2/5 Australian General Hospital

Lieutenant Doris (Mickey) Bell 

NFX171849

 

On 5 November 1942, Doris Bell - affectionately known as "Micky" to her mates - answered the call for trained nurses to assist in the care and comfort of our sick and wounded troops.

 

Doris was assigned to the 119 AGH. She served here for some time, and then was transferred with the Hospital to Goulburn, NSW.

 

It may have been here that she was reassigned to the 2/5 AGH as her next posting was to the Hospital, which had been established at Margaret River in the Northern Territory.

 

Doris was with the 2/5 AGH when they saw service in New Guinea.

 

In April 1945, the 2/5 AGH was posted to Morotai Island to establish a hospital to treat the wounded troops coming through the Japanese POW camps. Among them was 247 nursing sisters and AAMWS - Micky was one of them.

 

By the end of June, the hospital was caring for 1500 patients - and in July the count included about 100 Japanese troops who had been taken Prisoners of War.

Doris remained in the services and was discharged on 14 March 1947.

 

This information and photos were kindly given by her daughter - Sharon Richards - for reproduction in 2/5 AGH memorabilia.