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Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - Hospital Ship Kanowna

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Overview

Built in 1902, Kanowna was of 6,993 gross registered tons (grt), owned by the Australian United Steam Navigation Company (AUSN) and used on the Sydney to Fremantle passenger service. In September 1914 she was requisitioned to take about 1,000 soldiers to German New Guinea as part of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force.

On 1 June 1915 Kanowna was used as Troopship A61, to Egypt. After completion of this run, she continued to Britain where she was modified as a hospital ship. In her new livery she worked around the Mediterranean and made regular voyages back to Australia carrying up to 452 seriously wounded with a medical staff of 88. This was her role for most of the next four years. In October 1918 Kanowa was used to collect some 900 British and Commonwealth POWs released by Turkey. She was returned to her owners on 29 July 1920.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-001

Inscriptions and markings

During World War I, the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) suffered 58,339 deaths and 151,948 wounded. To help deal with so many injured and sick soldiers, the Australian Army Medical Corps was expanded. Australian soldiers served. They also worked in Australian hospitals for returned soldiers. Separate entries cover the Regimental Aid Post, the Field Ambulance, Casualty Clearing Stations, Base Hospitals (General, Stationary and Auxiliary), Command Depots and Convalescent Depots, Ambulance Trains, Ambulance Barges, and Hospital Ships.
In 1914, Australia was well supplied with modern passenger ships available to convert to hospital ships. During World War One, after an initial experience, five liners were used at various times as troop ships and as hospital ships, with two being lost to submarine attack.

Contextual Information

The medical evacuation chain and medical services are presented in a separate section of the World War 1 Galleries. Artefacts relating to medical services, the treatment of wounds, casualty recovery are also found throughout the Galleries. Individual stories of doctors, nurses, stretcher bearers are also found throughout the Museum. The Prisoner of War Gallery highlights the degree of medical improvisation and professional skills that saved many lives on the Thai Burma Railroad.

Links to additional resources

WW1 Medical Units

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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