Transporting the wounded

Question 1

problems faced when attempting to move the wounded soldiers

Answer 1

• heaving shelling destroyed roads
• the battle grounds were previously fields so soils contained fertilisers that infected wounds
• shelling and gunfire meant that stretcher bearers were at high risk meaning operations had to be carried out far away from the front line

Question 2

Ambulance wagons

Answer 2

• at first horse drawn ambulance wagons were used but weren’t very steady so they caused further injury to the soldiers
• motorised ambulances were introduced
• however horse drawn wagons were still used where the ground was too muddy for motor vehicles

Question 3

Trains, barges and ships

Answer 3

• wounded men were also taken by train to base hospitals on the coast, some trains even had operating theatres
• canal barges were slow yet provided a comfortable journey
• some of the wounded were transferred directly by ship back to England