World War 1, Middle East, Egypt, Cairo, Australian Army Nursing Service 1915

At the time of the outbreak of the war, there were two permanent British Army hospitals in Egypt that at the Citadel in Cairo, and a smaller one at Ras-el-Tin, overlooking the harbour of Alexandria. These, however, were equipped only on a peace footing, with 250 and 120 beds respectively.
To the aid of the handful of Medical Service men staffing the two military hospitals at the Citadel, Cairo, and at Ras-el-Tin, near Alexandria, came first of all the three East Lancashire Field Ambulances, forming part of the 42nd (Territorial) Division which landed in Egypt towards the end of September, 1914. Then followed early in December the Indian troops destined primarily to guard the Suez Canal, accompanied by their field ambulances and two complete General Hospitals, which were stationed one at Cairo and one at Alexandria. The New Zealand Imperial Force with its field medical contingent arrived in Egypt about the same time, and towards the end of the year the First Division of the Australian Imperial Force reached Alexandria, bringing with it five complete units of the Australian Army Medical Corps fully equipped.

Meanwhile, in Cairo the permanent Military Hospital at the Citadel had its bed accommodation at doubled, the number of beds eventually reaching 775. No. 1 Australian General Hospital, which had been established in the Heliopolis Palace Hotel on January 25 with 200 beds, and had expanded to 1,000. With the influx of sick and wounded , additional buildings in the neighbourhood were pressed into the hospital service, until over 6,000 beds were available. The Egyptian Government lent its civilian hospitals in Kasr-el-Aini and the Army hospital at Pont de Koubbeh. The Saidieh Government School building was also handed over, and within a few weeks had been opened as a hospital by the Red Cross Society with a complement of 200 beds which was rapidly increased.

The Anglo-American Hospital immediately placed its wards at the disposal of the British Army Medical Service. Later, a hospital was opened at Choubra for infectious cases. No. 5 Canadian Stationary Hospital was established in the Cavalry Barracks at Abbassieh; and the Egyptian Government Primary School, known as Nasrieh School, became a British Military Hospital with 584 beds. In addition there was No. 5 Indian General Hospital at Alexandria, which was expanded to 950 beds; and by No. 8 Indian General Hospital, which was installed at the Citadel Bijou Palace, and contained beds to the number of 900.