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- The British sector of the Western Front, 1914 to 18
The British sector of the Western Front, 1914 to 18
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The trenches of France and Belgium produced new kinds of wounds. A chain of medical care developed to deal with them.
The trenches and injuries
Key areas: the Ypres salient, the Somme, Arras and Cambrai. Trenches had front-line, support and reserve lines joined by communication trenches.
Most wounds came from shrapnel from shells, plus bullets. Gas was first used by Germany at Ypres in 1915 (chlorine, then phosgene and mustard gas).
The Brodie helmet reduced deaths from head wounds. Trench conditions caused trench foot, and farmland soil caused infections such as gas gangrene.
Most wounds came from shrapnel from shells, plus bullets. Gas was first used by Germany at Ypres in 1915 (chlorine, then phosgene and mustard gas).
The Brodie helmet reduced deaths from head wounds. Trench conditions caused trench foot, and farmland soil caused infections such as gas gangrene.
The chain of evacuation
Stretcher bearers carried the wounded to a Regimental Aid Post, then a Dressing Station, then a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS), then a Base Hospital on the coast.
The RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) ran this chain. Horse-drawn and then motor ambulances moved patients. Nurses included trained nurses and volunteers such as FANY and VADs.
At Arras a large underground hospital was built in old quarry tunnels.
The RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) ran this chain. Horse-drawn and then motor ambulances moved patients. Nurses included trained nurses and volunteers such as FANY and VADs.
At Arras a large underground hospital was built in old quarry tunnels.
New techniques
The Thomas splint kept broken legs still. It cut deaths from broken femurs from about 80% to about 20%.
Mobile X-ray units helped find bullets and shrapnel.
Blood transfusions improved: blood could be stored, and a blood bank was used at the Battle of Cambrai (1917).
Sources for an enquiry: army records, war diaries, hospital records, photographs, personal accounts.
Mobile X-ray units helped find bullets and shrapnel.
Blood transfusions improved: blood could be stored, and a blood bank was used at the Battle of Cambrai (1917).
Sources for an enquiry: army records, war diaries, hospital records, photographs, personal accounts.
Why was the Thomas splint important?
- Broken femurs often led to fatal blood loss and infection.
- The splint held the leg still while the soldier was moved.
- Deaths from this injury fell from about 80% to about 20%.
Answer: It held broken legs still and greatly reduced deaths.
Western Front: Ypres, Somme, Arras, Cambrai. Shrapnel, gas, head wounds, trench foot, infection. Chain: aid post, dressing station, CCS, base hospital. Thomas splint, mobile X-rays, blood bank at Cambrai 1917.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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