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Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - Hospital Ship Wandilla

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Overview

Built in 1912, Wandilla (7,785 grt) and her sister ship Warilda (7,713grt) were the newest and largest ships used as hospital ships by Australia during WWI. Wandilla was taken over by the Australian military for use as a troopship on 18 May 1915.As such she made two round trips from Australia to Egypt during which time, she was also used to carry wounded troops to Britain
She was then sent to Liverpool for conversion to a hospital ship. Wandilla made voyages around the Mediterranean and to both sides of Africa before being converted back to austerity accommodation to repatriate Australian troops after which she was refitted for passenger service

Historical information

After wartime service, the Wandilla progressed through several owners and name changes. Under Italian ownership, as the Arno, she was requisitioned as a hospital ship by the Regia Marina during World War II. The ship and its crew members were featured in the 1941 Italian propaganda film The White Ship (Italian: La nave bianca).
The Arno was sunk by aerial torpedoes from the Royal Air Force on 10 September 1942 about 64 km north-east of Ras el Tin, near Tobruk. It was claimed by the British, that a German radio message decoded on 31 August 1942 showed that the ship was being used to carry supplies to Benghazi in violation of the Hague Convention, making it a justified attack

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-005

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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