Call Sign
VAMPIRE
Post Vietnam
1 Heath Battalion Patch
Image supplied by 1HB
THE LEGEND OF THE VAMPIRE LIVES ON
1968 –
1 Field Hospital, 1 Health Support Battalion, 1 Close Health Battalion
and
1 Health Battalion
Over 50 years of History
The 1st Australian Field Hospital was raised in Vung Tau Vietnam on 1 April 1968
1 Fd Hosp, 1HSB, 1 CHB and 1HB have retained the 1 April as the anniversary of the unit’s raising and we are proud to commemorate over 50 years of continuous service to the Australian Defence Force and our Nation
TIMELINE
1971
On return to Australia from Vietnam in December 1971, 1 AFH relocated to Manunda Lines, Ingleburn NSW. The unit was re-designated as 1st Field Hospital and operated as a closed hospital facility.
1995
In December 1995, 1st Field Hospital closed its doors at Ingleburn, and in January 1996 re-opened as a purpose built facility at Holsworthy Barracks.
2000
On 16 August 2000, 1 Field Hospital was renamed 1 Health Support Battalion.
2011
In November 2011, the unit underwent another name change and became 1st Close Health Battalion
2022
4 February 2022 the unit name 1st Close Heath Battalion was retired, the flag formally lowered, and the flag of the 1st Health Battalion was raised.
POST VIETNAM DEPLOYMENTS
Since the Vietnam War, unit personnel have been deployed on numerous peacekeeping, warlike operations throughout Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region:- including Namibia, the Gulf, Iraq, Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Fiji, Iraq and Afghanistan
Operational History
OP SUMATRA ASSIST - Indonesia
OP WARDEN – East Timor
OP TAMAR - Rwanda
OP ASTUTE – East Timor
OP SLIPPER - Afghanistan
OP OKRA – Iraq and Syria
OP ANODE – Solomon Islands
OP AUGURY - Global
OP ACCORDION – Middle East Area of Operations
OP ACCORDION – AFGHAN NEO
OP HIGHROAD - Afghanistan
OP ASLAN – South Sudan
OP MAZURKA – Sinai Peninsula
OP PALADIN - Israel
OP CATALYST - Iraq
OP PAKISTAN ASSIST - Pakistan
OP PHILIPPINES ASSIST - Philippines
OP RENDER SAFE – South West Pacific
OP RESOLUTE – Australian Maritime Region
OP FIJI ASSIST – Fiji
OP TONGA ASSIST – Tonga
OP PNG ASSIST - PNG
List provided by 1 Health Battalion, March 2022
RECENT DOMESTIC OPERATIONS
Support to the Australian community, has occurred in urban, rural, regional, remote and indigenous communities.
OP COVID19 ASSIST - support to AS Gov and community across Australia
OP AGED CARE ASSIST – support to Aged Care Sector across Australia
OP FLOOD ASSIST – support to flood regions of NSW and QLD
OP YASI ASSIST – cyclone relief FNQ
OP BUSHFIRE ASSIST – support to AS community following Bushfire crisis
In addition there have been numerous International Engagement and Security Cooperation tasks, particularly within the Indo Pacific and South West Pacific Region. While these don’t qualify as Operational they certainly involve our people being deployed overseas and doing their job.