Links to additional resources
Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - Stretcher Bearers
Overview
Advancing troops were directed not to stop and care for wounded soldiers. The wounded soldier had to wait until the stretcher-bearers arrived. Initially 4 men per company were designated as stretcher bearers. Pre-war practice was usually to designate bandsmen as stretcher bearers in combat.
Regimental stretcher-bearers collected wounded from where they fell on the battlefield and took them to the designated Regimental Aid Post. Any sick or wounded who were able to walk were directed to the RAP by the stretcher-bearers.
Regimental stretcher-bearers were not under protection of the Geneva Convention while carrying arms, which were left in the regimental medical cart. All regimental stretcher-bearers were issued with a brassard marked with the letters ‘SB’.
Regimental stretcher-bearers were vital in not only providing acute medical treatment but also went a long way to uphold unit morale through their example of dedication, stamina and bravery.
Details
Details
Registration number
cwa-org-32-99-458
Inscriptions and markings
During World War I, the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) suffered 58,339 deaths and 151,948 wounded. To help deal with so many injured and sick soldiers, the Australian Army Medical Corps was expanded. Australian soldiers served. They also worked in Australian hospitals for returned soldiers. Separate entries cover the Regimental Aid Post, the Field Ambulance, Casualty Clearing Stations, Base Hospitals (General, Stationary and Auxiliary), Command Depots and Convalescent Depots, Ambulance Trains, Ambulance Barges, Hospital Ships.
Contextual Information
The medical evacuation chain and medical services are presented in a separate section of the World War 1 Galleries. Artefacts relating to medical services, the treatment of wounds, casualty recovery are also found throughout the Galleries. Individual stories of doctors, nurses, stretcher bearers are also found throughout the Museum. The Prisoner of War Gallery highlights the degree of medical improvisation and professional skills that saved many lives on the Thai Burma Railroad.
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - Regimental Aid Post
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Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - Field Ambulance
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Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - Casualty Clearing Station
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Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - General Hospital
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Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - Stationary Hospital
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Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - Auxilliary Hospital
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Medical Evacuation Chain - World War 1 - Command Depots
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 272 FERGUSON, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, GILBERT, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 276 GREEDY, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, GORRINGE, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, HUTTON, 10 Light Horse
Stretcher bearer party in action. SB brassard.
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