Health professionals serve Army

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 320, 23 January 1990, Page 5

Health professionals serve Army

During a recent training weekend, the Teiritorial Force 1 Medical Battalion was visited by Mrs Ethel McCarthy, who as a member of a Volunteer Aid Detachment attached to Military Hospitals in the First World War, served in a unit in France that had the same responsibilities as those of 1 Medical Battalion today.

A very sprightly Mrs McCarthy, who would not reveal her age, confirmed that she did lie about her age to enable her to join the VAD, and serve abroad. However, as she talked to the Battalion about her experiences in WW1, many of them must have realised that she first went to France 72 years ago! The Battalion is commanded by Major John Mackie RNZAMC from Waitakere, who is a monumental mason by profession, and is divided into four companies - a HQ's Company to control and plan operations; a Colfeeting.Cptnp.any to run

the ambulances; a Medical Company who treat the patients and a Logistics Company who provide and maintain the tents, mobile operating theatres, medical and domestic stores and food and medicine required by the other companies. Within the Unit can be found doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, laboratory and

theatre technicians, j physiotherapists including Ohakune's Don Allomes, health inspectors, medical orderlies, cooks, drivers, plumbers, electricians, store persons, mechanics and clerks. People who are professionally qualified, but wish to expand their experience, or are unqualified but would like to be trained for some of the non "professional" unit tasks can contact the Battalion's second in command, Major Mick Henry RNZAMC Telephone (09) 2978381 or 2978383 for information on this Unit.