Dunkley’s Mobile Hospital

If ever there was a man entitled to a Distinguished Service Order it was Doc Dunkley. Yet apart from an MID, his service went unrecognized. This was a great injustice.

Corporal (Cpl) Jack Carey
2006

Capt Roger Dunkley, the 2/2nd‘s popular Medical Officer.

Capt Roger Dunkley, the 2/2nd‘s popular Medical Officer.
Original source unknown. Featured in Cyril Aryis, All the Bulls Men, 2006

The 2/2nd‘s Medical Officer, Captain (Capt) Roger Dunkley, did not lose a single patient in Timor.

After the Dili landing, 90 percent of the troops came down with malaria so he had the unit moved into the surrounding hills.

Despite adversity, he successfully treated Pte Keith Hayes who was seriously injured in the ration truck massacre and Pte Allan Hollow whose jaw was shot off.

After many moves, Dunkley’s small medical unit established a hospital at Ainaro. At its peak the unit cared for 100 men. Dunkley himself travelled to the wounded and brought them in.

He treated wounds and cases of dysentery, malaria, tropical ulcers and other diseases. When medical supplies arrived, Dunkley was able to provide quinine and basic care for locals.

In contrast, Japanese patrols shot their badly wounded. Walking wounded had to find their own way back to Dili and were often killed by Timorese.

Medical Officer Capt Roger Dunkley (front row third from right) with members of

Medical Officer Capt Roger Dunkley (front row third from right) with members of the medical section in front of his Dili hospital. The hospital always had to be ready to evacuate and in the course of the East Timor campaign had to move 26 times.
Courtesy Stuart Dunkley