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27 Dec 2025
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Medicine During WW1 in the British Western Front
Sheyana
@sheyana_nsof
1 / 3
Medical Challenges and the Chain of Evacuation
Ever wondered how soldiers survived the brutal trenches of WWI? The answer lies in a revolutionary chain of evacuation - a step-by-step system that saved countless lives despite overwhelming challenges.
Transport was absolutely chaotic. Only 16 stretcher bearers served entire battalions of 1,000 men, and they had to navigate shell-cratered terrain whilst carrying wounded soldiers through constant bombardment. Early horse-drawn ambulances actually made injuries worse by shaking patients about, until motor ambulances arrived in 1914.
The trenches bred three main killers: trench foot (caused by standing in freezing, muddy water), trench fever , and shell shock (what we now call PTSD). Tragically, many shell shock victims were shot for cowardice because mental health wasn't understood.
Key Point: The four-stage evacuation system - RAP, Dressing Stations, CCS, and Base Hospitals - moved patients from frontline first aid to major surgery, saving lives through organised care.
Wounds were devastating. High explosive shells caused 58% of injuries, whilst machine guns firing 500 rounds per minute shattered bones. The introduction of the Brodie helmet in 1915 reduced fatal head wounds by 80%, proving that simple innovations could be lifesavers.
Trench Systems and Major Battles
The trench system wasn't just about fighting - it created unique medical challenges that doctors had never faced before. These narrow, zigzag trenches protected soldiers but made treating wounded men nearly impossible during battles.
Four types of trenches formed the defensive system: frontline (closest to enemy), support (80m back for retreating), communications (connecting trenches), and reserve . When someone got injured in the frontline, getting them out was a nightmare.
Each major battle brought new medical horrors and breakthroughs. The Battle of the Somme (1916) produced 57,000 British casualties in just one day. The Battle of Arras (1917) saw the first underground hospital built in chalk tunnels, complete with electricity and operating theatres.
Key Point: The Battle of Cambrai (1917) marked a medical milestone - the world's first blood bank stored 22 units of donated blood in glass bottles.
Weapons evolved faster than medicine. At Ypres (1915), Germans first used chlorine gas, causing suffocation and blindness. By 1917, mustard gas was burning through clothing and causing internal blisters. British soldiers initially used urine-soaked cotton pads as gas masks before proper equipment arrived.
Medical Innovations and Surgical Advances
WWI transformed medicine forever, turning battlefield desperation into revolutionary treatments that we still use today. These innovations didn't just save soldiers - they changed civilian medicine for good.
X-ray technology became portable for the first time. Mobile X-ray units helped doctors quickly locate shrapnel and bullets, preventing deadly infections. Meanwhile, blood transfusions evolved from risky experiments to life-saving procedures when doctors learned to add sodium citrate to prevent clotting.
The Thomas Splint proved that simple tools could be miraculous. Before 1915, leg wounds had only a 20% survival rate. This straightforward device kept broken legs immobile, boosting survival rates to an incredible 82%. Similarly, the Carrel-Dakin method fought gas gangrene using sterilised salt solution pumped through wounds.
Brain surgery became possible thanks to American neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing, who used magnets to remove metal fragments and pioneered local anaesthetic techniques. Plastic surgery emerged when Harold Gillies began reconstructing faces destroyed by shrapnel, performing 12,000 operations by war's end.
Key Point: These WWI medical innovations - from portable X-rays to plastic surgery - formed the foundation of modern emergency medicine and trauma surgery.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Medicine During WW1 in the British Western Front
Sheyana
@sheyana_nsof
The Western Front during WWI was a medical nightmare that forced rapid innovation in battlefield medicine. British doctors and medics faced horrific new weapons, deadly diseases, and massive casualties that pushed medical knowledge forward faster than ever before.
Medical Challenges and the Chain of Evacuation
Ever wondered how soldiers survived the brutal trenches of WWI? The answer lies in a revolutionary chain of evacuation - a step-by-step system that saved countless lives despite overwhelming challenges.
Transport was absolutely chaotic. Only 16 stretcher bearers served entire battalions of 1,000 men, and they had to navigate shell-cratered terrain whilst carrying wounded soldiers through constant bombardment. Early horse-drawn ambulances actually made injuries worse by shaking patients about, until motor ambulances arrived in 1914.
The trenches bred three main killers: trench foot (caused by standing in freezing, muddy water), trench fever , and shell shock (what we now call PTSD). Tragically, many shell shock victims were shot for cowardice because mental health wasn't understood.
Key Point: The four-stage evacuation system - RAP, Dressing Stations, CCS, and Base Hospitals - moved patients from frontline first aid to major surgery, saving lives through organised care.
Wounds were devastating. High explosive shells caused 58% of injuries, whilst machine guns firing 500 rounds per minute shattered bones. The introduction of the Brodie helmet in 1915 reduced fatal head wounds by 80%, proving that simple innovations could be lifesavers.
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Trench Systems and Major Battles
The trench system wasn't just about fighting - it created unique medical challenges that doctors had never faced before. These narrow, zigzag trenches protected soldiers but made treating wounded men nearly impossible during battles.
Four types of trenches formed the defensive system: frontline (closest to enemy), support (80m back for retreating), communications (connecting trenches), and reserve . When someone got injured in the frontline, getting them out was a nightmare.
Each major battle brought new medical horrors and breakthroughs. The Battle of the Somme (1916) produced 57,000 British casualties in just one day. The Battle of Arras (1917) saw the first underground hospital built in chalk tunnels, complete with electricity and operating theatres.
Key Point: The Battle of Cambrai (1917) marked a medical milestone - the world's first blood bank stored 22 units of donated blood in glass bottles.
Weapons evolved faster than medicine. At Ypres (1915), Germans first used chlorine gas, causing suffocation and blindness. By 1917, mustard gas was burning through clothing and causing internal blisters. British soldiers initially used urine-soaked cotton pads as gas masks before proper equipment arrived.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Medical Innovations and Surgical Advances
WWI transformed medicine forever, turning battlefield desperation into revolutionary treatments that we still use today. These innovations didn't just save soldiers - they changed civilian medicine for good.
X-ray technology became portable for the first time. Mobile X-ray units helped doctors quickly locate shrapnel and bullets, preventing deadly infections. Meanwhile, blood transfusions evolved from risky experiments to life-saving procedures when doctors learned to add sodium citrate to prevent clotting.
The Thomas Splint proved that simple tools could be miraculous. Before 1915, leg wounds had only a 20% survival rate. This straightforward device kept broken legs immobile, boosting survival rates to an incredible 82%. Similarly, the Carrel-Dakin method fought gas gangrene using sterilised salt solution pumped through wounds.
Brain surgery became possible thanks to American neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing, who used magnets to remove metal fragments and pioneered local anaesthetic techniques. Plastic surgery emerged when Harold Gillies began reconstructing faces destroyed by shrapnel, performing 12,000 operations by war's end.
Key Point: These WWI medical innovations - from portable X-rays to plastic surgery - formed the foundation of modern emergency medicine and trauma surgery.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: Western Front
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user