Transporting the wounded

• What were the methods of transporting the wounded?

  • Stretcher bearers
  • Motor ambulances
  • Train ambulances
  • Barge ambulances
  • Horse-drawn ambulances
• Advantages/Disadvantages of stretcher bearers


  Advantages:

  • More chance of survival

  Disadvantages:

  • They carried away the wounded during the day and night and so were exposed to gunfire and shelling
• Advantages/Disadvantages of motor ambulances


  Advantages:

  • Not as bumpy so they prevented injuries from being made worse
• Advantages/Disadvantages of train ambulances


  Advantages:

  • Had spaces for stretchers fitted down the sides of carriages
  • Some trains sent to France contained operating theatres

  Disadvantages:

  • Hindered supplies getting to the frontline
• Advantages/Disadvantages of barge ambulances


  Advantages:

  • More comfortable
  • Could get soldiers straight back to Britain

  Disadvantages:

  • Slow
• Advantages/Disadvantages of horse-drawn ambulances


  Disadvantages:

  • Could not cope with the amount of wounded
  • Craters in the ground made carriages shake which led to injuries becoming worse