Title: New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy

Author: Stout, T. Duncan M.

Publication details: Historical Publications Branch, 1956, Wellington

Part of: The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945

This text is the subject of: ‘Something of Them Is Here Recorded’: Official History in New Zealand

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Medical Arrangements for Advance to Tripoli

Medical arrangements for the advance to Tripoli were similar to those for the Agheila operation. This time 4 and 5 Field Ambulances accompanied the Division and 6 Field Ambulance served as a Corps MDS. A total of twenty-five extra ambulance cars from 15 MAC was attached to 4 and 5 Field Ambulances, which formed MDSs for page 413 the Division. The transfusion unit and a surgical team from 1 NZ CCS, under Captain A. Douglas, were attached to 5 Field Ambulance, which formed a mobile open MDS for the Division. Attached to 5 Field Ambulance was B Company 4 Field Ambulance with a CCS surgical team under Major Wilson. Provision was made for it to be left with any patients who required to be held for a time awaiting evacuation following operation, or to be detached as an air evacuation unit as necessity arose. To 6 Field Ambulance was attached 2 NZ FSU, under Major McKenzie, and 4 Field Hygiene Section moved with 4 Field Ambulance.

It was arranged that 7 Armoured Division's medical units would evacuate through 151 Light Field Ambulance to the nearest of the New Zealand medical units, which were to form the backbone of the evacuation chain. A general arrangement was made that 2 NZ Division would post a dressing station at Sedada in the course of the advance, and also close to any landing ground functioning or likely to function on the route. From these landing grounds air evacuation was planned to Tamet airfield, 7 miles to the east of which 1 NZ CCS set up on 14 January.

Colonel Ardagh, ADMS 2 NZ Division, joined Main HQ 30 Corps on 16 January, at the request of the Corps Commander and DDMS, to co-cordinate these forward medical arrangements for the inland column, and remained attached until 24 January. Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. King, 4 Field Ambulance, acted as ADMS 2 NZ Division in his stead. For the co-ordination of arrangements wireless was most useful.