David Gifford Croll papers

Photographs taken by David Gifford Croll and others while serving overseas with the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, during the First World War.

Croll embarked from Brisbane, on board HMAT Borda on 15 December 1914 as Second in Command of the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance. Initially encamped near Cairo, he and his medical staff were deployed to the Gallipoli Peninsula in May 1915.

There are many photographs of Gallipoli and Cape Helles, showing Australian, British and Indian and possibly New Zealand soldiers in the trenches and dugouts, as well as soldiers and depots of the Australian Army Service Corps (A.A.S.C.) and Turkish prisoners.

Later images show Australian soldiers in Egypt and Palestine; 2nd Light Horse and 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance encampments and scenes of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jaffa and other scenes of the Middle East. 

[Items OM78-70/1 -OM78-70/2]

This series contains maps of Gallipoli, Cairo and Ploegstreert, Belgium collected by Colonel David Gifford Croll, while serving with the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance during the First World War.

[Items OM78-70/3 to OM78-70/6]

[These items have not been digitised]

War diaries and notebooks kept by Colonel David Gifford Croll as officer in charge, 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance during the First World War.

The diaries and notebooks which take several forms, detail Croll's experiences at Enoggera training camp, the voyage to Egypt and activities with the Anzac Mounted Division. There are detailed accounts of his time on Gallipoli and the actions of his men to assist and evacuate the wounded from the front lines. Also included are reports, recommendations, procedures, a nominal roll and statistical reports of personnel.

[Items OM78-70/7 to OM78-70/10]

Greeting & visiting cards received by Colonel David Gifford Croll during the First World War.

[Items OM78-70/11 to OM78-70/17]

The cloth armband featuring a Medical Corps emblem - red cross surrounded by a yellow circle, was autographed by L H Foote and relates to service with the Australian Army Medical Service (AAMS) Northern Command, during the Second World War.

Leonard Hardwick Foote (1894-1947), an engineering student, was a member of the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance during the First World War and served at Gallipoli, Egypt and France until he was severely wounded in 1917. When he return to Australia he studied medicine at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1922. He became a resident doctor at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and then the Brisbane Hospital, commenced general practice at Greenslopes in 1923 and later moved to Vulture Street, South Brisbane.

In 1939 Foote re-enlisted & served with the Australian Medical Corps based at Headquarters, Northern Command, in Brisbane. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and became Assistant Director of Medical Services (A.D.M.S) holding this position until he was forced to retire through illness in 1943. 

[Item OM78-70/18]

This series contains correspondence relating to Colonel David Gifford Croll during and after his active service in the First World War.

Included is a typed letter to Headquarters dated 19.11.1918 regarding 16970 Pte. Weidenhofer, who was captured at Amman on 1.4.1918 but was suspected to have been in league with German military authorities.

Also included are fact-checking letters from colleague Major General Rupert Major Downes in relation to the Battle of Abd and the bad train evacuation after the Battle of Romani.

Some correspondence to and from Mrs Croll pertains to the donation of lantern slides depicting the Australian Army Medical Corps, Anzac Mounted Division. 

[Item OM78-70/19]

[This Item has not been digitised]

This series contains three items - an essay and two lectures - relating to the First World War in the Middle East, most particularly the provision of medical services for Commonwealth troops during the 1914-1918 war.

• Handwritten copy of an essay written by a Jewish girl of 15 years of age - regarding the entry of the first British troops into Richon-le-Zion, 16th November 1917.
• Extract from a rough draft for a lecture by David Gifford Croll after the 1914-1918 War. The extract covers the use of camels in providing medical services in the desert, prevention of disease through immunisation, the problem of mosquitos in spreading disease, and the importance of efficient casualty collection and evacuation procedures in any conflict.
• Draft lecture - A.A.M.C. (Australian Army Medical Corps) in the 1914-1918 War.

[Items OM78-70/20, OM78-70/21, OM78-70/22]

[These items have not been digitised.]

Typed draft chapters of a narrative account titled 'The History of the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance'. Includes a covering letter to the Collator, Medical Histories, Australian War Records Section, A.I.F. Headquarters, London.

[Item OM78-70/23]

Supplementary military intellegence relating to the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance during the First World War.

These are additional notes compiled by Colonel Croll during and after the war, which include chronology of movments of the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance, orders, maps, supplies and personnel. They appear to be additional papers to those held at the Australian War Memorial. Refer: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338699

[Items OM78-70/24 to OM78-70/36]

Reports and Orders to and from Colonel David Gifford Croll as commander 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, during the First World War. Included are: 

• Handwritten order for Croll and his unit to embark as soon as possible on the hospital ship Formosa for the island of Mudros. 
• Handwritten roll of personnel who were on Anzac.
• Recommendation to Headquarters for various medical arrangements for Ma'adi Camp, December 1915

[Items OM78-70/37 to OM78-70/40]

Reports and Orders to and from Colonel David Gifford Croll as commander 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, during the First World War.

Included are: Nominal rolls; Sanitary Officer's reports; operational orders; lists of stores; telegrams regarding evacuation of cases; translation of Turkish orders; list of wounded Turkish prisoners; the trialling of a sledge borrowed from the Lowland Field Ambulance; use of four new 'runner' sledges; reports on veneral disease; stretcher bearers going into action; and the 'Anzac Isolation Hospital'.

[Items OM78-70/41 to OM78-70/72 and OM78-70/74 to OM78-70/76]

Reports and Orders to and from Colonel David Gifford Croll as commander 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, during the First World War.

Included are:  Operational orders; memoranda regarding Light Horse and Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance; requests for dental treatment; 'Anzac Isolation Hospital'; the use of sandcarts, stretchers and cacolets; sanitation reports; operations by Desert Mounted Corps against Beersheba.

[Items OM78-70/77 to OM78-70/98]

Reports and Orders to and from Colonel David Gifford Croll as commander 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, during the First World War.

Included are: Narratives of movements, dispositions and work of medical units of Anzac Mounted Division; Orders for the advance on Es Salt and Amman; Withdrawal and evacuation of Divisional Collecting Station; Formation of the Main Dressing Station and Anzac Receiving Station during attack on Kabr Mujahid and Kabr Said Line; Reports on cholera, venereal disease, invaliding and classification, malaria, graves registration, burial of Mohammedan soldiers and reinforcements, food standards; Cadet training units, honours and rewards, medical examination of Australian Flying Corps; 1st Welsh Field Ambulance attachment; Chaytor's Force; Evacuations, enemy patients, the capture of Es Salt and Amman, surrender at El Kastal; Withdrawal and the movement of medical facilities; Operations and work carried out by 157th Indian Field Ambulance; Medical requirements of R.M.Os

[Items OM78-70/99 to OM78-70/114]

Reports, biographical notes, supplementary medical reports written and received by Colonel David Gifford Croll as commander 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, during the First World War.

Included are: Issues paper regarding the organisation of the Australian Medical services in the future; Biographical notes about deceased A.A.M.C. officers, including Captain D. D. Jamieson, Captain B. D. Gibson, Captain J. D. Buchanan, Lieutenant-Colonel H. K. Bean, Captain A. Verge, Captain D. D. Jamieson; Medical report detailing a voyage to the Dardanelles and back, during which an influenza epidemic broke out on the overcrowded ship; Supplementary notes on malaria in Anzac Mounted Division; Notes on venereal disease among the Australian Imperial Force; List of invalids walking on the hospital ship H.M.A.T. 'Dunluce Castle'; Summary of dental work undertaken during the voyage on the hospital transport Dunluce Castle.

[Items OM78-70/115 to OM78-70/122]

This series includes miscellaneous undated papers of Colonel David Gifford Croll; lists and notes identifying various birds observed around south east Queensland and a certificate of appointment as a Commander of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

[Items OM78-70/123, OM78-70/124, OM78-70/132]

[These items are not digitised]

This series includes miscellaneous booklets, newsletters and a souvenir program, retained by Colonel David Gifford Croll while serving with and commanding the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance during the First World War.

[Items OM78-70/125 to OM78-70/131]