The 1st Australian Field Hospital was raised at Vung Tau South Vietnam on 1st April 1968 and withdrawn from Vietnam on the 25th November 1971.

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Prior to this, the site was occupied by 2 Field Ambulance (1966-1967), followed by 8 Field Ambulance (1967-1968).  When 1 AFH was raised in 1968, 8 Field Ambulance moved to the 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat where it remained until 1972. 

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Lt Col W.J. (Bill) Watson was the first commanding officer of  the 1st Australian Field Hospital. Lt Col Watson designed and produced working plans for the redevelopment and construction of the new Field Hospital, and earned him the nickname ‘Bill the Builder.’

        

Initially, staffing of 1st Australian Field Hospital comprised 18 officers and 107 other ranks. By early 1970, the medical support team in Vietnam had grown into an extensive and sophisticated organisation with the hospital comprising 63 buildings spread over a 3.2 hectare site within the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group, Vung Tau.

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The dedicated radio call sign  “Vampire” was allocated to 2 Field Ambulance, and its use continued with both 8 Field Ambulance and 1AFH. Colloquially, all three units became known as "Vampire Pad".

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For the Australian soldier, the name "Vampire Pad" was synonymous with ‘survival’.

 

The current fighting bat design, still in use today by 1 Health Battalion, was chosen by MAJGEN David Rossi AO Rtd during his tenure as Commanding Officer, 1 Field Hospital, when he ran a competition for a new logo. The winning design was created by Robyn Russell (wife of RSM George Russell).