[2] There were relatively large numbers of Australian doctors and nurses because advanced qualifications required a trip overseas.

The hospital was formally offered to the British government by the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sir George Reid on 15 August 1914.

[8] The Australian Voluntary Hospital assembled its personnel and equipment at a camp established on the grounds of the Ranelagh Club, which had been loaned for the purpose.

It departed for France on 29 August 1914 on Lord Dunraven's yacht "Greta", which had been accepted by the Admiralty as a transport for medical units,[4] and moved to Le Havre.

The hospital was well equipped, with motor ambulances donated by organisations in Australia, a pathology laboratory and the only X-ray unit in the area.

[10] In April 1916, Australian Army units began arriving from the Middle East in large numbers.