In May 1962 the Australian Government announced the deployment of 30 AATTV Officers and Senior NCO Instructors to South Vietnam. On July 6 1964 Warrant Officer Kevin Conway became the first Australian Advisor to be killed in action.

The first combat troops, the advance party of 1RAR (Royal Australian Regiment) arrived at Bien Hoa on  May 25th 1965 and the main contingent of 1RAR departed Australia on the HMAS Sydney on May 27th.

At first, medical support for the Australian Troops, was provided by the Americans but during 1966, Australia increased its Force strength along with a medical contingent and there, for the first time since 1945, an Australian Army Medical Unit was at war.

1ST AUSTRALIAN FIELD HOSPITAL

1968-1972

1st Field Hospital

1972 – 1998

1 Health Support Battalion

1998 -

boasts a proud history, both in War and Peace and looks forward to the future so as to fulfill its role as the

“PREMIER MEDICAL UNIT”

of the Australian Army, and as a major asset to the
Australian Defence Force and the Nation

 1^st Australian Field Hospital

As the Australian involvement in Vietnam grew so did the medical services provided, and on the 1st of April 1968 the 1st Australian Field Hospital was raised, taking over from 8th Field Ambulance at Vung Tau.

The hospital now consisted of 106 beds:- a surgical and medical ward of  50 beds each and ICU of  6 beds, Triage and Operating Theatres, Pathology, Xray, Dental, Pharmacy, RAP, Physiotherapy, Psychiatry and was supported by a Q Store, Orderly Room, Administration, Messes and accommodation, all essential to running a hospital. A Red Cross Unit was also within the grounds. Personnel consisted of regular soldiers and conscripted soldiers of the RAAMC (Royal Aust. Army Medical Corps), Nursing Sisters of the RAANC (Royal Aust Army Nursing Corps) and some from RNZNC (Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps), Transport Drivers of RAASC (Royal Aust Army Service Corps now known as Transport Corps), Chaplains Corps and the Catering Corps. The surgical capacity was maintained by CMF (Army, Navy, Air Force Reserves) Specialists from the three services, plus civilian Specialists who did three month tours. General Medical Officers were made up mainly of ARA (Australian Regular Army) and CMF full time commissions. Also attached to the site were 33 Dental Unit, 1 Field Medical & Dental, 1 Field Hygiene Coy and the Red Cross.

The para-medical services provided by the 1st Australian Field Hospital was of such high standard that they achieved a success rate of nearly 99% on patients who reached them alive. This stands as a truly remarkable achievement, given that many of the casualties reached the hospital barely alive with horrendous wounds and severe injuries. On average, a soldier would receive emergency treatment at the hospital within thirty minutes of being wounded or injured in the field. This was possible by the use of “Dustoff” Helicopters, that because of their complete air superiority, had mostly unimpeded access to combat zones. However, as in most wars, medical cases such as Malaria, Scrub Typhus and Venereal Diseases, to name a few, outnumbered battle casualties. Australia had nearly 60,000 military personnel serve in Vietnam during the years of the war, with around 500 deaths and 3,000 casualties. Most permanent medical personnel served in country for 12 months.

On November 7 1971 the Australian combat role in the Vietnam War ended when 4RAR withdrew from Nui Dat. Most medical personnel were withdrawn from the 1st Australian Field Hospital on November 25th 1971 and the unit was relocated to Manunda Lines, Ingleburn NSW in December 1971.

 1^st Field Hospital

The unit today has evolved into a Mobile Field Hospital and supplies support to most of the major exercises conducted by the ADF (Australian Defence Force) including Iron Man, Braham Drive and the Kangaroo Series .

1st Field Hospital provided the training ground for successive generations of personnel of both the RAAMC and RAANC.

1st Field Hospital continues to evolve, experiment and adapt to the fast changing conditions of modern warfare, and the role in which it is destined to play. The unit is also ready to provide that which may be required at a major emergency or civil disaster. To this end, new equipment and methods are being introduced and tested on a continuing basis.

Personnel from 1st Field Hospital served with distinction on overseas operations including the major United Nation Missions in Namibia, Cambodia, Western Sahara and Rwanda as well as the major coalition efforts in Somalia (Operation Restore Hope) and the Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm). In July 1998, 1st Field Hospital, played a major role in providing emergency healthcare to the victims of the Tsunami at Vanimo, New Guinea.

ADF Health Services personnel are amongst some of the most decorated men and women within the Australian Defence Force today.

On 16 August  2000  1st Field Hospital underwent a name change and is now known as

1ST HEALTH SUPPORT BATTALION

April 1st has been retained as the unit’s birthday - celebrating, and commemorating the continuous line of service to the Australian Defence Force  since the 1st Australian Field Hospital was raised in Vietnam in 1968.