World War 1 & the Railways: Difference between revisions

The Advisory Committee on Ambulance Trains on 20th March 1915, recorded a recommendation that “Carrying“''Carrying capacity be increased to the utmost; it is better to carry many patients with some discomfort, than to delay evacuating a Casualty Station.''” When these trains reached stations in Britain, the true horror of the conflict was brought home to the public.

One nurse wrote: “Imagine“''Imagine a hospital as big as King’s College packed into a train. No outside person can realise the difficulties except for those who did try to work it”it''”.

A journey on one of these trains was relief or a nightmare. Most soldiers were pleased to be away from the battlefield and closer to safety. Often filled with men straight from battle or the trenches trains soon became smelly and filthy. The small bunks were claustrophobic and men with broken bones felt every jolt. On joining a train, patients were separated into lying down cases, who would take the bunks, and the walking wounded who were given seats. A soldier recorded: “My“''My back was sagging, and I could not raise my knees to relieve the cramp, the bunk above being only a few inches away''.”

“A“''A ‘Lying Down’ coach full of badly wounded and fracture cases was just like a cattle truck with mewing cattle….they were yelling and shouting with pain.''” So wrote an orderly.

An orderly wrote that “In“''In 1915 I learned that it is possible to work for twenty-four hours or more at a stretch….and to use my strength in helping others rather than merely in playing games.''”