A wooden shield with a gold 1st Field Hospital badge on top. In the middle are two crossed rifles over a map of south vietnam. Written on the map is South vietnam, Saigon, Nui dat, Vung Tan. On the bottom of the shield there is a plaque which reads "Presented to the 1st Field Australian Hospital Association by Dorothy Mellowship in memory of her late husband WO1 "Blue" Mellowship - Vietnam 1970 - 197118cm x 23cmshield, 1st australian field hospital, south vietnam, saigon, nui dat, vung tan

Ill, maps, p.280non-fictionThis inside story of an Australian Field Hospital during the Vietnam War is told through a compilation of operational facts interspersed with the personal experiences of those who served and the patients who passed through the hospital doors, into their care.Call Sign VAMPIRE provides a window into the frenetic world of a military hospital in a war zone through evocative, sometimes confronting imagery. In this environment time was of the essence and life often hung in the balance.vietnam conflict - australian involvement, 1st australian field ambulance

Item in the collection of George Wheeler Life Member Bendigo RSL, refer Cat No 8263 for his RSL and Service history. The association between Wheeler and Dunstan is at this point unknown. Re Dunstan No 2162 and the Matchbox holder. John Sickler Dunstan enlisted on 23.7.1915 in the 4th reinforcements 21st Bn, embark for Eygpt 27.9.1915, embark for France 26.3.1916. For a period he acted as escort for General Birdwood from 7.4.1916, transfer to 1st ANZAC HQ, hospital with Gastritis 13.1.1917, attached to 3 Sqd RFC 8.3.1917, rejoin unit 13.5.1917, promoted to Sgt 23.6.1917, detached for duty with 4th Field Survey Coy RE 1.3.1918, rejoin unit 16.3.1918. Married in England 12.7.1919, embark for Australia 12.5.1920, discharged from the AIF 11.8.1920. He was awarded a Croix De Guerre on 14.7.1919. At a point in his records when with 1st ANZAC HQ he was in the Topographical Section. Trench Art, Matchbox Holder, brass engraved on three sides.Side i, " 2162 - Pte. J. S. Dunstan - 1 ANZAC CORPS" Side 2, "Engraved image of the Rising Sun badge". Side 3, Somme 1916/17"smirsl, trench art, brsl, match box