The medical arrangements in a cavalry division on the Western front are, at present, essentially the same as those which obtain in the infantry. It is only when cavalry is acting in an offensive as cavalry that the work of its regimental medical officers and field ambulances presents novel situations or new problems. For the purposes of this description it does not therefore appear necessary to go into the organization of a cavalry division, but rather to recall the few facts in regard to regiment and brigade that are of moment to the medical
service during an offensive. 

A brigade consists of 3 cavalry regiments and a machine-gun, squadron, together with a signal troop, which, as in the infantry, maintains communication between the brigade headquarters and that of its division.
The cavalry regiment has 3 squadrons and each squadron has 4 troops. The total strength may be placed at about 550 of all ranks. These are provided with something over 600 horses, a machine gun to each troop and the necessary transport. The men are trained in the use of bombs, rifle, bayonet and machine gun in the same way as infantry. so that they can efficiently take up a dismounted position after an advance. They carry
lance or sword, rifle and bayonet. 

The machine-gun squadron is a defensive unit, with duties similar to those of the machine-gun company in the infantry, but is supposed to take up a comparatively more advanced dismounted position. Its strength is upward of 250 of all ranks, with about 300 horses. It is divided into 4 troops, each of which is responsible for 4 guns.
The medical provision for such a force is one medical officer to each regiment and one cavalry field ambulance to each brigade. This ambulance differs in some respects from that previously described, so that a brief account of its organization is advisable, after which a scheme for the collection and evacuation of wounded during an offensive can be considered.

The cavalry field ambulance is a much smaller unit than the corresponding establishment with the infantry. The medical personnel consists of 6 officers, one of whom commands, and 70 non-commissioned officers and men; to which must be added, however, those attached with the transport from the army service corps. For like reasons to those considered in connection with the field ambulance this personnel is first separated into tent and bearer divisions, these being again split into -two subdivisions. A tent and bearer subdivision, taken in conjunction, form what is termed a section. As a final result the establishment assumes the formation shown in Fig. 24, which should be compared with that of Fig. 9. Although the principle is not always adhered to in actual operations, it is intended that the horse and motor ambulances shall work with the bearer division and that the remainder of the transport, carrying medical and other stores, work with the tent division. The latter is also provided with 2 operating tents and 4 bell tents to serve as a field hospital, when houses or huts are not available or insufficient, thus affording accommodation for the official number of fifty patients.

The cavalry field ambulance, the regimental medical officers, with their orderlies and certain equipment, together with stretcher-bearers, of whom 4 are provided by each squadron, make up the immediate medical assistance to a brigade going in to action. When a cavalry regiment enters upon an offensive its medical officer selects one of the four stretcher-bearers from each squadron, and with these, and his medical orderly and groom, "all mounted," follows the regiment in its advance. 

He knows its objective and is thus enabled to choose a suitable situation for his aid post. When the site is decided upon he immediately sends forward the three stretcher-bearers to get in touch with their squadrons. These bearers direct all walking wounded and troopers who have lost their horses, and are thus casualties, to the aid post. They remain with their respective squadrons and continue to direct walking wounded to the rear,
and do not dismount until the unit has taken up a dismounted position. On this occurring they give their horses over to the horse-holders or turn them loose, and begin work, which is the same as that of the infantry stretcher-bearers.

Meanwhile the medical officer uses his groom and orderly to keep in touch with the pack section of the field ambulance, which is following, and brigade headquarters. So far as is possible the walking wounded are gathered in small parties and placed in charge of a senior wounded or un-wounded trooper. A signal is put up, such as a dressing or bandage on a pole as a guide to the pack section of the ambulance. The medical officer,
receiving information as to the position of his regiment, will probably again move forward, leaving
little groups of wounded at convenient points, but meanwhile allowing the more seriously wounded to remain where they have fallen for collection after the action.

The cavalry field ambulance follows the forward movement in echelon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FIRST ECHELON OR PACK SECTION.

​

Stretcher bearers, under a medical officer, are sent forward with dressings and stretchers on one or two pack horses. During the advance they travel with or near the brigade headquarters and keep in touch with medical officers of the various regiments.

They form the small parties of wounded into larger parties near or beside a road which can be used by horse transport. These are left in charge of the senior wounded or un-wounded soldier to be later picked up by the horse transport section of the ambulance. The pack section continues to advance until it reaches a position suitable for a collecting station at such time as the brigade may take up a dismounted position. Not until the
brigade has taken up such a position do the stretcher bearers of the regiment or the stretcher-bearers of the pack section collect the lying wounded.

 

THE SECOND ECHELON OR WHEEL TRANSPORT SECTION

 

One medical officer, the remainder of the stretcher-bearers and 3 or 4 men from the tent subdivision, with a limber containing dressings and splints, move up to establish an advance dressing station as far forward as possible. The light horse ambulances also take part and collect the groups of wounded left by the pack section, bringing them to the advance dressing station. When the brigade takes up a dismounted position the stretcher bearers rejoin their comrades in the pack section and form the stretcher-bearer party to carry the lying wounded. At the advance dressing station a certain number of wounds are dressed and limbs splinted, and these casualties are then sent back to the main dressing station in motor ambulances.

THE THIRD ECHELON OR FIELD HOSPITAL SECTION.-
 

This is the tent division, which establishes a small dressing station, similar to the main dressing station in an infantry division. The wounded are' dressed and evacuated to a casualty clearing station by the motor  ambulance convoy or by the lorries of the supply column returning empty to rail head.

If the cavalry remain in a dismounted position, the medical arrangements will again become similar to those in an infantry division. The pack section will move back or the second echelon will move forward, the two uniting to form the new advance dressing station, to which the wounded will be brought from the regimental aid post by field ambulance stretcher-bearers. The wounded will be taken to the main dressing station, which may or may not move forward, in horse and motor ambulances.