About This Unit
2nd/11th Field Ambulance, 9th Division 2nd AIF
Reference to the '11th Field Ambulance' needs to distinguish between the unit raised for service in WW1, the Militia unit of the same name in WW2, and the unit raised for service as part of the 2nd AIF, the 2nd/11th Field Ambulance, the subject of this unit history.
It is the practice of the VWMA to use the prefix '2nd/' written in full rather than the '2/' when describing units of the 2nd AIF to reflect the enunciation of the unit in general use and it avoids confusion with other units of simila designations and units of other nations.
With the formation of the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at the commencement of World War Two, one of the new units raised was the 2nd/11th Field Ambulance. When the AIF deployed to England in 1940 unexpected problems in relation to medical care were discovered and a more extensive medical service was required. Part of the solution was to increase the number of field ambulances. To this end, in June 1940 the 2nd/3rd Field Ambulance was split in two, half remaining as the 2nd/3rd Field Ambulance and the other half becoming the 2nd/11th Field Ambulance.
After extensive training in England 2nd/11th Field Ambulance was transferred to Palestine and then in March 1941 to Egypt as part of the 9th Division. By the end of March 1941 the 9th Division was spread along the north coast of Cyrenaica with the German forces pushing the allies westward.
The 9th Division was directed to defend the port of Tobruk from the advancing Afrika Korps. At this time the 2nd/11th Field Ambulance was in a depth position at Tobruk. The unit was to remain in the Tobruk area for the next seven months and endure the siege of Tobruk, being relieved on 20 October 1941. After leaving Tobruk the entire 9th Division was granted a period of rest and then commenced training for there next operation.
The 9th Division was then sent to relieve the 7th Division in Syria, with 2nd/11th Field Ambulance relieving the 2nd/4th Field Ambulance in January 1942. Duty in Syria was generally quieter than it had been in Cyrenaica with non-battle rather than battle casualties predominating, of these malaria was the most significant. The Division moved south to the Western Desert in June 1942.
By early July 1942 the bulk of the 9th Division had moved into position in the vicinity of El Alamein. 2nd/11th Field Ambulance, having been reinforced by a mobile team and vehicles from the 2/8th Field Ambulance had the responsibility of operating the active Main Dressing Station for the divisional front from 10 to 25 July 1942. During this time there were a number of hectic periods as a result of major battles and a total of 1157 casualties were treated. The Unit was actively involved in the battle of Alamein treating a stream of casualties.
For his actions the Commanding Officer LTCOL W.W. Lempriere (2 Dec 1941 – 30 Jan 1943) was awarded a DSO for devotion to duty, gallantry and conspicuous service at Alemein during the period from 23rd October to 5th November 1942.
On 31 October 1942, the 2nd/32nd Battalion captured a building known as the “blockhouse” which was occupied by three German medical officers, some medical orderlies and German casualties. The Battalion RMO established his RAP there and with a medical officer and section from 2nd/11th Field Ambulance set up a kind of international medical post with two German and two Australian medical officers working side by side.
From early November 1942, with British forces in pursuit of the Axis forces the intensity of the activity for the 9th Division eased and the 2nd/11th Field Ambulance provided medical support and RAP services to local units. The 9th Division returned to Palestine in November 1942 and from there returned to Australia. On their return the unit refreshed, retrained in North Queensland before redeploying into the SWP area, including New Guinea, Finschafen, Morotia and finally Tarakan Island before Japan surrendered.
With the cessation of hostilities the2nd/11th Field Ambulances returned to Australia and was demobilized in 1946.
Click images to start slideshow.