ON BATTLEFIELD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 172, 23 July 1942, Page 6

ON BATTLEFIELD

N.Z. MEDICAL SERVICE attention to wounded N.Z.E.F. OfTlriiil \\;ir Correspondent. HI. A LA.Mi; IX, July Battle casualties among the New Zealanders are receiving early treatment through the policy of our medical service of keeping in the closest company possible with divisional un ' ,s ' '• means quick and frequent moves, while si ill maintaining the nece.^,-.ii v facilities for treatment. ! At Minqar Qaim i saw an ad-j v *"" 'I 1 li"f.-.siiig station working! ! '" • while shells and mortar I ""lit>.» burst all round the shallow ,\V 111 which it was situated. I Micro was no quiet place for them. I i no wounded were evacuated bv am-! i)'i;ance until encircling Germans! < .o-.od all exits. The ambulances j uc, e then forced to join other units | ii the rlr.im.itic break-through. Never "'•fore have the New Zealanders been so well equipped with umliu-1 i.iiiocs, this making possible rapid; evacuation of the wounded and earlv treatment for shock by blood translusions and the use of intravencu ; /inifl in eases of extreme urgenev I his can be done at. regimental nV.I posts, which function in the battlefield it..elf, and most ambulances are also equipped for the purpose.

Kscnpr With Guard During the present phase of the campaign ono regimental aid post V - ■ l eapturi'd. and placed under Indian guard. A favourable opp or . I' 1"' escape, in which ino Italians were only too willing to pariicipate. The medical officer and ["doilies arrived back in our lines Mith ,l »u S i f ' ,,or th f ir capture complete with their guard. Although a noncombatant unit, over 100 Italians had surrendered to them previously and were rounded up by tanks. Ambulances, too, work richt in the thick of things. The division is fortunate in having the help of a number of ambulances of the American field Service. As is the case with the New Zealanders, the drivers ol these vehicles are always ready and anxious to work well forward Popuktr with troops, they fit in weli with the scheme of things They receive no pay, but some have private means. I have chatted to several of them, and found them very keen on the work. I asked one . y ,, , come over here. He saidWell. I I wasn't over here I would be digging ditches In Minnesota or some place. I am too old for the army they reckon." A senior medical ofheer said of them, "They are an absolutely first-class crowd of fellows. Consideration For Wounded Yesterday I visited the main dressing station just a few miles behind our forward troops. It was easy to see the reason for the favourable comment I heard on the condition of the New Zealand patients arriving from the field. The blood transfusion unit and surgical teams were at work restoring the wounded to a fit condition for travel by ambulance to the casualty clearing station and hospital. Most of the serious cases were being sent by plane. The work was all being done under canvas with the greatest consideration possible for the comfort of the troops. The evacuation of the wounded has proceeded smoothly, morning and afternoon. Many wounded prisoners have been through our dressing station. The Germans have been mostly sullen and defiant, but soon come to apprecrate the good treat ment.