2/1st Australian General Hospital
From WA Military Digital Library
The first contingent of Nursing Staff for the 2/1st Australian General Hospital left Australia on the 'Empress of Japan' on 9th January 1940. The hospital was established at Gaza Ridge, Palestine to support the 6th Division and was officially opened on 16th April, 1940. When the 6th Division moved from Palestine to Egypt, the nursing staff followed.
The 3rd February, 1941 edition of the Australian Women's Weekly magazine included a 3 page spread of photos of 141 nurses who would soon be embarking to serve overseas at the 2/1st and 2/2nd Australian General Hospitals. Their photos can be seen via this link. Women's Weekly 1940 Nurses Photo Collection