| 2nd Health Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2000 - Today |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Combat health support |
| Role | Health Support |
| Size | One battalion |
| Part of | 2nd Brigade (Australia) |
| Garrison/HQ | Gallipoli Barracks |
| Mascot(s) | Wolf |
| Anniversaries | 1 March |
| Insignia | |
| 2nd Health Battalion |
 Public Logo of the 2nd Health Battalion - Brisbane |
| Unit colour patch |
 The Colour Identification Patch of the 2nd Health Battalion. |
The 2nd Health Battalion (2HB) is an Australian Army unit of the 2nd Health Brigade. It is based at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera, Queensland. The battalion is a rapidly deployable unit to provide field medical support for land-based forces. This included initial wound surgery, resuscitation and medium to high intensity nursing care, (surgical resuscitation) and medium to high intensity nursing care in the area of operations.[1]
The battalion was raised as the 2nd Health Support Battalion on 1 November 2000 from the 2nd Field Hospital, the Dental Unit of the Defence Corporate Support Office in Brisbane and the 4th Preventive Medicine Company.[2] In November 2011, the battalion was renamed the 2nd General Health Battalion.[3]
The battalion consisted of two surgical companies, a logistical support company, a preventative medical company, a dental company, a shock trauma platoon and a battalion headquarters. [1]
In February 2022, following the disbandment of 2GHB as part of the Army's restructure of its health battalions, four new health battalions were formed that were to be placed under the command of the 2nd Health Brigade.[4][5]
Following the Health restructure, 2nd Health Battalion gained Close Health, and Health Support capability along with existing General Health assets. On the 3rd of March 2023, the 4 Australian Army Health Battalions were placed under the central command of 2nd Health Brigade with the intent to establish a central health command and unify the 4 battalions across Australia. [6]
11th Close Health Company (B Company)[]
The 11th Close Health Company is the sub-unit of the 2nd Health Battalion responsible with the Integral Medics, Role 1 treatment teams and Medical Evacuation support of units of 7 Brigade and that of wider Eastern Australia. Founded March 1, 1916 as the then 11th Field Ambulance[7] as part of the Third Australian Division. Its primary function was to provide medical support to troops in the field during World War I. It since undertook several name changes becoming now known as the 11th Close Health Company, but still serves a role identical to that of a hundred years prior.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "2nd General Health Battalion". http://www.army.gov.au/Who-we-are/Divisions-and-Brigades/Forces-Command/17th-Combat-Service-Support-Brigade/2nd-General-Health-Battalion.
- ↑ Maj General John Pearn (Retd). "History of 2HSB". Australian Army. http://www.army.gov.au/2hsb/h_history.html.
- ↑ "The Australian Army in Profile 2011". Australian Army. p. 59. http://www.army.gov.au/Our-history/~/media/Files/Our%20history/Army%20In%20Profile%202011/AIP_2011.pdf.
- ↑ Chief of Army Lt Gen Richard Burr (3 February 2022). "Chief of Army Order of the Day - the raising of the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Health Battalions". https://www.army.gov.au/our-news/speeches-and-transcripts/chief-army-order-day-raising-1st-2nd-3rd-and-4th-health-battalions.
- ↑ Richardson, Capt Annie (3 March 2022). "‘Centre of excellence’ : Health battalions raised to form new brigade". Canberra: Department of Defence. p. 3. ISSN 0729-5685. https://downloads.realviewdigital.com/pdf/army-news/march-3-2022.pdf.
- ↑ https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2023-03-03/new-health-brigade-army
- ↑ "11th Field Ambulance – History". https://www.raamc.org.au/web/11fda/index.php?History.
The original article can be found at 2nd Health Battalion (Australia) and the edit history here.