Losses of Medical Equipment

Equipment losses were heavy, being similar in magnitude to those suffered in Greece and Crete. Fifth Field Ambulance came out of the battle without anything in the way of medical equipment, while 6 Field Ambulance had only a few instruments which some members of the unit carried out in their packs. Fourth Field Ambulance, however, had retained a fair amount of its equipment, and 4 Field Hygiene Section had few deficiencies.

Pending the re-equipment of the field ambulances, in which there was a delay of some weeks, there was an acute shortage of expendable medical stores, much on the same lines as that which occurred when the Division returned from Crete. No. 2 General Hospital at Garawla helped to tide the field medical units over a rather difficult period in this respect.