SERVICE OVERSEAS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21555, 18 January 1940, Page 6

SERVICE OVERSEAS

New Zealand General Hospital

Despatch With Second Division By Telegraph—Press Asso-latlop WELLINGTON, January 17. Arrangements have been completed for the formation of the first New Zealand General Hospital and the first New Zealand Convalescent Hospital for service overseas attached to the Second New Zealand Division. As the names of these units indicate they will be the first New Zealand units of their kind to be in existence. In the last war New Zealand casualties requiring hospital treatment were admitted to British Army Hospitals. The staff of the two hospitals will be trained at Trentham. The requirements are:— General Hospital Medical officers 36 Nurses 80 Warrant officers 3 Sergeants 25 Corporals 24 Other ranks 188 Convalescent Hospital Officers 13 Other ranks 53 Officers and N.C.O.’s for the two hospitals will assemble at Trentham on February 7 and other ranks on February 14. More than 20 Otago doctors have volunteered for service in the hospitals which are to be established. The names of doctors from all over the Dominion have been forwarded to the National Emergency Committee, and this committee will select those who can be spared from civil life in each town and district. Those selected will then be recommended to the Army Department for service in the new hospitals. The hospitals will be modern institutions and will be equipped by the New Zealand Government. It is probable that each will house 1200 beds. The first selection of volunteers will be made this week, and those who are recommended for service overseas will be advised during the next few days. FIVE RECRUITS YESTERDAY There were five recruits, all single men, at the Timaru Defence Office yesterday for the Second Echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, bringing the total of South Canterbury enlistments to 513. A sitting of the Medical Board will commence at 9 o'clock this morning when about 22 men will be examined. A number of men will also be reexamined. Yesterday’s recruits were:— Robert George Bell. Timaru. Basil Alexander Mitchell. Timaru. Douglas Bruce Guthrie, Cave. Raymond George Woods, Morven, James Andrew Woods, Waitohi. RESPONSE ON WEST COAST By Telegraph—Press Association GREYMOUTH. Jonuary 17. Recruiting on the West Coast maintains a steady pace with effective registrations of 400, including about 100 enlistments here since the New Year. In addition another 40 men this week have offered for the special forestry corps.