11th Australian Field Ambulance

[[File:]]

Brief History

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in December 1941 the Australian Government realised it would have to increase the size of the army particularly in the South West Pacific region and to this end mobilized a number of militia units, including 11 Field Ambulance. The unit was placed on full time duty on 16 December 1941. In February 1942 elements of the unit were located at Yeppoon and Maryborough before the unit concentrated at Tiaro. In May 1942 the Field Ambulance moved to Townsville and established itself at Cluden to service forward troops. After the Battle of the Coral Sea an airstrip was established at Milne Bay in New Guinea, and they were sent there along with the rest of the 7th Australian Infantry Brigade Group. With others they cared for those injured during the Japanese attempted landing in September.

By January 1943 they had detachments in Wanigela, Porloc Harbour and Goodenough Island. In March they moved to Port Moresby and serviced base units there and at Donadabu until they left New Guinea in December 1943. After leave they gathered at Kairi in North Queensland with a detachment at Mapee from June onwards. In August they moved to Madang after its capture, and operated a Main Dressing Station there and a Advanced Dressing Station at Sair, with a convalescent depot at Marupi.

In November 1944 they moved to Torokina on Bougainville to support the Australian Infantry advance on Buin. They established a Main Dressing Station at Tagessi, then at Mawaraka and Toko, with an Advanced Dressing Station at Piaterapaia. Other outposed staff worked at Mosigetta, Makapeka and Barara until May when they were replaced by the 15 Field Ambulance and they returned to Torokina to service base units there until the end of the war.

Patients

• David Gibson 11 - 22 Oct 1942

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 4 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 4.068 & 4.069 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018