World War 1, Middle East, 4 Brigade Field Ambulance, 1917

The 4th Field Ambulance was formed in Victoria, initially as part of the ANZAC Division. After Gallipoli it was assigned to the 4th Division along with the rest of the 4th Brigade, Initially the Australian Imperial Force did not include any dentists. Dental care of soldiers formed part of the duties of the force's medical officers. Dentists and dental mechanics who enlisted in the AIF also provided dental care on an unofficial basis. The AIF's experiences in the Gallipoli Campaign confirmed the need for proper dental care of soldiers. Between January and April 1916, 36 dental units were from qualified personnel already serving within the AIF. Each unit comprised a dentist, two dental mechanics and an orderly - all members of the Australian Dental Corps. By war’s end, 118 dental units had been formed These units were usually attached to base camps or specialist medical units and hospitals. Many formation headquarters had highly ranked dental staff officers to coordinate dental services. The Australian Imperial Force was the only Allied force of World War I to form specialised dental units, with dental teams in the other national armies being integrated into general-purpose medical units.