GENERAL HOSPITAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 165, 8 October 1941, Page 6

GENERAL HOSPITAL

UNIT PRAISED

(N.Z.E.F. On'icial News Service)

CAIRO, Sept. 8

Reconstructed and re-equipped, a New Zealand general hospital unit which played an admirable part in the campaign in Grecce paraded this morning before the chief of New Zealand's medical services overseas With that smartness and precision that one has come to expect of men of the medical corps, the unit gave a displaj" that spoke of thorough training and keen discipline. The men looked, as indeed they are, ready for instant action.

Headed by a southern training battalion's Highland pipe band, they marched across their desert paradeground and swung smartly past the saluting base, where the salute was taken by their brigadier. With him were the matron-in-chicf of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service overseas, several other members of the nursing service, and a number ot senior medical officers.

"I should like to express my* appreciation and pleasure at the bearing of all ranks of this hospital," said the brigadier, addressing the unit after the march past. "The occasion is a particularly pleasing one; as it marks a definite stage in the reconstruction of a valued unit of the New Zealand medical services. This unit has already a record of which it can well be proud, not only in the United Kingdom, but also in Egypt where they established one o? the most modern hospitals: in the country." Then had come CI recce, continued the brigadier, and again in that next Stage of its chequered career thr« unit had given of its beSt, though it had suffered grave losses in personnel ami equipment. For a time it had been doubtf'id if the unit, could be reformed. The original members of the hospital, however, had left no doubt abort' their desire in the matter. Th* 1 work or the quartermaster sergeant. StaH-Sergeant Rhind, in patriculai in collecting up the equipment had gone a long way towards rendering le-establishment of the unit possible. Meanwhile the gaps in the ranks had been filled by well-trained reinforcements.

"The Avork Avhich the unit may bo called upoa to perform in the future may not be so' full of incident," concluded the officer, "but will, none the less, call for enduring and faithful service. The keenness and zeal displayed by all ranks since reorganisation is an augury that the unit is prepared to make a record that shall be second to yione in the story of the care of sick and wounded in the N.Z.E.F."