Blood transfusions on the Western Front were used to reduce the number of deaths from blood loss. War doctors performed direct transfusions from person to person but was slow and not always successful. People later used a syringe-cannula technique which was quick but difficult as blood could clot in the syringe.
The first blood bank was set up in 1917 in preparation for the battle of Cambrai. Army doctor Captain Oswald Robertson thought it was better to collect blood before it was needed.
