Harefield House Hospital (No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital)
Harefield Park House was used as the No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital from December 1914 until January 1919. Originally it was estimated that the house would accommodate fifty soldiers under winter conditions and 150 during spring and summer. At the height of its use it accommodated over 1,000 beds and had a large nursing and ancillary support staff.
Harefield, England. c.1915. Exterior of "Harefield House" the former stately home taken over by the No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital (1AAH) in 1915. C316226
Many awards and decorations were presented at No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital; one of note being to Staff Nurse Corkhill in September 1918. A magazine entitled the '"Harefield Park Boomerang" was produced from December 1916–December 1918. It is held in the AWM Research Centre serial collection.
Portrait of Staff Sister Pearl E. Corkhill MM, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), of Tilba Tilba, NSW. Awarded the Military Medal, 28 August 1918, aged 31. C234355
Sources
- History of Harefield Park, Harefield (No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital) 1914-1919 [1.7Mb PDF file]
- Memorial File of Research 646 (Official Record AWM338, Item 8).