Anzac Commemorative Service - Caulfield Hospital (Formerly No 11 Australian General Hospital and Repatriation Hospital) - 2pm 24th April 2017

Caulfield Hospital Memorial stone, Anzac Service 2014, Courtesy of Nelson Brothers Funerals Facebook page 6 April 2017

It has come to our attention that Caulfield Hospital will hold its annual commemorative service at 2pm, Monday, 24th April. The service will take place near the front gates, in front of the memorial stone, at the hospital, 260 Kooyong Road, Caulfield.
Caulfield Hospital was formerly known as No. 11 Australian General Hospital (AGH) or later the Caulfield Repatriation Hospital. The original "Glen Eira" mansion (built in 1865) was purchased by the Department of Defence in 1915 and from 1916 opened its doors to treat injured and disabled soldiers from WWI. The hospital was renamed Caulfield Hospital in 1959. The Hospital has continued to maintain this strong link with the veteran community.

In 1966 a history of the hospital was published titled "The wounded warrior and rehabilitation: including the history of no. 11 Army General Hospital - Caulfield Rehabilitation Hospital". This was published by The Alfred Healthcare Group [Caulfield general Medical Centre] The book was written by Bruce Ford, a former Medical Director of Caulfield Hospital. Sadly the book has been long out-of-print but moves are afoot to possibly re-publish this important addition to our Anzac literature and history.
Lemnos Connection - Albert Jacka
No doubt many of the diggers who fought at Gallipoli and walked on Lemnos were given care at the Hospital after they returned from the war.
One of these was Captain Albert Jacka, who died at the Hospital, succumbing to the effects of his many war injuries, after collapsing duyring the St Kilda City Council meeting on 17 January 1932. Albert had come to Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign on a number of occasions, incluyding when ill. He was famously photographed on the Island in 1915. He was also paraded before visiting military dignitaries after his being awarded Australia's first Victoria Cross of the war.
You are Invited
With its grand military history as a Repatriation Hospital, Caulfield Hospital holds an annual ANZAC Service next to their Memorial Stone in the gardens of the hospital.The event is attended by local councillors & MPs, representatives of the Caulfield RSL, and patients and staff of the hospital and nursing home. It is a moving ANZAC Service with recitations and bugler. All are welcome to attend.
Images from the past
To illustrate No. 11 Australian General Hospital (AGH)'s important role in Australia's veteran and nursing history, below are some photographs of the Hospital held in the archives of the Museum of Victoria

The last image is that of a magazine - The Caulfield Cripple - produced as a souvenir Anzac Day Edition in 25 Apr 1917. It was produced to commemorate the second anniversary of the Anzac forces' landing in Gallipoli. It contains contributions from present and past hospital patients and staff members, including articles, poems and correspondence.
The following images of the Hospitals Memorial stone were taken by Georgia Pernitzis.

Thanks to George Pernitzis for letting me know about this service and to the Museum of Victoria, Glen Eira Rotary and Nelson Brothers Funeral Services for making some of this information available on-line.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Commitee