945 the unit moved to Morotai before landing at Brunei Bay in June. 'A' Company accompanied the 20th Australian Infantry Brigade Group, landing at Brunei where they later established hospitals to treat the local population. The ret of the unit accompanied the 24th Australian Infantry Brigade Group's landings on Labuan Island, and the mainland of Sabah at Mempakul, before advancing towards Jesselton until the end of the war.

Ambulance Personnel

• Ernest Arnold Fallon 21 Mar 1941 - 13 Nov 1945
• Leonard Wilfred Powell

Patients

Bois De Bologne, Lebanon

• Edwin Reed Marshall 27 Sep - 5 Oct 1941

Godna, Queensland

• Jack David Bunney 15 - 27 Aug 1942

Individual Honours

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 4 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 4.090 & 4.091 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018