New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy
From the Senio to the Santerno
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From the Senio to the Santerno
The members of 4 Field Ambulance established themselves at Granarolo ready to receive battle casualties at 9 a.m. on 11 April when 6 MDS closed. The surgical teams from 4 and 6 Field Ambulances and all available ambulance cars were attached to 4 Field Ambulance.
Our infantry crossed the Santerno before dawn on 11 April, and by next morning the New Zealand, 8 Indian, and 3 Carpathian Divisions all had battalions across the river.
There was a steady flow of casualties back to 4 Field Ambulance, these totalling 94 on 11 April and 103 on 12 April.
Crossing the Santerno River with 9 Infantry Brigade on the morning of 13 April, 4 ADS opened to receive casualties from its brigade, which had relieved 5 Infantry Brigade. Steady progress was made towards the Sillaro River, and as 9 Infantry Brigade and 6 Infantry Brigade advanced, 4 ADS and then 4 MDS were kept busy with the casualties, the MDS admitting 89 on 13 April, 119 on 14 April, and
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43 up to four o'clock on the afternoon of 15 April, when the unit closed. Its functions were taken over by 6 MDS, which opened under canvas 2 miles to the rear of Massa Lombarda and was assisted by the surgical team from 4 MDS.



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