Medical Services

Whenever Australians have been involved in military conflict they have been accompanied by a medical service. However, these women and men have often been hidden amongst the records and not given the prominence they deserve. The personal documents of anyone serving in a medical capacity during any time period are indexed on this page. Group photos and documents will be indexed under the Group Photos and Documents tab on this page.

Timeline for Women

1899 - Nurses accompanied the Colonial Regiments and served during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War.

1903 - Formation of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) as a part of the Australian Army Medical Corps and a reserve force under the umbrella of the Citizen Military Force. It comprised of part time, volunteer civilian nurses and aimed to prepare them for immediate duty at the Base Hospitals and Field hospitals if the event of a National Emergency.

1914 - All trained nurses were encouraged to volunteer to serve overseas as well as within Australia by joining the AANS. Many volunteered with the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service in England, and private facilities. Nurses also volunteered with the Royal Australian Navy Nurses (RANN). The Red Cross and The Order of St John established the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs) who were trained in First aid and assisted the nurses in military hospitals. The majority of VADs served in Australia but a small contingent volunteered to serve in Britain and France alongside the British VADs. Voluntary Aid Detachment Enlistments

1928 - VADs transferred from the Red Cross/St John to be a part of the Australian Army Medical Corps.

1939 - Nurses volunteered with the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service (RANNS) and the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFNS). Women could also volunteer with the VADs. They could chose to serve overseas or within Australia.

1942 - VADs who were working fulltime with the military were renamed The Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS).

1943 - The new Defence Act was legislated to allow all members of the AANS and AAMWS to serve in the Southwestern Pacific Zone, which included New Guinea and the adjacent islands.

1946 - Nurses were posted to Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF).

1948 - The AANS became the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service (RAANS).

1951 - The RAANS and the AAMWS both merged into The Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC).

Present - The RAANC is a part of the Australian Regular Army and is open to women and men.

Timeline for Men

1861 - Doctors volunteered with the Colonial infantry, cavalry and artillery corps.

1899 - Doctors, surgeons, dentists and stretcher bearers accompanied the Colonial Regiments and served during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War.

1902 - Formation of the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) by amalgamating the medical capability of each of the States. It was a voluntary reserve force under the umbrella of the Citizen Military Force.

1914 - As men volunteered to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force to fight overseas, they were put into the AAMC if they had any medical experience or first aid training. They served wherever Australian soldiers served.

1948 - The AAMC became the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (RAAMC).

1970 - Male nurses were allowed to serve in the RAANC.

Present - The RAAMC is a part of the Australian Regular Army and is open to men and women.