The Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps (RNZAMC) is a corps of the

New Zealand Army , image = New Zealand Army Logo.png , image_size = 175px , caption = , start_date = , country = , branch = ...

, the land branch of the

New Zealand Defence Force The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF; mi, Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa, "Line of Defence of New Zealand") are the armed forces of New Zealand. The NZDF is responsible for the protection of the national security of New Zealand and her realm, prom ...

(NZDF). The Medical Corps provides for the medical needs of soldiers, such as diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries. Medical personnel are part of almost all Army exercises and operations, and personnel work in conjunction with personnel from the

Royal New Zealand Dental Corps The Royal New Zealand Dental Corps (RNZDC) is a corps of the New Zealand Army. The corps was initially formed on 7 November 1915 as the ''New Zealand Dental Corps'' under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Hunter, as part of New Zealand's ...

and the

Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps The Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps (RNZNC) is a corps of the New Zealand Army. The corps was initially formed in 1915 from civilian nurses who volunteered for service during World War I, and who were granted honorary officer ranks. A Nursing ...

History

The New Zealand Medical Corps (NZMC) was established in May 1908 to provide a reserve of medical personnel should that be required in the event of war.National Library
First World War Medical Services
accessed November 2019. After the declaration of war in August 1914, the New Zealand government sent a small contingent of medical staff to Samoa to take over the hospital at Apia. The contingent was made up of four medical officers, two dental surgeons, 67 non-commissioned officers and seven nurses. As the war progressed and the number of casualties increased, it became apparent that more medical personnel were required to treat them. James Allen,

Minister of Defence A defence minister or minister of defence is a Cabinet (government), cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from coun ...

, offered to send medical personnel to a stationary hospital in Egypt, including eight officers and 50 nurses. New Zealand medical personnel went on to serve in Samoa, Egypt, Palestine, Gallipoli, France, Belgium, Serbia and Great Britain. Among the hospitals serving New Zealand personnel in Great Britain were No. 1 General Hospital, located at

Brockenhurst Brockenhurst is the largest village by population within the New Forest in Hampshire, England. The nearest city is Southampton some to the North East, while Bournemouth is also nearby, South West. Surrounding towns and villages include Beaul ...

in Hampshire;

No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital The No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital was a World War I military hospital in Walton-on-Thames, England. The hospital opened in 1915 by Compulsory purchase in England and Wales, requisitioning the essentially 15th century Mount Felix estate, a gra ...

Walton-on-Thames Walton-on-Thames, locally known as Walton, is a market town on the south bank of the Thames in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey, England. Walton forms part of the Greater London built-up area, within the KT postcode and is served by a wide ran ...

; and No. 3 General Hospital at

Codford Codford is a civil parish south of Salisbury Plain in the Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, England. Its settlements are the adjacent villages of Codford St Peter and Codford St Mary, which lie some southeast of Warminster. The two villages are on th ...

. No. 2 General Hospital came under the control of the

New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

in April 1916, and was located in the requisitioned 15th century Mount Felix estate until mid-1919. There were also another seven military hospitals of various types serving the Expeditionary Force in the UK, France, and Egypt. As part of the

2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

, three General Hospitals, three Field Ambulances, and a Convalescent Depot were dispatched to the Middle East (and 1 General Hospital and 5 Field Ambulance to the United Kingdom with the Second Echelon, temporarily) along with the remainder of the force. On 12 July 1947 (Gazette No. 39/1947) the NZMC was granted a Royal Warrant and became the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps (RNZAMC).

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 to 6 February 1952 as the wife of King George VI. She was the l ...

was the Colonel-in-Chief from 1977 to 2002. Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps banner at the Awapuni memorial rededication

During the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

, the Army maintained hospitals and field ambulances. In 1991, 2 (GH) Field Hospital, tracing its descent from No. 2 General Hospital originally formed at Walton-on-Thames, celebrated its 75th anniversary. The Forward Surgical Team was deployed to

East Timor East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-weste ...

while serving with

INTERFET The International Force East Timor (INTERFET) was a multinational non-United Nations peacemaking task force, organised and led by Australia in accordance with United Nations resolutions to address the humanitarian and security crisis that took ...

from 1999. The last Field Hospital was reorganised into 2nd Health Support Battalion in the mid-2000s, following an Australian example. The Battalion was located at

Linton Military Camp Linton Military Camp is the largest New Zealand Army base and is home to the Headquarters 1(NZ) Brigade. It is located just south of Palmerston North. History The land that the present Linton Military Camp stands on was purchased by the Governme ...

. In 2015 the 2nd NZ Health Support Battalion was superseded by the Joint Operational Health Group (JOHG). JOHG, in turn, in 2017 was superseded and the Deployable Health Organisation (DHO) was formed and its Headquarters is based in Linton Camp. The DHO forms an integral part of the Joint Services Group (JSG) which is Headquartered in Trentham Camp.

Director of Medical Services 1st NZEF 1914-1915

*Col W. J. Will VD 5 June 1914 – 27 August 1914 *Col James R. Purdy CBE, TD 27 August 1914 – 24 July 1915

Director General of Medical Services 1st NZEF 1915-1919

*Col (Later Maj Gen) Sir Robert. S. F. Henderson KCMG, CB 24 July 1915 – 28 March 1919 *Maj Gen Sir Donald T. McGavin CMG, DSO, CBE 28 March 1919 – 30 November 1924

Director General of Medical Services

*Col Russell Tracey-Inglis CBE, VD 1 December 1924 – 30 November 1929 *Col Joseph L. Frazerhurst VD 1 December 1929 – 30 November 1934 *Col (Later Maj Gen) Fred T. Bowerbank OBE, ED 1 December 1934 – 31 March 1947

Director of Medical Services 2nd NZEF

*Brig Kenneth MacCormick CB, CBE, DSO, ED 1 October 1940 – 10 May 1942 *Brig Harry S. Kenrick CBE, DSO, ED 10 May 1942 – 18 September 1942 *Brig Kenneth MacCormick CB, CBE, DSO, ED 18 September 1942 – 17 April 1943 *Brig Harry S. Kenrick CBE, DSO, ED 17 April 1943 – 22 May 1945 *Brig George W. Gower CBE, ED 22 May 1945 – 11 October 1945

Deputy Director of Medical Services 2nd NZEF

*Col Francis B. Edmundson OBE 11 October 1945 – 10 February 1946

Assistant Director of Medical Services 2nd NZEF

*Col Harry S. Kenrick CBE, DSO, ED 1 October 1940 – 9 May 1942 *Col Patrick A. Ardagh CBE, DSO, MC 10 May 1942 – 16 February 1943 *Col Frederick P. Furkert CMG 16 February 1943 – 15 June 1943 *Col Russell D. King CBE, DSO 15 June 1943 – 3 December 1944 *Col Russell A. Elliot OBE, ED 3 December 1944 – 11 October 1945

Senior Medical Officer 2nd NZEF

*Lt Col Victor T. Pearse 11 October 1945 – 31 December 1945

Consultant Physician 2nd NZEF

*Col James R. Boyd CBE, MC 10 February 1941 – 22 February 1945 *Col Jack D. Cottrell OBE 22 February 1945 – 26 May 1945

Consultant Surgeon 2nd NZEF

*Col Sir Thomas D. M. Stout KT, CBE, DSO, ED 10 February 1941 – 13 August 1945 No. 1 NZ General Hospital was originally established in Egypt as the No. 2 NZ Stationary Hospital. Late it was moved to England on the New Zealand Hospital Ship ''Marama'', in June 1916. After the unit has disembarked, it was deployed to Brockenhurst in the New Forest where it took over a hospital originally built for an Indian Division.

Commanding Officers of No. 1 NZ General Hospital ''Brockenhurst'' 31 July 1916-1919

*Lt Col E. J. O'Neil CMG, DSO, VD 1916-1918 (Still researching this section)

Commanding Officers of st NZ General Hospital 1940-1945

*Col A. C. McKillop 12 June 1940 – 10 June 1941 *Lt Col T. D. M. Stout (Later Colonel Sir T. D. M. Stout KT, CBE, DSO, ED) 10 June 1941 – 10 August 1941- Acting *Col D. Pottinger MC 10 August 1941 – 11 August 1944 *Col W. B. Fisher 11 August 1944 – 24 February 1945 *Col D. G. Radcliffe 24 February 1945 – 3 November 1945 No. 2 NZ General Hospital started its life, in New Zealand, as the New Zealand War Contingent Hospital. It opened its doors at Mount Felix, Walton-on-Thames on the 31st of July 1915.

Commanding Officers of No. 2 NZ General Hospital ''Walton-upon-Thames'' 31 July 1915-1919

*Lt Col T. Mill CMG, CBE 1916-1917 *Lt Col E. J. O'Neil, CMG, DSO, VD 1918-1919 No. 2 NZ General Hospital was dis-established in 1919

Commanding Officers of 2nd NZ General Hospital 1940-1945

*Lt Col F. M Spencer OBE, ED 1940-1943 *Col H. K. Christie CBE, ED 1943-1944 *Col I. S. Wilson OBE, MC and Bar, ED 1944-1945 *Col H. D. Robertson MBE 1945-1945 *Lt Col A. W. Owen-Johnston ED 1945-1945 2nd NZ General Hospital was dis-established in 1945

Commanding Officers of 3rd NZ General Hospital 1940-1946

*Col G. W. Gower CBE, ED 24 October 1940 – 22 May 1945 *Col J. E. Caughey 22 May 1945 – 17 October 1945 *Lt Col C. R. Burns 17 October 1945 – 9 January 1946

Commanding Officers of 4th NZ General Hospital 1940-1940

*Lt Col E. L. Button 31 July 1940 – 9 September 1940 *Lt Col H. S. Kenrick 9 September 1940 – 1 October 1940

Commanding Officers of 5th NZ General Hospital 1944-1945

*Lt Col D. G. Radcliffe 1 April 1944 – 20 February 1945 *Lt Col H. D. Robertson 20 February 1945 – 11 July 1945

Commanding Officers of 5th NZ General Hospital 1945-1945

*Lt Col K. B. Bridge 23 October 1945 – 12 December 1945

Commanding Officers of the Convalescent Depot 1945-1945

*Lt Col N. F. Boag 13 March 1940 – 27 December 1940 *Lt Col A. A. Tennent 27 December 1940 – 13 October 1941 *Lt Col A. L. de B. Noakes 13 October 1941 – 26 August 1945 *Maj J. W. Bartrum 26 August 1945 – 15 January 1945

Commanding Officers of the Haine Hospital (UK) 1945-1945

*Lt Col A. A. Lovell 9 April 1945 – 9 October 1945

Commanding Officers of the 4th Field Ambulance 1939-1945

*Lt Col J. H. Will 4 October 1939 – 3 September 1940 *Lt Col P. V. Graves 3 September 1940 – 13 October 1941 *Lt Col A. A. Tennent 13 October 1941 – 2 December 1941 *Lt Col R. D. King 8 January 1942 – 12 June 1943 *Lt Col J. K. Elliott 12 June 1943 – 30 April 1944 *Lt Col F. B. Edmundson 30 April 1944 – 8 December 1944 *Lt Col A. W. Owen-Johnston 8 December 1944 – 16 August 1945

Commanding Officers of the 5th Field Ambulance 1940-1945

*Lt Col H. S. Kenrick 10 June 1940 – 26 May 1940 *Lt Col J. M. Twhigg 26 May 1940 – 2 December 1941 *Lt Col J. D. Cottrell 12 December 1941 – 12 January 1942 *Lt Col J. P. McQuilkin 12 January 1942 – 15 December 1943 *Lt Col R. A. Elliott 15 December 1943 – 23 June 1944 *Lt Col J. M. Coutts 2 July 1944 – 31 May 1945 *Lt Col D. P. Kinnedy 5 June 1945 – 8 October 1945

Commanding Officers of the 6th Field Ambulance 1940-1945

*Lt Col W. H. B. Bull 14 May 1940 – 6 May 1941 *A/Lt Col J. L. R. Plimmer 6 May 1941 – 20 May 1941 *Maj W. B. Fishing (Acting) 22 May 1941 – 16 June 1941 *Lt Col N. C. Speight 16 June 1941 – 2 December 1941 *Maj R. A. Elliott (Acting) 15 December 1941 – 24 January 1942 *Lt Col F. P. Furkert 24 January 1942 – 16 February 1943 *Lt Col W. B. Fisher 22 February 1943 – 31 July 1944 *Lt Col W. Hawksworth 31 July 1944 – 18 June 1945 *Lt Col F. B. Edmundson 18 June 1945 – 8 October 1945

Commanding Officers of the Mobile Surgical Unit 1941-1942

*Maj F. P. Furkert 2 June 1941-17 January 1942 *Lt Col P. A. Ardagh 18 January 1942 – 27 February 1942

Commanding Officers of the 1st Mobile Casualty Clearing Station 1942-1945

*Lt Col P. A. Ardagh 27 February 1942 – 10 May 1942 *Lt Col L. J. Hunter 10 May 1945 – 8 October 1943 *Lt Col E. L. Button 8 October 1943 – 29 June 1944 *Lt Col A. G. Clark 29 June 1944 – 6 August 1945 *Lt Col A. W. Owen-Johnton 6 August 1945 – 13 October 1945

Commanding Officers of 2nd NZ General Hospital 1948-1975

*Lt Col E. L. Button OBE, ED 1948-1953 *Lt Col M. Williams ED 1953-1955 *Lt Col D. A. Ballantyne 1955-1958 *Lt Col R. C. S. Dick 1958-1962 *Maj G. P. Hallwright 1962-1963 *Lt Col C. M. Luke 1964-1965 *Lt Col A. W. Beasley CNZM, OBE 1965-1969 *Lt Col R. T. Aldrige 1969-1971 *Lt Col P. N. Leslie OBE, ED 1971-1975 2nd NZ General Hospital was renamed

Commanding Officers of 2nd NZ (GH) Field Hospital 1975-1990

*Lt Col P. N. Leslie OBE, ED 1975-1977 *Lt Col R. B. W. Smith 1977-1980 *Lt Col M. A. B. Allan 1980-1983 *Lt Col G. T. Martin 1983-1986 *Lt Col A. Thurston 1986-1990 The 1st Medical Support Team transitioned into 2nd NZ Field Hospital.

Commanding Officers of the 1st Medical Support Team 1987-1990

*Lt Col D. Roseveare 1987-1989 *Lt Col J. R. Gardner 1989-1990

Commanding Officers of 2nd NZ (GH) Field Hospital 1990-2004

*Lt Col D. M. A. Thurston 1990-1991 *Lt Col G. H. Jull ED RNZDC 1991-1994 *Lt Col D. LePage 1994-1998 *Lt Col Ma. Shaab RNZNC 1998-1999 *Lt Col B. Hewson 1999-2001 *Lt Col P. Curran 2001-Dec 2003 *Lt Col E. Williams 2003-2004 2nd NZ (GH) Field Hospital was dis-established and renamed

Commanding Officers of 2nd NZ Health Support Battalion 2004-2015

*Lt Col E. Williams 2004-2005 *Lt Col O. Kaihu 2005-2008 *Lt Col P. Hanrahan 2008-2011 *Lt Col W. (B.) Twiss 2011-2013 *Lt Col D. Beck 2013-2015

Commanding Officers of Joint Operation Health Group 2015-2017

*Lt Col S. Halligan, RNZAMC-December 2015-December 2016

Commanding Officers of Deployable Health Organisation 2017-Current

*Lt Col J. Hutchings, RNZIR-December 2016-January 2018 *Lt Col P. King, RNZE-January 2018-December 2019 *Lt Col T. Downey, RNZALR-December 2019-December 2021 *Lt Col McMillan, RNZAMC-December 2021-Current

Current training

Medical training for the entire New Zealand Defence Force is conducted at the Defence Health School which is located at Burnham Army Camp. All medics enlisted in the Army, Navy or Air Force are sent there for training. The medic training is conducted in two phases; Military Medical Technician and Medic. Within these two phases, students complete a Primary Health Care Phase and an Operational Phase. Each phase comprises an academic component and on the job experience. On the job experience is conducted at various camps, ships and bases within the NZDF. This is a total of two-and-a-half years of intensive training. After their training, medics are then posted to their respective camps and bases. Most gain overseas operational experience with the NZDF within a short time and become proficient and experienced across a wide range of pre-hospital environments. Medics can continue onto a range of degree or graduate level qualifications when their workload permits. The Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps also employs a wide range of other medical specialists from Doctors through to radiographers, environmental health officers and other health professionals.

Order of precedence

Notes

References

* Army Headquarters, Medical Section, ''The first fifty years : a commentary on the development of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps from its inception in 1908'', produced by the Medical Section, Army Headquarters. Wellington: 1958. * C.H. Kidman, ''A short history of the Royal Army Medical Corps, 1660 to 1918 and, The New Zealand Medical Corps, 1845 to 1945'', Wellington, N.Z.: Ministry of Defence?, 1972. * {{cite book, author=J.B. McKinney, title=Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45: Medical Units of 2 NZEF in Middle East and Italy, url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2MMed.html, publisher=Historical Publications Branch, place=Wellington, date=1952 Part of the 50-part series

Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45 The ''Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45'' is a 48-volume series published by the War History Branch (and its successors) of the Department of Internal Affairs which covered New Zealand involvement in the Second Wor ...

. * Stout, T. Duncan M.
Medical Services in New Zealand and the Pacific
part of ''The

''), Historical Publications Branch, Wellington: 1958. * Treanor, Ken, The staff, the serpent and the sword : 100 years of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps, WillsonScott Pub., Christchurch, c2008.

External links

Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps

Medical Corps A medical corps is generally a military branch or officer corps responsible for medical care for serving military personnel. Such officers are typically military physicians. List of medical corps The following organizations are examples of medica ...

New Zealand Medical Military units and formations established in 1947 Organisations based in New Zealand with royal patronage