On the 19 January 1915, the Minister for Defence informed the Secretary, Department of External Affairs that approval had been given for the following staff:-
One Captain (A.A.M.C.), one Sergeant, one Corporal, four men as wardsmen and orderlies, also one Matron and five nursing sisters; the Medical Superintendent to be under the supervision of the High Commissioner.
Upon arrival in England, the Medical Superintendent was to purchase the necessary equipment for 150 patients in the summer, and 60 in the winter, and with his staff furnish and equip the house in readiness for use by Australian troops in the spring. The official date of opening was 4 June 1915.
The first Commanding Officer appointed for the Hospital Captain M. V. Southey, A.A.M.C. and his staff left Australia by the transport "Runic", due to arrive in England on, or about April 15, 1915, and the Matron Miss E. Gray, and five nurses, left by R.M.S. "Osterley", to arrive in England on, or about 27 March 1915. The names of the original nursing sisters were:- Senior Sister Pratt, and Sisters Mills, Chadwick, Kidd and Hayes, all of whom had been chosen specially for their fitness for the positions.
The work of the Depot was laid down in the following terms:
- Rest home to recuperate after sickness or injury, for officers, warrant officers, N.C.O.'s and rank and file.
- Depot for collecting invalids for return to Australia.
The work of the Depot became far wider as the War progressed, and in time all normal hospital functions were assumed, and by August 1918,it had been made a Centre for eye, ear, nose and throat diseases. It also maintained an Electrical Department where many hundreds of "Skiagrams" (early X-rays) were made. There were also massage and Dental Departments. By April 1918, the nominal roll of nursing staff had risen to 74. In May 1919, Mr Billyard-Leake offered "The Red House", Harefield for rental for accommodation for hospital personnel. By this time, the Hospital was contained in large huts, dispersed throughout the grounds of Harefield Park, there being nearly fifty buildings in use including workshops, garages, stores, messes, canteens, recreation hall, billiards room, cook house detention room and mortuary.
Amenities included the Red Cross Store which was opened in November 1916; the Patients Canteen - opened and conducted by a Committee comprising Mrs Charles Billyard-Leake, Miss Letitia Billyard-Leake, the Hon Mrs Lambart, Mrs Stedall and Miss Stedall, Mrs Evans, and Mrs Vennings - all ladies of the surrounding district. There was also a Billiard Room, Writing Rooms, and a Recreation Hall where daily concerts were given by visiting parties, as well as regular film shows. Mrs Gregg-MacGregor (wife of Chaplain Captain Cregg-MacCregor) managed the Library. Trips to London were arranged and paid for out of Canteen funds, and Mrs Vennings and other ladies made their cars freely available for country trips, picnics, and Journeys to and from the railway station, (both for patients and visitors to the Hospital).
An Orderlies Canteen was formed in January 1916 for the use of all ranks below sergeant. Suitable premises were found and converted in Canteen, Billiard Room, and Reading and Writing Rooms.
A small magazine was produced in November 1916, to be followed in December 1916 by the first issue of the official magazine, the Harefield Park Boomerang, issued under the editorship of the Director of Recreation and Study. It was subsequently published irregularly, until it was finally established as a monthly journal, and ran until the final issue - the Victory Number, December 1918.
Many awards and decorations were made at No.1. AAH, and one of note was that made to Staff Nurse Corkhill. A.A.N.S. The entry in the War Diary August 1918, Appendix III, (Sept 10, 1918) reads: Extract from A.I.F. List No. 375, 27.8.18 re S/Nurse E P Corkhill (now attached to No 1 A.A.H.).
“War Office 23rd August 1918. His Majesty the King has been pleased to approve of the award of the MILITARY MEDAL to the undermentioned lady for distinguished service in the Field, as recorded: Staff Nurse Pearl Elizabeth Corkhill, AANS; "For courage and devotion on the occasion of an enemy air raid. She continued to attend to the wounded without any regard to her own safety, though enemy aircraft were overhead. Her example was of the greatest value in allaying the alarm of the patients."”
The Hospital and its staff came under great strain during the outbreak of epidemic influenza with its pneumonic complications in 1918, and its highest monthly number of deaths was experienced in October/November 1918 due entirely to the epidemic.
On Anzac Day, April 1918, the third anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, a Commanding Officers Parade of Staff and walking patients was held, and was attended by some 337 personnel. After inspection by the Commanding Officer, the whole marched through Harefield Village to the Parish Churchyard, headed by the Unit Band. Near the graves of the Australian soldiers, the troops were drawn up in formation of a hollow square under the Australian flag. The two Chaplains attached to the Hospital conducted the Memorial Service. Many prominent residents, of Harefield attended the service, together with friends of the hospital, and the nursing staff. The decoration of the graves with flowers was arranged by the wife of the Commanding Officer (Lieut Col Yeatman) and many ladies helped and contributed to the cost of flowers, or gave them from out of their own gardens.
The Hospital continued to function until January 1919, when it was gradually closed down. The Commanding Officer Lieut Colonel Yeatman was awarded the O.B.E. (Military Division) for his services.
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