Medical Units in the Breakthrough

In the breakthrough three New Zealand and two AFS ambulance cars and two trucks were hit and set on fire, but it was possible to get many of the wounded and medical staff on to the remaining trucks and to continue eastwards. The GOC had a rough journey in his caravan, which was hit at least twice and had its windscreen shattered, but during the height of the battle he got out of bed and viewed the action through the window, likening it to Balaclava. At 10 a.m. the GOC's party, including medical personnel, moved away from the main column and later, as arranged by ADMS NZ Division, was guided to an aerodrome, which was reached at 1.30 p.m. A fighter plane was sent off to call up an ambulance plane, which duly arrived and at 5 p.m. took the GOC to Cairo, with Corporal Wilson¹ of 4 Field Ambulance as medical orderly. The General was admitted to 1 General Hospital, Helwan, in good condition.

During the breakthrough 4 ADS accompanied 4 Brigade, and Driver Robinson¹ went forward in his ambulance behind the infantry making the charge. Although ordered to follow the comparatively safe centre of the attack, he zigzagged his ambulance across the whole battlefield, ignoring the heavy fire from machine guns, antitank guns, and heavier weapons, which was particularly intense on the flanks. He collected every wounded man who he saw was unable to walk, and brought his ambulance safely out laden with wounded. For this exploit he was awarded the Military Medal.

The 4th ADS travelled across the desert with 4 Brigade all next day (28 June), making only a few brief stops to treat some of the casualties received from brigade units and burying some dead. All the casualties were attended to when the ADS staged for the night at 9 p.m. and erected a canvas. About 140 cases were treated between the time of setting up the ADS and four o'clock next morning (29th). Some forty of the cases came from 5 ADS. By 4 a.m. a convoy of twenty-seven vehicles (ambulances and trucks) had been organised and was sent off with the patients to 14 CCS at Gharbaniyat. Before the ADS moved farther back with 4 Brigade in the early afternoon it had received another thirty cases, some of them sick, and these were sent to 4 MDS, whose position was then known. Shortly after 4 ADS reached the Fortress A area and had dug in, the unit admitted another thirty cases, and these were evacuated to the MDS also.

From here 5 ADS evacuated forty patients to 14 British CCS before moving the rest of its casualties into the fortress. Here they were admitted into a specially constructed underground MDS which was to be manned for the next few days by 4 Field Ambulance, assisted by A Company 6 Field Ambulance, which had moved up to the fortress area with 6 Brigade on 27 June.

It was with difficulty that 4 and 5 Field Ambulances were found on the morning of 28 June and ordered to move back with the Division to the El Alamein line. The ADMS NZ Division was not clear as to the exact location of the two units. In a completely featureless and deserted part of the desert it was only by a stroke of good fortune that they were found. The 5th MDS, being closed, had begun to move back of its own accord, but 4 MDS was open and oblivious of the general situation, and at this time was actually the most westerly placed unit of the Division as the main body was withdrawing. Thus, this unit might easily have been captured.

Medical sections seem to have brought up the rear in the withdrawal. For instance, Captain Bryant,¹ RMO 5 Field Regiment, did not reach the El Alamein area until dusk on 29 June. At first light on the 28th Captain Bryant halted his RAP and remained until mid-morning attending to the wounded of 5 Field Regiment and infantry units. By this time the brigade had long since gone on, and capture by an enemy column seemed imminent.

The three trucks carrying the wounded moved eastwards independently at slow speed. They travelled throughout the 28th and 29th, with the RMO attending to the wounded as occasion demanded. Although the patients included men with severe internal wounds and haemorrhage, no life was lost. This, combined with devotion to duty at Minqar Qaim itself, earned for Captain Bryant the award of the Military Cross.

Likewise, Driver Burling, who was attached to 5 ADS and carried wounded men in his ambulance car, was separated from the rest of the convoy after the breakthrough but resourcefully found his way back to the Alamein line. On 27 June this driver had led out an ambulance convoy from Minqar Qaim to the main dressing station and for his general initiative was awarded the MM.

The action at Minqar Qaim assisted in slowing down the momentum of the enemy's advance at this dangerous stage in the Battle for Egypt. The enemy, including one of the panzer divisions, suffered heavy casualties, and in the night charge one infantry battalion was almost destroyed.