Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Uniform Accoutrements - Stretcher Bearer Armbands

Overview

White woollen brassard (arm band), lined with white linen, with a nickel plated metal buckle, and five brass riveted eyelets at the free end for size adjustment. The letters 'SB' (stretcher bearer), in fine red wool cloth, are appliqué in the centre.

Historical information

In 1914, the Australian Army Medical Service was a small part-time specialised addition to the British Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). By 1918, it had become an independent force in its own right. One of the most hazardous medical jobs was that of stretcher-bearers and field ambulance workers, who were often the first to see the wounded and to carry them to treatment. On the Western Front in France and Belgium, this would involve long and dangerous journeys on foot, carrying the wounded through mud and gunfire.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-32-54-882
Inscriptions and markings

In times of war, stretcher-bearers may in certain situations be covered by Art. 25 of the First (Geneva) Convention of 1949 under the category of auxiliary medical personnel

Contextual Information

At the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia, the story of stretcher bearers and the medical evacuation chain is presented in a series 0f exhibits in the World War 1 Gallery.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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