TRIAGE: Groups 1, 2 and 3

RESUSCITATION: establishment of Field Transfusion Units.

 

The Field Surgical Unit (FSU) evolved from the innovations in place in the Western Desert. The location of this unit was subject to much debate. Whilst it was possible to attach them to the field ambulance, little or no post-operative holding and care was possible as the unit was committed to maintaining contact with its parent division in conventional ground operations. Thus it was considered unwise to locate FSU's at this level in the evacuation chain. However, there were circumstances where evacuation rearwards was either not possible or involved a substantial journey. The formation of parachute and glider forces required a plan for the surgical treatment and holding of casualties prior to the link up with ground forces and so specific surgical teams were developed for this role (14). The plan for Field Surgical Units was further elaborated in the Field Surgery Pocket (12) book and included designs for their internal layout.

These are shown at Figure 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig 6. Designs for Field Surgical Units.

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SURGERY: airborne forces require integral surgical support.

 

All available evidence had demonstrated the need for the CCS to have sufficient integral mobility to enable the medical services to organise the re-deployment of the unit rather than relying on the transport organisation. The allocation of additional transport did not meet with the approval of the War Office.

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The CCS was reduced in size to accommodate 120 casualties (50 in beds and 70 on stretchers) but retained the historical three tasks: surgical treatment of battle casualties, accommodation of casualties until evacuation and retention of mild sick or injured.

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MOBILITY: CCS reduced in size to facilitate mobility.

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The role of the General Hospital was also revised. This was now fixed at 200 beds (in contrast to the 600 and 1200 bed units previously established). These hospitals were to be situated at the railhead or airhead and to assume in the evacuating function previously undertaken by the CCS.

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The Hartgill Committee reported in 1942 and re-organisation started. This was constrained by the difficulties of reorganising units committed to operations in the Middle East. In the event, the only organisation that conformed to the new scheme was 21 Army Group landing in Normandy in 1944.

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Tunisia And The Mediterranean Front 1943-1945

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The First Army landed in Northern Tunisia in November 1942. CCSs were organised on ‘light scales’ for the assault landing. The speed of the advance put considerable pressure on the transport system and this in turn precluded the expansion of CCSs into the ‘heavier’ scales. These same principles were applied to the organisation of the general hospitals. Each was designed to be moved and set up in tactical blocks. This enabled the hospitals to be self-contained and to function immediately on opening.

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The First Army and the Eighth Army met up in 1943. The Mediterranean Front then extended to an invasion of Sicily and finally a slow, tortuous slog Northwards through Italy. The field medical services remained essentially unchanged from that which had evolved in the desert.

 

However, the strategic emphasis shifted towards Northern Europe and so many units were redeployed to UK in preparation for D-Day.

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