Figure 1.--This is a portait at an unidentified British GRP hospital. (We do not yet know what GRP means.) The soldiers do not look badly wounded, but we note some have their arms in slings. The portrait is not dated, but was probably taken during the War. Note the Boy Scouts in the photograp. They were presumably helping out at the hospital. The nurses look to be nursing sisters, but I am not sure about the order. Some of the sldiers may be from the Dominions. At least one is Canadian.

World War I brought many innovations in warfare, making the battlefield much more deadly. One important innovation which helped to save many lives was a much greater attention to the medical care of soldiers. Ambulance services were organized to get wounded soldiers to medical units. Many Americans served in the ambulance corps with Allied units before America entered the War. Women served in large numbers as nurses. Nursuing sisters played a major role. The Red Cross also played a major role. Countless lives were saved because of the measures taken. Because of the number of casualties, large numbers of hospitals and extended care facilities had to be opened to care for wounded and shell-shocked soldiers. Shell-shock is a term which first came into use during World war. Such soldiers before World war I were generally not treated medically. In addition to military doctors and orderlies, we note not nurses at these faciliites along with Boy Scouts helping out. This is a topic that is often not discussed in connection with World War I. And a subject that we do not know much about that. We would appreciate any reader comments here.

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Created: 8:06 PM 5/19/2008
Last updated: 8:06 PM 5/19/2008