Extract of my book 'Karoola WWI no 1 Australian Hospital Ship' - Note from Official Record Australia War Memorial

(...) The Pathological Laboratory was another department which did excellent work, and for the long voyage it is absolutely essential on a Hospital Ship. The occurrence of cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis, malignant tertian malaria, diphtheria etc., where the early diagnosis and the early segregation of patients is so important n itself, justifies this department.

The scepticism from certain quarters as to the necessity of this department on a Hospital Ship is hard to explain, as on a long voyage where the patients are cut off from all contact with land for weeks at a time, and serious operations and serious medical problems have to be faced, every aid that the Medical man in charge can have is only what is due to men being returned to their home after being on service for their country.

No other country had ever before such a distance to carry their grievously wounded, and taking into consideration the fact that the ship had to load up with necessary food and supplies for such long voyages at their home ports, only taking in coal, water, fresh fruit and vegetables at the various ports of call, such wonderful service of devotion on behalf of our Australian wounded, and in keeping with Australian deeds performed on the Western Front, in Egypt and Palestine.

This story is a totally different war story to any other. The 'Karoola' brought home the wounded, the grievously ill, the blind, the mentally ill, and the limbless. For some, the long trip home from the battlefield had taken many months, and despite the loving care for their physical, mental and spiritual welfare from a dedicated staff of Surgeons, Nursing Sisters, and trained Medical Orderlies, they died at sea and were committed to the deep, some of these were almost home. (...)

By Rhonda Dolzan