The First World War quickly produced devastating injuries
on the battlefield which posed a real challenge to treat. Survival depended on
quick medical intervention. The wounded were often moved several times.
Regimental Aid Post (RAP)
Initially, the walking wounded tried to reach the nearest
RAP, while others were carried by stretcher bearers. RAPs were often set up in
trenches or abandoned buildings typically, 2---300 yards of the front line.
There, they would be treated by a regimental medical officer (RMO). The RMOs
were qualified doctors but knew little about treating war wounds. RMO’s
administered pain relief, anti-tetanus injection and a basic dressing.
Sometimes stretcher bearers trained in First Aid helped out.
Evacuation
Evacuation began from the RAP and continued to advanced
dressing stations (ADS) further away from the front line where soldiers could
be treated. Casualty Clearing Stations (CCS) were next up the line and were the
first static units a casualty would encounter. CCSs often moved, casualties
being moved back to base hospitals in France and Flanders.
Medical personnel
As well as Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) doctors,
military medical staff included the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing
Service (QAIMNS), the Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS) and the
Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs) . Other ad hoc organisations not under
military control such as First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) and the Society of
Friends –Friends Ambulance Unit, (FAU), Quakers and conscientious objectors,
also made a contribution. QAIMNS sisters were sent to France in 1914 and their
numbers increased after that as the need for experienced nursing staff
increased.
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| Nursing staff and patients, Lewisham Military Hospital. ⒸLewisham Local History and Archives Centre |
Hospitals in France and Flanders
There were two types of base hospital stationary and general.
They were mainly located in large towns or ports, notably Boulogne and Etaples.
Unofficial, voluntary hospitals supplemented these RAMC units but were not
officially approved by the military authorities. The work was hard and time off
for doctors and nurses was usually only given in cases of illness.
Transport
Transporting the wounded was a real challenge and barges
were eventually used to transport men direct to hospital ships due to pressure
on the railways. Once at a British port, casualties were transferred to an
ambulance service train and sent to a receiving station. Receiving stations
were local hospitals such as Lewisham Military Hospital. They were the last
stop on a wounded soldier’s medical journey.
Lewisham Military Hospital
In 1915, the Lewisham Workhouse Infirmary was cleared to
make way for expected wartime casualties. The hospital was then renamed
Lewisham Military Hospital. It cared for officers, ranks and German POWs. It
was headed by Dr Frederick Sherman Toogood who was given the temporary rank of
Major with the Royal Army Medical Corps. The Hospital Workhouse Infirmaries
were ideal for conversion into military hospitals as they often had gardens and
other amenities for the staff and patients.
Lewisham Military Hospital had beds for 24 officers and
838 rank and file. They also had provision for shell-shocked officers. The
first wounded arrived in May 1915, including some injured during the infamous
gas attack at Ypres when chemical weapons were first used on a large scale.
The hospital treated those who needed more specialist
treatment or who needed a longer period of time to recover.
The first patients would be walking wounded in cars
followed by stretcher cases carried by ambulance.
Once at the hospital, the men would wash, uniforms
fumigated and replaced with a hospital military suit. The hospital suit was a
blue jacket and trousers with a white shirt and a red tie.
Patients details were taken and then they were taken to
the wards.
After the war, the hospital reverted to civilian use in
1919. Eventually it became University Lewisham Hospital.
Julie Robinson, Local Studies Librarian
Enquiries: local.studies@lewisham.gov.uk
