A major innovation in the First AIF was the institutionalised and systematic care of the soldiers' teeth.
These were the smallest numbered units in the AIF, consisting of just four men: a dentist (a lieutenant), two dental mechanics (staff sergeants) and an orderly (private). Dental units were normally attached to base camps, hospitals and medical units.
The first 36 units were formed in Egypt in January to April 1916 from the dental detachments brought from Australia by various units.
1st Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Based at Australian Training Centre, Lark Hill, England. Later attached
to the Australian General Base Depot at Etaples, France, then with the Australian Corps
School
Egypt, England, Western Front
2nd Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 8th Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
3rd Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 2nd Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
4th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916.Attached to 6th Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
5th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 3rd Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
6th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance
Egypt, Palestine
7th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance
Egypt, Palestine
8th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Based at Rollestone, England. Attached to 3rd Command Depot at
Hurdford, England.
Egypt, England
9th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 2nd Auxiliary Hospital.
Egypt, England
10th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 3rd General Hospital.
Egypt, Western Front
11th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 4th Division Ammunition Column
Egypt, Western Front
12th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England.
Egypt, England
13th Dental Unit
Based at Parkhouse, England Later attached to AIF Detention Barracks, Lewes, England
Egypt, England
14th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to Australian Base Depot of Medical Stores. Later attached to
3rd Command Depot at Hurdcott, England
Egypt, England
15th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 2nd Command Depot and later to Engineer Training Depot,
Brightlingsea
Egypt, England
16th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to Desert Mounted Corps Rest Camp
Egypt, Palestine
17th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 2nd General Hospital.
Egypt, Western Front
18th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 1st Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
19th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 4th Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
20th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 12th Training Battalion at Codford, England
Egypt, England
21st Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Based at Rollestone, England. Later attached to 4th Command Depot,
Hurdcott, England
Egypt, England
22nd Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 5th Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
23rd Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 15th Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
24th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 7th Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
25th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Based at Moascar, Egypt.
Egypt, Palestine
26th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital.
Egypt, England
27th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 12th Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
28th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Based at Rollestone, England. Later attached to 4th Command Depot,
Hurdcott, England
Egypt, England
29th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station
Egypt, Western Front
30th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 14th Training Battalion at Codford, England
Egypt, England
31st Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance
Egypt, Palestine
32nd Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 14th Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
33rd Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 1st Training Battalion at Sutton Veny, England. Moved to
France May 1918 where attached to 1st General Hospital
Egypt, England, Western Front
34th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 13th Field Ambulance
Egypt, Western Front
35th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to Australian General Base Depot at Etaples, France
Egypt, Western Front
36th Dental Unit
Formed Egypt 1916. Attached to 5th Training Battalion
Egypt, England
37th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Division Ammunition Column
Western Front
38th Dental Unit
Based at Medical Corps Depot, Parkhouse, England
England
39th Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England, then to the 3rd Flying Squadron
England, Western Front
40th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Auxiliary Hospital.
England
41st Dental Unit
Attached to Australian General Base Depot at Etaples, France, later attached to 1st
Casualty Clearing Station
Western Front
42nd Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
43rd Dental Unit
Based at Parkhouse, England. Later attached to 2nd Command Depot at Weymouth, England
England
44th Dental Unit
Attached to Australian General Base Depot at Etaples, France
Western Front
45th Dental Unit
Attached to 9th Field Ambulance
Western Front
46th Dental Unit
Attached to 11th Field Ambulance
Western Front
47th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Training Battalion, later to AFC Depot
England
48th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England. Later moved to France where attached
to 1st Convalescent Depot
England
49th Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
50th Dental Unit
Based at AIF Training Centre, Lark Hill, England
England
51st Dental Unit
Attached to 9th Training Battalion
England
52nd Dental Unit
Based at AIF Training Centre
England
53rd Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
54th Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
55th Dental Unit
Based at AIF Training Centre
England
56th Dental Unit
Attached to 10th Field Ambulance
Western Front
57th Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
58th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England
England
59th Dental Unit
Attached to Australian General Base Depot at Etaples, France
Western Front
60th Dental Unit
Based at Machine Gun Training Depot, Gratham and Signal Training Depot, Clifton
England
61st Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
62nd Dental Unit
Attached to 12th Training Battalion. Moved to France August 1918 where attached to 1st
Division Headquarters
England, Western Front
63rd Dental Unit
Attached to Pioneer Training Battalion
England
64th Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England. Moved to France August 1918 where
attached to 3rd Division Headquarters
England, Western Front
65th Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
66th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Auxiliary Hospital and later to 1st Command Depot. Moved to France June
1918 where attached to 1st Convalescent Depot, Harfleur, near Le Havre.
England, Western Front
67th Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
68th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, England.
England
69th Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
70th Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
71st Dental Unit
Attached to 14th General Hospital.
Palestine
72nd Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England
England
73rd Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance.
Palestine
74th Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
75th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England
England
76th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England
England
77th Dental Unit
Attached to Railway Operating Depot, Langmoor, England.
England
78th Dental Unit
Attached to Overseas Training Brigade.
England
79th Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
80th Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
81st Dental Unit
Attached to AIF Headquarters, Tidworth, England.
England
82nd Dental Unit
Attached to Reserve Artillery Brigade.
England
83rd Dental Unit
Attached to Overseas Training Brigade. Moved to France August 1918 where attached to
2nd Division Headquarters
England, Western Front
84th Dental Unit
Attached to 5th Training Battalion. Moved to France August 1918 where attached to 4th
Division Headquarters
England, Western Front
85th Dental Unit
Attached to 3rd Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
86th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England. Moved to France June 1918 where
attached to General Base Depot, Etaples
England, Western Front
87th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Comand Depot, Sutton Veny, England
England
88th Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
89th Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot, Hurdcott, England. Attached to 1st Convalescent Depot,
Harfleur, near Le Havre from May 1918.
England, Western Front
90th Dental Unit
Attached to AFC Hospital.
England
91st Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England.
England
92nd Dental Unit
Attached to 9th Training Battalion
England
93rd Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England
England
94th Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot, Hurdcott, England
England
95th Dental Unit
Attached to 1st Command Depot, Sutton Veny, England
England
96th Dental Unit
Attached to 14th Training Battalion. Moved to France June 1918 where attached to 3rd
Casualty Clearing Station.
England, Western Front
97th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to 5th Light Horse Field Ambulance
Western Front
98th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to Australian Reinforcement Camp.
Western Front
99th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to 3rd, 6th and 12th Field Artillery (Army) Brigades.
Western Front
100th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to 2nd Division Ammunition Column
Western Front
101st Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to 5th Division Ammunition Column
Western Front
102nd Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to 3rd Division Ammunition Column
Western Front
103rd Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to Camel Depot, Abassia
Palestine
104th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to Australian Mounted Division
Palestine
105th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to 2nd Stationary Hospital
Palestine
106th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Based at Australian Training Depot, Moascar, Egypt
Palestine
107th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Based at Moascar, Egypt
Palestine
108th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance
Palestine
109th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to 14th General Hospital
Palestine
110th Dental Unit
Formed 1918. Attached to 1st Command Depot
Western Front
112th Dental Unit
Attached to 5th Division Headquarters
Western Front
114th Dental Unit
Attached to 4th Command Depot
England
117th Dental Unit
Based at Australian Training Depot, Moascar, Egypt
Palestine
118th Dental Unit
Based at Australian Training Depot, Moascar, Egypt
Palestine
Page created by Ross
Mallett
ross@metva.com.au
Last update 10 December 2000