World War Two Service
Veteran Details
Name |
MCINTOSH, OLIVINE JOAN |
Service |
Australian Army |
Service Number |
TX6016 |
Date of Birth |
17 Dec 1912 |
Place of Birth |
HOBART, TAS |
Date of Enlistment |
10 Jan 1941 |
Locality on Enlistment |
NEW TOWN, TAS |
Place of Enlistment |
HOBART, TAS |
Next of Kin |
MCINTOSH, CLARA |
Date of Discharge |
11 Mar 1946 |
Rank |
Lieutenant |
Posting at Discharge |
2/9 AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL |
Prisoner of War |
No |
Honours |
None for display |
Source: World War Two Nominal Roll: https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=782533&c=WW2
Link to World War Two Nominal Roll: https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=782533&c=WW2
Link to National Archives of Australia (NAA) Record Search: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/
ANZAC DAY 2025 VETERAN DEDICTION: Olivine Joan “Olive” McIntosh TX6016
The Lenah Valley RSL Dawn Service 2025 was dedicated to David Joseph Curran.
We now dedicate this main service to WW2 veteran Olivine Joan “Olive” McIntosh.
Olivine was born in Hobart on December 17, 1912 the daughter of Albert John and Cara Eva McIntosh.
Olivine completed her nursing training on December 14, 1935 at the Hobart General Hospital. She held the following positions after completing her training, Staff Nurse at the Hobart General Hospital, Junior sister and later a senior nurse at the Tasmanian Sanatorium, in New Town, where she had been nursing Pulmonary Tuberculosis for 3 1/2 years.
Olivine enlisted on January 10,1941 at the age of 27yrs & 8 months, she was allocated to the 2/9 Australia General Hospital, with the rank of Lieutenant. The 2/9 Australia General Hospital was formed on the 3 December 1940 at the Wayville Showgrounds in South Australia.
On February 12, 1941 they were on route to the Middle East via Bombay, India, then onto Egypt. The unit assisted the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital with the many war casualties arriving from Greece and Crete. On return to Australia from the Middle East, Singapore had fallen and they were redirected to Rangoon, Burma by Churchill, and then to Australia where they landed in Port Adelaide on March 16 1942.
In August 1942 male members of the unit were sent to establish the first General Hospital in Papua, New Guina. Female staff were not permitted in Papua until late October 1942 due to the uncertain military positions. Medical patients outnumbered war casualties almost 10 to 1. During this time the hospital was bombed by the Japanese but no casualties resulted.
Although they had 1,200 beds, they at times were catering for 2,000 patients, the overflow being accommodated on stretchers placed under the beds.
In March 1945 the hospital received orders to move to Morotai where many POW’s were recovering from the South East Asian POW Camps. They treated about 4000 British and Australian ex POW’s plus a group of Indian POW’s. The final hospital staff left for Australia on March 2 1946.
Olivine was discharged on March 11 1946 after spending 1887 days on Active Service.On return to Hobart, Olivine lived at 37 Giblin Street, Lenah Valley and continued with her nursing.
Olivine passed away on December 8, 1988, aged 76 years.
For her service to Australia, the local community and the Lenah Valley RSL Club we heartily thank you.
Source: Adele McTye
25 April 2025
