Royal Australian Army Medical Corps

Infobox Military Unit
dates=1903 - present day
unit_name=Royal Australian Army Medical Corps


caption=Cap badge of the RAAMC
country=Australia
branch=Australian Army
motto="Paulatim" (Latin, "little by little")
anniversaries=July 1
nickname="Linseed Lancers"
ceremonial_chief=His Excellency Major General Philip Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC
ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel-in-Chief
notable_commanders=Major General Sir Neville Reginald Howse VC, KCB, KCMGThe Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (RAAMC) is the branch of the Australian Army responsible for providing medical care to Army personnel. The AAMC was formed in 1903 and has participated in every Australian Army operation. The "Royal" prefix was granted in 1948.

History

The Australian Army Medical Corps was formed on 1 July 1903 by combining the medical services of the Colonial armies. The Corps' first deployment was to the Second Boer War, where it provided a field hospital and a stretcher bearer company. The Corps has seen service during all subsequent Australian Army deployments, including wars, peacekeeping missions and exercises. The "Royal" prefix was granted in 1948.

Today the administration and command of the RAAMC is vested in the Director-General, who is responsible to the General Officer Commanding for the drill, discipline, efficiency, and statistics of the Medical Service. The Director-General is also responsible for the supply of medical and surgical field equipment, ambulance, and field transport, and that it is adequate and in good order, as far as funds at his disposal will permit.

Members of the RAAMC currently serve in the following units:
* 1st Health Support Battalion (Holsworthy, New South Wales);
* 2nd Health Support Battalion, (Enoggera, Queensland)
* 3rd Health Support Battalion (Keswick, South Australia)
* Army Logistic Training Centre, (Albury, New South Wales)
* 1st Parachute Surgical Team, (Ingleburn, New South Wales)
* 3rd Combat Services Support Battalion (Townsville, Queensland)
* 6th Combat Services Support Battalion, (Brisbane, Queensland)
* 9th Combat Services Support Battalion (Warradale, South Australia)
* Medical Centres, located at Kapooka, New South Wales, Bandiana, New South Wales, and Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
* Army Malaria Institute (Enoggera, Queensland).

Order of precedence

References

*M. Tyquin, "Little by Little: a Centenary History of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps", AMHP, Sydney, 2003.
*M. Tyquin, "Sir William 'Mo' Williams - creator of Australia's Army Medical Service", Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Sydney, vol. 84, 1998.
*A.G. Butler, "The Australian Army Medical Services: The Gallipoli Campaign", (2nd edition, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1938.
*M. Tyquin, "Gallipoli: the Medical War", University of New South Wales Press, Sydney, 1993.

ee also

*Australian Army Medical Units, World War I
*John Simpson Kirkpatrick
*Royal Army Medical Corps

External links

* [http://www.defence.gov.au/ARMY/RAAMC/default.htm RAAMC official website]