Western front-History

• The Battle of the Somme was fought between July to November 1916
• The second battle of ypres was in 1915
• The third battle of ypres was in 1917
• Ypres-Several battles took place around ypres in Belgium. The soil was easily waterlogged therefore stretcher bearers struggled to move through the wet and muddy ground. The germans used chlorine gas in 1915 and mustard gas in 1917.
• The battle of Arras was in 1917
• Somme-The british army launched a huge offensive resulting in severe casualties on both sides. There was 60,000 British casualties on the first day alone, with 20,000 dead. A total of 400,000 british casualties placed huge pressure on medical services.
• The battle of cambrai was in 1917.
• Arras-The chalky grounds at Arras allowed 800m of tunnel to be dug so had an underground hospital could be built. The hospital was equipped with running water, electricity, 700 beds, and several operating theatres. This allowed for fast and effective treatment.
• Cambrai-The british army ised tanks on a big scale for the first time. Blood depots were set up near the front line and contained blood mixed with sodium citrate and citrate glucose, soldiers could therefore receive blood transfusions without a donor present.
• Trenches formed a zig zag pattern
• The support trenches was were troops would retreat to take cover
• The frontline trenches were where attacks were launched
• Dugouts were holes in the side of the trench for troops to take cover.
• All three rows of trenches were linked by communication trenches
• The reserve trenches was were troops could be stationed for counter attacks.
• In july 1915, gas masks were given to british troops
• Gas attacks:

  • Chlorine gas would cause breathing problems
  • Mustard gas would cause serious burns and blisters
• By late 1915, the soldiers soft caps were replaced with Brodie helmets. This reduced head wounds
• Shell shock caused many mental diseases such as PTSD. Many were treated close to the frontline but some were evacuated to the british hospitals
• Trench fever produced flu-like symptoms, which could last for months and keep recurring. It was caused by lice so in 1918, troops were deloused, which reduced cases.
• Trench foot was caused by standing in the waterlogged trenches. It could lead to gangrene, treated with amputation. Troops were given whale oil and clean socks to treat the gangrene. Furthermore, duckboards were added to keep there feet above the water.
• Bullets from rifles and machine guns could penetrate organs and fracture bones
• High-explosive shells and shrapnel would cause infections due to how deep they were in the body.
• From the late 1914, tetanus injections were given to soldiers to help fight infection but there was no prevention for gas gangrene.
• The regimental aid post-small dugouts close to the frontline, this gave very basic treatment such. as bandaging a light wound.
• The field ambulance was a mobile medical unit of the RAMC, which set up the dressing station. This is were the triage was which would sort the injured. Furthermore, they would give emergency treatment and they were one mile from the front line.
• The casualty clearing station was well equipped with things like operating rooms, x-rays and beds. Furthemore, surgery was done here, doctors and nurses helped.
• The base hospital was were care and treatment was given to the most seriously injured. There was wards for specific problems e.g gas poisoning.
• Harold Gillies developed plastic surgery to 'fix' disfigured faces
• Carrel-Dakin method: used tubes to reach inside deep wounds and gave a constant supply of carrel-dakin fluid (This is as carbolic acid did not work for deep wounds)
• Thomas splint- This was a brace that fixed the leg in place so that broken bones did not rub against each other. This therefore prevented internal bleeding which would kill soldiers.
• Blood transfusion : After 1917, sodium citrate and citrate glucose allowed blood to be safely stored for weeks. Blood depots were set up so donors were not needed anymore.