Certainly we played hard and had some fun, but my abiding memory is that hard working self disciplined 1^st Australian Field Hospital Team: the Medical Assistants, Nurses, Doctors, Padres, Dentists, Technicians, Physio, Drivers, Cooks, Administrators and Q Store Staff.  The RAN, ARMY, RAAF, the National Servicemen, the Regs, the CMF - most were young, hurriedly trained and asked to do a huge job. I often wonder at the personal cost to the individual members and I know some have suffered.

As vivid as all these memories are, there is the sound of that quiet, broken voice on the telephone asking, pleading  “Did I do a good job, Boss?”

Yes, you did mate and let me tell you how proud and privileged I was to be the CO of such a magnificent team. You distinguished yourselves by an outstanding sustained effort and I hope you can, at last, feel satisfaction with your achievements.