2/5 Australian General Hospital

Captain Vivi Bignold

NFX412

On the 6 th May 1940, at the young age of twenty six – Vivi enlisted in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps.

And was among the first batch of Nurses to be attached to the 2/5 AGH and was posted to Ingleburn Army Camp for additional Army training and procedures.

In October 1940 a large contingent of the 2/5 Australian General Hospital, aboard the Queen Mary, sailed out of Sydney Harbour bound for overseas duty. Staff  Nurse V. Bignold  was one of these

Vivi  served with the 2/5 AGH for quite some time, and saw service in Greece, Crete, Eritrea, New Guinea, and on the Hospital Ship Manunda. 

Vivi was later posted to the 2/12 Australian General Hospital, sailing on the Hospital Ship Manunda, calling in at Morotai Island on the way to Balikpapan.

This gave her a chance to ‘catch up’ with her mates from the 2/5 AGH, which at that time was stationed on Morotai Island.

Vivi was discharged on 12 November 1946, with the rank of Captain

Acknowledgement:

This information, with photos, was given by Vivi Bignold, with permission to reproduce same on the  2/5 AGH Memorabilia Disk and Website -- 2006