This
World War One Photograph appears to be taken spontaneously by a passerby.
With
members of the public looking on, the Royal Army Medical Corp is caught by the
photographer as they carry a wounded soldier towards a horse drawn ambulance
lined up at a nearby station.
 |
| Stretcher Bearers of the RAMC Taking a Soldier to a Nearby Hospital |
Development of the RAMC
By
the outbreak of 1914 – 1918 war, the RAMC had only been in existence for 16
years. But the numbers of staff flourished from just 9000 in 1898 to 113,000 by
the end of the war.
The
difficult situations of the field and the muddy trenches meant the corps
learned many valuable lessons, one of which was the importance of sanitation, medical
obedience and observance of authority. With chaos reigning all around, adhering
to regulations was vital.
Sadly,
medical treatment was still in its infancy in WW1, with ambulances still
horse-drawn. If a soldier was deemed not to make it, was killed by allies to
put him out of his misery. In other situations, the RAMC could do little but
sew wounds and apply dressings. In this case, the soldier was fortunate to
survive his term in the field.
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