VOLUNTARY AID TRAINING
Being Extracts from
Royal Army Medical Corps
Training 1911
War Office
H.M.S.O., London, 1911
A rare WW1-era War Office V.A.D. / Royal Army Medical Corps Manual, published in 1911. This book is particularly interesting as it was produced specifically for the use of Voluntary Aid Detachments of the Territorial forces. It incudes much of the information found in the standard R.A.M.C. training manual of the time. Voluntary Aid Training is a detailed military medical services handbook intended for use by Voluntary Aid Detachment members, stretcher bearers, and nurses. It would have been used in conjunction with the standard R.A.M.C. manual during WW1. It includes information on the care of the wounded, anatomy, first aid, nursing, emergency treatment of injuries, the duties and equipment of stretcher bearers, Field Ambulances, Casualty Clearing Stations, Field Hospitals, and the organisation of the R.A.M.C. in battlefield conditions. The book is well illustrated with line drawings, photographs and diagrams. There are several detailed illustrations of the various types of Field Ambulances
Voluntary Aid Detachment: In 1909 the War Office issued its ‘Scheme for the Organisation of Voluntary Aid in England and Wales,’ which set up both male and female Voluntary Aid Detachments to fill gaps in the Territorial medical services, with a similar scheme for Scotland following in December of that year. By early 1914, 1,757 female detachments and 519 male detachments had been registered with the War Office. The female detachments varied in size according to local conditions, but usually consisted of a Commandant, a Medical Officer, a Quartermaster, and twenty-two women, two of whom were to be trained nurses. There were about 50,000 women involved in the movement immediately before the war, and between 70,000 and 100,000 women served as VADs at some time during the war.
The Royal Army Medical Corps was established in 1898. Previously there had been two distinct organisations within the Army Medical Services, the Medical Staff Corps and the Medical Staff (the officers). These two organisations were reorganised as the Royal Army Medical Corps on 23rd June 1898. Within three months, RAMC personnel were serving in the Sudan and soon after the corps was deployed in the Anglo-Boer War. During the First World War the RAMC lost 743 officers and 6130 soldiers.
Condition:
In good condition. The boards are in good condition, with some marks and general signs of wear and use. The binding and hinges are good and secure. The text and illustrations are in very good condition, with some creasing to the first few pages
Published: December 1911
Light blue boards with black titling
Dimensions: 125mm x 185mm
Illustrated with line drawings and photographs
Pages: 283
