World War I 

This ROVER-Sunbeam ambulance was in service in France during World War I. These vehicles were dubbed "Gutless Gert", probably because of the low engine power. In 1919 it was shipped to New Zealand to be used as a mobile medical station in areas without resident medical care. Stationed in Greymouth, it was the only motorised ambulance on the west coast for many years. After passing into private ownership, Stan Booth acquired it in 1925 and converted it into a caravan. Later, "Gutless Gert" was abandoned and left to the elements. When Bryan Jackson discovered it in 1966 in Kerikeri, Northland, a tamarillo tree was growing through the bonnet. He bought the wreck for 30 pounds and restored it extensively. He gave it the ambulance markings of the Royal Army Service Corps in France and named it "Jessie". In the 1970s the car was acquired by Mr Rhodes. It is believed to be the last remaining ROVER Sunbeam ambulance of the First World War.

This car was reported by Ernie Longley in the Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 11 in May 1969. This report is quoted as follows:

"I first became acquainted with Ambulance Work in England in 1918 when, as a lad of nearly 16, I did Voluntary Service as an Ambulance Assistant with the Boy Scout Organisation. The thousands of casualties - walking wounded - being shipped across the English Channel at that time, needed assistance to reach transport which would disperse them to outlying hospitals.
We boys, granted leave from our work, (in my case from my second year in engineering training) were fed and housed in return for our service. It was during this time that I was introduced to the Sunbeam - Rover Ambulance. They steered like drays and took off in the air if they ran over a brick. I am afraid the wounded had a very rough ride but their spirits remained undaunted.

I arrived in New Zealand (Taumarunui) in 1925 with my parents and a brother and sister and until 1928 worked at the Ellis and Burnand sawmill at Mananui. Meanwhile my family had moved to Waihi where I joined them, and for a time ran a small plumbing business. The depression put an end to that and along with many others I picked up road-beds of blue metal and put them back again. The district fascinated me and I hiked and tramped all over it. Finally for eight years I was employed by the Hospital Board in charge of the Boilers as I had been trained to be a "Steam and General Engineer." And again I was destined to have more than a nodding acquaintance with a Sunbeam - Rover Ambulance, with its gate change lever and gas head lamps. Exhaust pipes were used to heat the inside and the familiar Red Cross sign was painted on each side of the canvas cover. In small print inside was stated the number of stretchers that could be carried (four). A very low powered engine to drive the machine enabled it to change gears going down Seddon Ave. from town.
(Mr. Fred Carbutt recollects that when a number of men were injured in the mine accident that occurred at 4.30p.m. on 25-7-33 he was the driver of the Ambulance, which was still making trips to the hospital after dark. The rough road in the vicinity of the Seddon Ave. Bridge caused the gas lights to go out, so the driver proceeded in the dark but on arrival both he and the patients were found to be almost asphyxiated by the escaping gas.)

In 1957 a new Ford Ambulance was purchased for Waihi and probably few people know what became of the old "War Horse." It's "wreck" was "run to earth" in Tauranga by a friend of mine, (Bryan Jackson) the most historically minded young man I've ever met. His private Museum is a sight to behold for he and his assistant seem to spend all their spare time on exhibits, restoring them to their former grandeur.
The restoration which took two years, is according to its use in World War 1. It had no glass other than the lamp glasses. A canvas apron, attached to the dash-board was tied round the driver's waist; the rest of him and anyone else in the front seat was liable to get wet. The Waihi vehicle had a windscreen fitted.

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