2/6th Australian Field Ambulance
From Our Contribution
 Wounded from forward area being carried into Main Dressing Station. Dumpu, New Guinea | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | 2/6th Australian Field Ambulance |
| Where formed | Woodside, South Australia |
| Date formed | May 1940 |
| Capacity | 200 beds |
| Locations | Woodside, Ikingi Maryut, Northern Palestine, Tripoli, Hill 69, Springbank SA, Nambour, Itiki New Guinea, Ilolo, Uberi, Myolo, Ravenshoe Qld, Port Moresby, Nadzab, Strathpine, Morotai, Balikpapan |
General Information
Departed for the Middle East in late 1940 and in Jan 1941 established at Dimra in Palestine in support of the 21st Infantry Brigade. In Apr 1941 it was sent to Ikingi Maryut to prepare for Greece, but circumstances saw it instead moving to Mersa Matruk as part of the blocking force protecting Egypt. Soon after it was relocated to northern Palestine in preparation for the advance into Syria against Vichy French forces. It was in Sardon in June, Damour in July, at Ain Safar at the time of the Armistice, Achache in September, Tripoli in December and back at Hill 69 in January 1942.
Shipped back to Springbank near Adelaide in March 1942, it moved to Nambour in April and May to prepare for tropical service. In August 1942 the unit moved to P{ort Moresby and immediately sent detachments to the Kokoda Track in support of the fighting going on there. It established medical facilities at Itiki in August; Ilolo in September, Uberi in October and Myolo in November 1942.
Withdrawn to Ravenshoe in Queensland for a rest in January 1943, it returned to Port Moresby in August 1943. In September it was airlifted to Nadzab where it moved with Infantry units as they advanced up the Markham Valley. In January 1944 it was relieved and returned to Port Moresby, and in February it returned to Queensland where it established itself at Strathpine, remaining there until the middle of 1945.
In June 1945 it moved to the island of Morotai to prepare for landings in Borneo, and in July they established a medical facility at Balikpapan where they remained for the rest of the war.
Staff
Patients
Tripoli, Syria
- Charles Owen Parkin 24 Nov - 8 Dec 1941
Nadzab, New Guinea
- Harold Jack Spencer 19 Nov - 28 Dec 1943
Balikpapan NEI Borneo
- Jack David Bunney 10 - 19 Sep 1945
- Edward Maurice Trew 18 Dec 1945 - 6 Jan 1946
- John Douglas (Doug) Donald 15 - 21 Jan 1946