Chain of Evacuation

• What is the order of the chain of evacuation?

  • Stretcher bearers
  • Regimental Aid Posts (RAPs)
  • Dressing station
  • Casualty Clearing Stations (CCSs)
  • Base hospital
• What is the role of the stretcher bearers?

  To carry the wounded off of the battlefield
• RAPs


  • 100m behind the frontline
  • Situated in dugouts, ruined buildings or behind walls
  • Dressed light wounds
• Dressing Station


  • Most often situated in tents behind the trenches
  • Treated men that were still fit enough to fight
  • Staffed by 10 medical officers and stretcher bearers
  • From 1915 - staffed by nurses as well
• CCSs


  • 7-12 miles from the fighting
  • Usually 7 doctors and FANY nurses
  • Performed x-rays and operations (e.g amputations)
  • Patients split into walking wounded, needing hospital treatment and no chance of survival
  • Had enough beds for around 50 men
• Base Hospitals


  • Treated the most serious injuries
  • Located in large converted buildings close to the coast to easily send soldiers back to Britain
  • Had operating theatres, x-ray departments and specialist centres for specific problems (e.g gas victims)
  • Could hold around 2500 soldiers
  • Experimented with new techniques that would be used in CCSs if successful