MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > MILITARY VEHICLES > The Softskin Forum

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 15-06-18, 10:39
Lionelgee's Avatar
Lionelgee Lionelgee is offline
Lionel G. Evans
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bundaberg - Queensland, Australia
Posts: 719
Default Australian Army Ambulances

Hello All,

Does anyone know whether there were any other types of ambulance in operation by the Australian Army between the World War II CMP Ford and Chevrolet or Jeep ambulances and the introduction of the Series 2 and 2A Land Rover in the 1960s?

Here are some photographs from World War II to the 1960s... all sourced from the Australian War Memorial Collections accessed June 15th 2018, from:

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C196293 (Jeep)
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C203029 (Ford)
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C51074 (Land Rover).

Kind regards
Lionel
Attached Thumbnails
Ford Ambulance.jpg   Jeep Ambulance.jpg   Land Rover Ambulance.jpg  
__________________
1940 Chevrolet MCP with Holden Built Cab (30 CWT).
1935 REO Speed Wagon.
1963 Series 2A Army Ambulance ARN 112-211
Series III ex-Military Land Rovers x 2

Last edited by Lionelgee; 15-06-18 at 11:41.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 15-06-18, 19:27
Mike Cecil Mike Cecil is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cody, Wyoming, USA
Posts: 2,365
Default Lots....

Yes.

How about 'lots' as an answer? Not in the office to be more definitive.

The AWM collection of images is primarily interested/focused on war and warlike operations, so much of the peace-time equipment is not featured/recorded.

Mike
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 15-06-18, 20:39
Richard Farrant's Avatar
Richard Farrant Richard Farrant is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 3,634
Default

Mike Cecil wrote a two part article on Australian ambulances for KVE News about 4 years ago, I have attached a direct link to it here, it is on the Corowa Swim-In website. This is Part 1 ;

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/49442...c2c8340657.pdf

As you will see in the download there were some Austin K2 ambulances in service in Australia during WW2.

Part 2, which covers from 1956 to 2012 is here:

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/49442...a03c3c1681.pdf


regards, Richard
__________________
Richard

1943 Bedford QLD lorry - 1941 BSA WM20 m/cycle - 1943 Daimler Scout Car Mk2
Member of MVT, IMPS, MVG of NSW, KVE and AMVCS
KVE President & KVE News Editor

Last edited by Richard Farrant; 15-06-18 at 22:34. Reason: Added link to Part 2
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 16-06-18, 00:43
Richard Coutts-Smith Richard Coutts-Smith is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Barnawartha, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 1,235
Default

Hi Lionel,
Austin Champ (including the Australian army) had a kit that enabled two stretchers to be carried lengthwise behind the driver, this included an extension for the soft top so they were enclosed. Some kits were a curio found in the surplus sales unused, and involved a lot of head scratching to work out how it all worked. I have seen one poor photo of an ambulance Champ lined up in convoy, having trouble locating it though.
So this would be 1956 and a very brief period after....
Rich.
Additional- Can't find the Aussy pic, but this is a British one, would have been the same kit.
Attached Thumbnails
Ambo.jpg  
__________________
C60S
Austin Champ x 2
Humber 1 Ton & Trailer

Last edited by Richard Coutts-Smith; 16-06-18 at 13:00.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 16-06-18, 08:50
Mike Cecil Mike Cecil is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cody, Wyoming, USA
Posts: 2,365
Default

Thanks Richard, for the links. I had a feeling I had written something on ambulances in general, but couldn't remember the 'when and what'!!

Mike
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 16-06-18, 12:22
Lionelgee's Avatar
Lionelgee Lionelgee is offline
Lionel G. Evans
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bundaberg - Queensland, Australia
Posts: 719
Default

Hello All,

Thank you Richard plus Richard and especially Mike for providing such detailed information. Thank you Richard F for sending the links to Mike's two articles.

Kind Regards
Lionel
__________________
1940 Chevrolet MCP with Holden Built Cab (30 CWT).
1935 REO Speed Wagon.
1963 Series 2A Army Ambulance ARN 112-211
Series III ex-Military Land Rovers x 2
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 17-06-18, 09:02
gjamo's Avatar
gjamo gjamo is offline
Graeme Jamieson
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Williamstown Vic Australia
Posts: 599
Default From the Williamstown FB page

At the end of World War 2, as the ambulances from the returning hospital ship Oranje, and subsequent Hospital Ships, dispersed the wounded and ill servicemen around Melbourne, this scene was repeated many times in suburbs around Melbourne.
Attached Thumbnails
13882390_1777468115863121_1295030339446596140_n.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 17-06-18, 09:19
Mike Kelly's Avatar
Mike Kelly Mike Kelly is offline
Fan of Lord Nuffield
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Victoria Australia
Posts: 5,605
Default Humber

That is a interesting pic. The car in the foreground appears to be a 1948 Humber Pullman Mk11 . The reg. plate on the Humber has three letters and numbers ?
__________________
1940 cab 11 C8
1940 Morris-Commercial PU
1941 Morris-Commercial CS8
1940 Chev. 15cwt GS Van ( Aust.)
1942-45 Jeep salad
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 17-06-18, 11:08
lynx42 lynx42 is offline
Rick Cove
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Paynesville, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 1,863
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Kelly View Post
That is a interesting pic. The car in the foreground appears to be a 1948 Humber Pullman Mk11 . The reg. plate on the Humber has three letters and numbers ?
You are right, Mike definitely a 1948-1951 Humber Pullman Mk.11 so the photo must be post 1948. The car behind it iis a 1935 Ford (Model 48) sedan.

The rego number on the Humber is WLA-337 which is a South Australian number.

Click image for larger version

Name:	1948-1957-humber-super-snipe-pullman-ii-iv-3608_3748_969X727.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	117.6 KB
ID:	100352

Regards Rick.
__________________
1916 Albion A10
1942 White Scoutcar
1940 Chev Staff Car
1940 F30S Cab11
1940 Chev WA LRDG "Te Hai"
1941 F60L Cab12
1943 Ford Lynx
1942 Bren Gun Carrier VR no.2250
Humber FV1601A
Saracen Mk1(?)
25pdr. 1940 Weir No.266
25pdr. Australian Short No.185 (?)
KVE Member.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 17-06-18, 21:20
Mike Cecil Mike Cecil is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cody, Wyoming, USA
Posts: 2,365
Default Post 48

I don't know what the original caption for the image said, but HMAHS Oranje was returned to civilian service in late 1945, so the image has no relation to the transfer of patients by Aust ambulances from that vessel.

The ambulances shown (Aust No.1 and Aust No.2) plus some jeeps, all remained in service in the immediate post-war period, with the CMP Aust No.2 not being disposed of until the 1960s. Jeeps, also, were finally disposed of in the early 1960s, so a date of post 1948 (after the number plate on the Humber was issued) fits well with the MVs visible in the image.

Mike
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 17-06-18, 21:32
David Dunlop David Dunlop is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Posts: 3,384
Default

Immediately aft of the jeeps there seems to be a vehicle with an open body with people standing in it, followed by what looks like a large mass of people walking. Could this be a postwar parade?

If so, what sort of postwar parades were going on that might have involved such a large contingent of ambulances?

Quite a few people standing forward between parked vehicles to watch. That could support a parade, or, another possibility could be a local civil emergency that these military ambulances were responding to.

David
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 18-06-18, 10:18
Alastair Thomas Alastair Thomas is offline
F60S
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Writtle, UK
Posts: 126
Default British army Champ

In the 1960s my Father accompanied elements of the British army into the Libyan desert for training. Here is a picture of one of their vehicles; an ambulance variant of the Champ.
Alastair
F60S
Attached Thumbnails
Champ ambulance.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 18-06-18, 23:03
Richard Coutts-Smith Richard Coutts-Smith is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Barnawartha, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 1,235
Default

Hi Alastair,
That is a great photo, terrific colour quality as well. Two Humbers in the background is a bonus,
Not sure about the aerodynamics....
Rich.
__________________
C60S
Austin Champ x 2
Humber 1 Ton & Trailer
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 19-06-18, 09:36
lynx42 lynx42 is offline
Rick Cove
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Paynesville, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 1,863
Default

This jeep ambulance is one of many in New Guinea which were converted to ambulance mode.

Click image for larger version

Name:	Jeep Ambulance.jpg
Views:	3
Size:	134.4 KB
ID:	100370

My father was in charge of the vehicles with the 2/7th Independent Co (Commandos) in New Guinea and Papua and I remember him saying that it was an official order to convert all jeeps to carry stretcher patients, so I guess that this is how it was done.

Over to you Mike C.

Regards Rick
__________________
1916 Albion A10
1942 White Scoutcar
1940 Chev Staff Car
1940 F30S Cab11
1940 Chev WA LRDG "Te Hai"
1941 F60L Cab12
1943 Ford Lynx
1942 Bren Gun Carrier VR no.2250
Humber FV1601A
Saracen Mk1(?)
25pdr. 1940 Weir No.266
25pdr. Australian Short No.185 (?)
KVE Member.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 19-06-18, 09:41
Alastair Thomas Alastair Thomas is offline
F60S
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Writtle, UK
Posts: 126
Default Ambulance

I'm not good at interpreting insignia and was hoping someone would help. I do remember my Father accompanying both the 6th RTR and the Green Howards on desert trips.
On one trip a Bedford 3 tonner ran a big end South of El Agheila so they left a sergent REME and a driver with it with the promise that they would pick them up on the way back if the truck could not be fixed. When they got back the truck had already left and got back to Tripoli. They had used cigarette packet foil as a temporary repair to the big end bearing.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 19-06-18, 11:47
Mike Cecil Mike Cecil is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cody, Wyoming, USA
Posts: 2,365
Default

Interesting, Rick,

From part 1 of my article:

"While both the No.1 and No.2 ambulances were very capable, they simply could not operate far enough forward in jungle operations to retrieve the wounded. The answer was to adapt the ubiquitous ‘Truck ¼ ton’ as a forward
ambulance. Able to negotiate narrow, muddy jungle tracks like no other vehicle on the inventory, the humble jeep became the ambulance of choice in jungle operations. Various configurations, both official and unofficial, were designed for the jeep, the final one being a two-tiered tubular framework that converted the standard jeep into a three-stretcher ambulance. It was officially designated the ‘Gear, Supporting Stretchers Light (Aust) No.3’, and was easily installed by a forward area workshop. The ‘jeep ambulance’ literally performed life-saving work – many a wounded Digger was transported to the primary care of a casualty clearing station by a jeep ambulance."

The image looks similar to a No.3 stretcher frame, as mentioned above, with the external stowage on the jeep adapted to fit.

Mike
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 06-10-18, 13:51
Lionelgee's Avatar
Lionelgee Lionelgee is offline
Lionel G. Evans
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bundaberg - Queensland, Australia
Posts: 719
Default Got One - at last!

Hello All,

After an eight year search and a couple of disappointments I have a 1963 Land Rover 2A Ambulance sitting at my home. After some research and links with a number of people I have obtained photographs of the ambulance during its military service. I also have met one of the Ambulance's former medics.

I took the liberty to give the ambulance a name... "Lazarus". This is because it has had a hard life since its military days to the extent it will require a LOT of work to bring it back to fine fettle.

Part of the after military life involved trips along beaches. Unfortunately this did not involve being hosed off after such trips. The result is a "Swiss Cheese" effect where there are more rust holes than metal in the bulkhead/firewall. I took a round trip of 8 hours last weekend to secure a replacement bulkhead.

The engine will need a rebuild. When I pulled out the dipstick it brought up a nice yoghurt coating. All in all it is a "long-term" project.

Its Army Registration Number (ARN) according to the nomenclature plates was 112-211. The vehicle was attached to the 11th Field Ambulance Transport The cabin doors still have a stencil showing "11 FD AMB TPT".

The last photograph is an one of the "in-service" shots. The bloke sitting on top of the ambulance is Chris; and he paid had a reunion with his old ambulance here at home about a month ago.

Kind regards
Lionel

Click image for larger version

Name:	Home 1.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	628.6 KB
ID:	102710 Click image for larger version

Name:	Home 2.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	553.1 KB
ID:	102711 Click image for larger version

Name:	Ambulance Pick-up (2) July 15th 2018.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	397.8 KB
ID:	102712 Name:  Chris Ambo In-Service 112-211.jpg
Views: 307
Size:  64.1 KB
__________________
1940 Chevrolet MCP with Holden Built Cab (30 CWT).
1935 REO Speed Wagon.
1963 Series 2A Army Ambulance ARN 112-211
Series III ex-Military Land Rovers x 2

Last edited by Lionelgee; 06-10-18 at 14:25.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 08-10-18, 08:49
Paul Dutton Paul Dutton is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: NORTH WEST UK
Posts: 256
Default

Unusual on the jeep picture. The British ambulance jeep moved the rear wheel to the front grill, better use of space as two stretchers can fit on the bottom, two on the top and if need be, one across the bonnet (hood&#128540
__________________
BETTER TO BURN OUT THAN FADE AWAY.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 08-10-18, 10:05
Richard Farrant's Avatar
Richard Farrant Richard Farrant is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 3,634
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Dutton View Post
Unusual on the jeep picture. The British ambulance jeep moved the rear wheel to the front grill, better use of space as two stretchers can fit on the bottom, two on the top and if need be, one across the bonnet (hood&#128540
As the Australian jeep ambulances were working in the jungles of New Guinea, putting the spare wheel in front of the radiator would inhibit cooling in a hot climate and slow speeds.
__________________
Richard

1943 Bedford QLD lorry - 1941 BSA WM20 m/cycle - 1943 Daimler Scout Car Mk2
Member of MVT, IMPS, MVG of NSW, KVE and AMVCS
KVE President & KVE News Editor
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 17-12-19, 02:27
rupert condick rupert condick is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: australia
Posts: 55
Default Australian ambulances

Hi Lionel
Makes used in Australia,
Dodge,International, Austin,Ford, Chevrolet,GMC.
overseas,
could be anything,
Morris commercial,
I will see if I can attach some pics, I am not good on makes.

Click image for larger version

Name:	ambulance 3.jpg
Views:	2
Size:	269.1 KB
ID:	110840 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_7264.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	484.0 KB
ID:	110841 Click image for larger version

Name:	ambulance 1.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	325.9 KB
ID:	110842 Click image for larger version

Name:	063838--2-_2.jpg
Views:	5
Size:	630.7 KB
ID:	110843


regs Rupert
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 17-05-22, 13:30
Konstantin Chernov Konstantin Chernov is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Ukraine, Dnepr city
Posts: 31
Default

In these photos - the Australian army ?
1.Chevrolet M1941. The numeric index is unknown to me.
2.British Ford E018T ?
3.Chevrolet CC60L.
Attached Thumbnails
1png.jpg   2png.jpg   png.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 17-05-22, 18:15
Richard Farrant's Avatar
Richard Farrant Richard Farrant is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 3,634
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Konstantin Chernov View Post
In these photos - the Australian army ?
1.Chevrolet M1941. The numeric index is unknown to me.
2.British Ford E018T ?
3.Chevrolet CC60L.
From their hats, I would say New Zealand Army
__________________
Richard

1943 Bedford QLD lorry - 1941 BSA WM20 m/cycle - 1943 Daimler Scout Car Mk2
Member of MVT, IMPS, MVG of NSW, KVE and AMVCS
KVE President & KVE News Editor
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 18-05-22, 04:02
rupert condick rupert condick is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: australia
Posts: 55
Default

hi
nice pictures Of the "British American Ambulance Corps" note this has been painted over.

One of the drivers examines the name of the donor of an ambulance donated to 2 NZEF. Ten ambulances from the USA (Anzac War Relief Funds Board) were handed over by the Hon. F Waite, Overseas Commissioner to the NZ Patriotic Fund Board, to Brigadier K McCormick, DSO, ADMS. Taken at Maadi circa 1 July 1941 by an official photographer.

regs
Rupert
Attached Thumbnails
mini_magick20220518-1-m9g27e.jpeg  
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 20-05-22, 09:23
Konstantin Chernov Konstantin Chernov is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Ukraine, Dnepr city
Posts: 31
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Farrant View Post
From their hats, I would say New Zealand Army
Thank you. Did I identify the vehicles correctly ?
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 20-05-22, 09:31
rupert condick rupert condick is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: australia
Posts: 55
Default

hi I think you are correct fords and chevy's
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Australian Army F250's Brett Nicholls Post-war Military Vehicles 21 25-11-17 06:10
Australian Army Lang The Sergeants' Mess 7 29-08-13 17:12
Australian Army in the Sandpit Rusty The Armour Forum 2 02-02-12 16:02
Australian Army Howitzer. Little Jo The Gun Park 3 18-08-11 03:59
Life In The Australian Army Bob Moseley (RIP) The Sergeants' Mess 1 01-11-07 14:56


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 15:16.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016