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New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy

Field Medical Units

Field Medical Units

When 6 Infantry Brigade Group, with 4 Field Ambulance attached, arrived in Egypt from Greece the group went to Helwan Camp. Here 4 Field Ambulance staffed a camp reception hospital and camp convalescent depot and underwent routine training, which was possible as the unit had suffered fewer losses than the other field medical units.

At the end of May those members of 5 and 6 Field Ambulances and 4 Field Hygiene Section who were evacuated from Crete joined 4 Field Ambulance at Helwan Camp, and during June were located either there or in the adjoining Garawi Camp.

A training schedule was arranged as fully as limited equipment would allow, and the units carried out some interesting work on camouflage in the open desert. It was found that slit trenches could be effectively hidden from air observation by the use of coarse netting and less effectively by scrim. In addition, arrangements were made for nursing orderlies to undergo refresher courses at 2 General Hospital, Helwan.

The 4th Field Hygiene Section supervised a course of instruction in hygiene and sanitation for representatives of divisional units and supervised the hygiene of the camp. Major Williams, OC Base Hygiene Section, took over the command of this unit, changing appointments with Major Irwin.