17 April 1941 - Anzac nurses retreat from Pharsala

On this day in 1941, Australian and New Zealand nurses at the 1st New Zealand Field Hospital at Pharsala received orders to retreat south with their patients. This was due to the Germans having breached the Aliakmon-Olympus defence line.
As they departed by train, they had to leave behind much of their equipment.
At this time Pharsala was also the location of the 24th Australian Casualty Clearing Station.

Australian Unit Locations - 17th April
16th Brigade HQ - Larissa
17th Brigade HQ - Zarkos
19th Brigade HQ - Mikravalton
2/1st Battalion - Larissa
2/2nd Battalion - Tempe
2/3rd Battalion - Larissa
2/5th Battalion - Kalambaka
2/4th Battalion - Domokos
2/6th Battalion - Domokos
2/7th Battalion - Domokos
2/8th Battalion - Aliakmon River
2/11th Battalion - Kalambaka
2/1st Machine Gun Battalion - Tyrnavos
Thanks to Paul Sougleris of Greek Anzacs for his information on unit locations drawn from the official unit dairies.

Jim Claven 
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee
& Member, Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign Commemorative Council