Medicine : Moving the injured from the front line - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Medicine: Moving the injured from the front lineThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

2. Injuries on the Front LineThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

3. The increasing mechanisation of war led to wounds caused by land mines, mortars, grenades, tanks, flame-throwers and gas attacks. Trench warfare meant that heads were especially exposed, and severe face and jaw injuries were common. The First World War introduced horrific new injuriesThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

4. The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) was set up to care for British troops. Using a system called triage, first developed by a French surgeon in Napoleon’s army, sick soldiers were put into one of three groups:Slightly injured - Soldiers who did not need much care. They were quickly given treatment wherever they were and then carried on fighting. Needing hospital - Soldiers who needed to be transported by ambulance to a hospital for treatmentBeyond help - Soldiers who did not have much chance of getting better. The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

5. During the First World War a process was established to move injured soldiers quickly from the front line to receive treatment and for convalescence.This series of prints entitled Tending the Wounded by the artist Claude Shepperson was commissioned in 1917 by the British Government. They illustrate the stages that a soldier would go through after being injured on the front line.Advanced Dressing Station in FranceThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

6. In Hospital in EnglandMany soldiers recovered from their injuries at hospitals throughout Wales.Take a look at the list of Welsh auxiliary hospitals. Are there any near your school?The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

7. Convalescence in EnglandMany soldiers from across the United Kingdom convalesced in communities in Wales.Use some of the newspaper articles in the resource pack to find out how communities in Wales helped soldiers to get better.The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

8. Propaganda and the Ministry of Information in the First World WarThings to consider…In 1914 the government set up an organization called the War Propaganda Bureau, Wellington House to oversee British propaganda at home and overseas. This organization went through several changes and was eventually called the Ministry of Information. Most propaganda produced was very subtle as this was considered the most effective way of appealing to the British public.Take a close look at these prints commissioned by the government’s Ministry of InformationDo you think they clearly illustrate the experiences of a wounded soldier?Compare them with the illustration of injury in the painting The Welsh at Mametz Wood by Christopher Williams. Remember to read…The example of written propaganda produced by Lt J.P. Lloyd of the Welch Regiment for the Ministry of Information or MI 7b. This was one of many articles that would be published in newspapers during the War.The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

9. Caring for wounded soldiers in WalesThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

10. When wounded soldiers returned to Wales they would have already received emergency medical care and would therefore be sent to hospitals and convalescent homes, like this one at The Castle in St Fagans, to continue their recovery.The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

11. Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) hospitals and convalescent homes were set up in various buildings such as town halls and country houses like St Fagans. These temporary hospitals were mostly staffed by nurses, known as V.A.D.s, who had volunteered to nurse as part of a War Office government scheme to increase the numbers of nurses available during wartime. They supported qualified nurses.What was a V.A.D. Hospital?The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

12. What did V.A.D. Nurses Do?The Red Cross and the Order of St John organised the training for V.A.D. nurses. They would perform general nursing duties, administer first aid as well as taking on clerical and kitchen duties. V.A.D. nurses also worked abroad in countries such as France, Italy and Russia.The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

13. Memories of Mary Ann Dodd, a V.A.D. nurse who worked at St Fagans V.A.D. hospital“I was trained as one of her ladyship’s V.A.D.s and very proud she was of us. I wore a cap and a white apron with a red cross on it.In 1914 came the War and (in 1916) the banqueting hall was given over for 40 soldiers; the War went on, so a room was added on for 30 more men. The Commandant used to send us a card - a fortnight’s duty at a time. I used to cook and clean, and one day a week I did the washing. Those soldiers’ socks were in a state, many had no heels in them at all; the soldiers only laughed and teased us, and when they got better they tried to help us.The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

14. A Welsh V.A.D. NurseThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

15. Muriel Lennox’s First World War First Aid HandbookThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

16. There were more than 100 hospitals in Wales during the First World War. Do you know if there were any near your school?The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

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18. The Royal Victoria Military Hospital at Netley was created to treat injured soldiers from the Crimean war.Due to the vast numbers of soldiers injured during the First World War Netley's capacity of 1,000 beds was greatly expanded by the construction of a satellite wooden hospital run by the British Red Cross. The Welsh Hospital, shown in this photograph was housed in field huts at Netley too.The Welsh Hospital was a gift from the people of Wales to the War Office and most of the staff were Welsh.The hospital ships from France unloaded casualties directly onto Netley's own disembarking jetty. Special wards were established for the treatment of toxic gases and shell-shock. Welsh Hospital, Netley SouthamptonThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

19.  VALLEY HOSPITALSA meeting was held at Pontardawe on Tuesday night to make arrangements to receive wounded soldiers at Glanrhyd Workhouse Infirmary, Pontardawe, and The Quarr, Clydach. Mr. C. G. Gilbertson presided. Major Herbert Lewis, hon. secretary, St. John Ambulance Association, addressed the meeting, after which officials were appointed as follows:— Chairman, Mr. C. G. Gilbertson; secretaries, Messrs. A. E. Edmunds and Ivor G. Harris; treasurer, Mr. C. J. Smith (Capital and Counties Bank).(Cambria Daily Leader 11 April 1917) The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum WalesLocal communities were keen to support injured soldiers who were being treated in hospitals around Wales.

20. But not everyone approved…CONVALESCENT SOLDIERS Sir,—With every respect and sympathy for wounded and sick soldiers it does occur to me that strolling along or lounging about the corners of our public streets, until quite a late hour in the evening, even in the agreeable company of admiring "flappers," is hardly calculated to hasten early restoration to good health. Yours, etc.. Llandrindod Wells, PASSER-BY  (Brecon and Radnor Express Carmarthen and Swansea Valley Gazette and Brynmawr District Advertiser 2nd December, 1916.)The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

21. Helping soldiers to recoverThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

22. The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

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24. A wounded soldier in the costume of a female clown arrives to take part in a concert party. (Amman Valley Chronicle, October 1918) The National Library of WalesThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

25. From 15th December 1917 to 14th April 1918 Walter was at the Red Cross V.A.D. hospital at St. Fagans Castle. Walter was from London and was injured fighting for the London Battalion as a Rifleman.As part of his recovery Walter made a necklace and a butterfly belt buckle. Walter Stinson The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

26. Why do you think it was a good thing for soldiers like Walter to make intricate items like these?The National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

27. Write about your experiences. Who are you? You could be a V.A.D. nurse or an injured soldier getting ready to perform in a concert. Think about the style of writing you would use by reading the newspaper articles.Use the Mind Map document Who are you? to help you plan your written work.Imagine that you are living during the First World WarThe National Library of Wales andAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales