Refshauge, Sir William Dudley (Major General, b.1913 - d.2009)

Collection relating to the Second World War and later service of Major General Sir William Dudley Refshauge, 1932-1990. Major General Sir William Dudley Refshauge served in various roles within the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps [RAAMC]during the Second World War, and in later years as both Deputy and then Directory-General of Army Medical Services.

Wallet 1:
- Program for commemoration service for the Battle for Wau (1943) at the Shrine of Remembrance dated 7 February 1993.
- Mention in despatches notification letter for (then) Captain Refshauge addressed to his mother.
- Letter from a ‘Colin G’ requesting to feature biography of Major General Refshauge in an upcoming publication, a drafted reply, and a draft of the biography.
- Letter dated 31 August 1966 to General Anton Muttukumaru (b.1908 - d. 2001) of the Ceylonese Army (High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand 1963-1966) asking the General to stay in contact and wishing him well for his next posting as Ceylonese Ambassador to Egypt.

Wallet 2:
- Three pay books.
- One brown pay book from the period of 21 December 1953 to 24 August 1959, including a receipt over two short pages for new dress uniform.
- One ochre coloured pay book for period 30 April 1951 to 29 October 1954.
- One yellow pay book covering the period 19 June 1959 to 25 September 1960.

Wallet 3:
- Sketch map showing track in the Wau Salamaua Lae area. Scale: 2 miles to 1 inch.

Wallet 4:
- Green notebook containing general notes on warfare and a list of personal effects. From around Korean War period.

Wallet 5:
- Brown envelope with Governor General’s seal containing undated letter informing Lieutenant-Colonel Regshauge of being appointed to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his organising medical supplies in Wau.
- Mention in Despatches certificate dated 23 December 1943 on heavy stock paper, pasted to card for framing purposes.
- Mention in Despatches certificate dated 19 July 1945 on heavy stock paper.
- Mention in Despatches certificate dated 6 March 1947 on heavy stock paper.

Wallet 6:
- Crudely bound brown book containing Major General Refshauge’s notes on Regimental Medical Officers’ training and behaviour, particularly on the subjects of maintaining unit morale and interactions with other members of a unit, dated 1942 to 1943.
- Brown folder containing various notes including:
- Miscellaneous letters, person notes, evacuation details, medical statistics and operation details relating to Kanga Force, dated 26 January 1943 to 11 February 1943.
- Medical Report on Tsili-Tsili Force dated 7 July 1943 to 30 September 1943.
- Report for period 4 to 24 August 1943 by Major E.P. Row. Included are five hand-annotated maps showing medical positions around Malolo (New Guinea).
- Report on the training of 15 Australian Field Ambulance on adapting to jungle warfare based on experience gained in the Wau-Mubo-Salamaua campaign from January to September 1943, dated 28 October 1943.
- Report on operations – Wau, dated 28 January 1943 to 13 February 1943 with focus on medical situation.
- Kanga Force medical situation reports for period 26 January 1943 to 13 February 1943. Includes details of casualties, treatment and common problems faced by medical staff.
- Report on operations 15 Australian Infantry Brigade area to 3 August 1943 dated 10 August 1943. Contains general report on the medical situation. Includes details such as ‘treatment of natives’, evacuations, etc. Report also contains three hand-annotated maps of the area around Malolo (New Guinea) showing the different medical stations and treatment areas.
- Report by Captain Henry Ross Macourt (NX111012) (b.1914) on ‘resuscitation methods as evolved and used in jungle warfare during the Salamaua campaign

Wallet 7:
- Old manila folder containing:
- Affidavit relating to the wounding of a Sergeant Ian Hope Forbes (VX599).
- Letter from E. Evans of the Yarra Valley Group of Melbourne Legacy regarding the pension of Sgt Forbes’ widow.
- Handwritten draft of by Major General Refshauge to E. Evans regarding the conditions faced by the 2/2 Field Regiment in Crete in response to Evans’ letter regarding Sgt Forbes and note relating to this letter.
- Handwritten draft of “conditions causing stress whilst the 2/2 Field Regiment was in action December 1940 – May 1941.”
- Typed copy of “conditions causing stress whilst the 2/2 Field Regiment was in action December 1940 – May 1941.”

Wallet 8:
- Certificate from the Cretan Association of Canberra and Districts awarding life membership for Major General Refshauge’s commitment as chairman of the Australian-Hellenic Memprial Committee and development of mutual friendship between Greece and Australia.

Oversize wallet:
- Certificate appointing Refshauge to rank of Captain on 19 May 1939
- Certificate appointing Refshauge to rank of Lieutenant on 12 September 1933
- Certificate appointing Refshauge to rank of Lieutenant on 28 July 1932
- Returned Services League certificate for life membership for services rendered as a member of the National Executive (Trustee), dated 12 August 1973.
- Returned Services League certificate awarding Major General Refshauge the 1990 ANZAC Peace Prize, dated 25 April 1990.
- Returned Services League certificate in appreciation of 25 years of outstanding service as a member of the ACT branch.