102nd Australian Convalescent Depot

Recuperating soldiers marching to the beach in front of the Convalescent Depot - AWM image

A WAAAF outside a convalescent camp hut

Brief History

102nd Australian Convalescent Depot was raised at Enoggera in December 1941 within the Northern Command AAMC Training Depot, before becoming a separate unit in May 1942. It was relocated in June to Warwick and then to Burleigh Heads where it replaced 101st Australian Convalescent Depot and was reduced to 500 beds in November 1944. It was to remain there until the conclusion of the war.

This camp was located on the current site of the Sport and Recreation Camp at Tallebudgera. Here men recuperating, often from malaria contracted in New Guinea, could gain strength with medical attention, abundant food, sunshine, swimming and walking. It was a big camp and staff stayed in tents which were subject to the vagaries of the weather and the insect population.

Patients

• Robert Ralph Thompson 4 Aug - 28 Sep 1942
• John Patrick Whitaker 30 Dec 1942 - 19 Jan 1943
• Francis Malarkey 14 - 29 Jan 1943
• Eric Anderson 19 - 30?? Jan 1943
• Ralph Godfrey 17 - 31 Jan 1943
• Edward Maurice Trew 6 - 16 Aug 1944
• Robert Thomas Buckenara 19 Jan - 5 Mar 1945
• Albert Chamberlain 26 Jun - 19 Aug 1945