Soldiers of the Medical Units have a record of service, sacrifice and courage. As well as providing rescue, medical and evacuation support in dangerous and often primitive conditions they were involved in the construction of hospitals and medical facilities under conditions that saw the unique Australian innovation and ingenuity applied to getting the job done.

Many of the men, like Herbert, had rural origins and "their background of bush carpentry; improvisation and resourcefulness then came to the fore. It was recorded that the medics took their places with hammers and nails, bailing wire, saws and "concrete mixers" (largely shovels), assisting sappers of the Royal Australian Engineers”
Major General (Rtd) John H Pearn, AM, RFD, MD BSc, PhD, FRACP, FRCP, FACTM, FAIM