US, British and Allied Reenactment

Hi,

I am looking for information on British army stretchers.
Recently I came across two photographs showing a stretcher in use in WW1, that had little wheels underneath.
So there must have been different patterns around. Whilst sorting some of the shelves of my bookcase(s) I came across two early RAMC books, and presto: there was some light at the end of the WW1 tunnel!

The 1904 published Manual for the RAMC (184 pages) has the following on stretchers. In Section II: RAMC drills and exercises, chapter II: Stretcher Drill is a 'Description of Stretchers':
The regulation ambulance stretchers in use are those known as Mark I and Special Mark I. In these stretchers the canvas, which is tanned, is fastened to the poles by copper nails through an edging of leather; the poles are square and kept apart the required distance by two flat, wrought-iron jointed bars called traverses, and they are fitted with four rackets each carrying a three-inch gunmetal or wooden roller. A pillow and pair of shoulder slings are provided with each stretcher. The pillows are wedge-shaped, varying from three and a-half to one and a-half inches in thickness, and are kept in the ambulance wagon for use with the stretchers supplied with the wagon. There are eyelet holes in the canvas of the stretcher at both ends for the attachment of the pillow at either end by strings. The sling, which is either a broad leather strap, or, if of the latest pattern, a strip of tanned web, has at either end a loop, one of which is furnished with a buckle by means of which the sling can be lengthened or shortened, and at the opposite end is a narrow transverse strap fixed at right angles, which is buckled round the stretcher when closed.
The ambulance stretcher, Special Mark I, is fitted with a hood for use in hot climates, and four handles, two on each side, so that it can be carried by six bearers. It is also provided with four shoulder pads. This stretcher is adapted for carrying a wounded man a long distance.
The following are the dimensions and weight of the field stretcher, Mark I:
Length canvas 6' 0"
length pole 7' 9"
Width, total 1' 11"
Height 0' 5 7/8"
Weight 34 lbs.
Tonnage .08 tons.

The 1911 copy of the 'RAMC Training' (reprinted 1914) has over 450 pages. Part III, Chapter XVIII on the 'Transport of Wounded' states the following:
paragraph 303: Army Pattern Ambulance Stretchers.-
The ambulance stretcher in use in the British Army are those known as Mark II. Those formerly known as Mark I are being converted to this pattern as Mark I*; a third pattern, fitted with hood, is known as Special Mark I.
304: In Mark II stretchers the canvas, which is tanned, is fastened to the poles by copper nails through an edging of leather; the poles are square and kept apart the required distance by two flat, wrought-iron jointed bars called traverses, and are fitted on the under side with steel U-shaped runners. A pillow and a pair of shoulder-slings are provided with each stretcher. The pillows are wedge-shaped, varying from 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches in thickness. There are eyelet holes in the canvas of the stretcher at both ends for the attachment of the pillows by thin leather thongs. The sling, which is of tanned web, has at either end a loop, one of which is furnished with a brass grip-plate, by means of which the sling can be lengthened or shortened; at the opposite end is a narrow, transverse strap fixed at right angles, which is buckled round the stretcher when closed.
The following are the dimensions and weight Mark II and Mark I* stretchers:-
Length canvas 6' 0"
length pole 7' 9"
Width, total 1' 11"
Height 0' 6"
Weight 30 lbs.
Tonnage without pillow .0364 ton.
Tonnage Pillow only .015 ton.
305 The Special Mark I ambulance stretcher is fitted with a collapsible hood for use in hot climates or for protection from the rain, and with four hinged handles, two on each side, so that it can be carried by six bearers. It is also provided with four shoulder pads. This stretcher is adapted for special expeditions where natives would be employed for carrying the wounded, and is well adapted for carrying a wounded man a long distance. It weighs 8lb. more than the Mark II and the Mark I* stretchers.

The WW1 Mark II model was continued in the WW2.
Apart from date markings on the wooden poles, there may have been some differences between the Great War model and the WW2 type, eg. the WWI may have had two leather straps to tie the stretcher together, attached to the woodwork, whereas the WW2 has two webbing straps sewn onto the canvas to do this. No definite data has been found on this change, however the 1935 version of RAMC training does mention the two canvas straps.

But when introduced is not clear from what is written in the 1935 published 'RAMC Training' (1940 edition)(438 pages):
paragraph 440: Army pattern ambulance stretchers.- The stretcher in general use in the army is the stretcher, Mark II. A second pattern, the Stretcher, Special is desifgned for use in tropical countries. Another pattern, the Stretcher, C.C.S., is included in the war equipment of a C.C.S.
441. In the Mark II stretcher the canvas, which is tanned, is fastened to the poles by copper nails; the poles are squared and kept apart the required distance by two flat, wrought-iron, jointed bars called traverses, and are fitted on the under side with steel U-shaped runners. The pillow are wedge-shaped, varying from 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches in thickness. There are eyelet holes in the canvas of the stretcher at both ends for the attachment of the pillows by thin leather thongs, and it is fitted with two canvas straps, one at each end, to secure the stretcher when closed. Webbing slings are provided for assistance in carrying stretchers over long distances..
The following are the dimensions, etc. of the Mark II stretcher:-
Length canvas 6' 0"
length pole 7' 9"
Width, total 1' 11"
Height 0' 6"
Weight 30 lbs.
Tonnage for freightage
Without pillow .0364 ton.
Pillow only .015 ton.
442. The Special stretcher is fitted with a collapsible hood for use in hot climates or for protection from the rain, and with four hinged handles, two on each side, so that it can be carried by six bearers. It is also provided with four shoulder pads. This stretcher is designed for special expeditions where natives would be employed for carrying the wounded, and is well adapted for carrying a wounded man a long distance. The weight of the Special stretcher (with pillow) is 38 1/4 lb.
The dimensions are the vsame as those shown for the Mark II pattern,
443. Existing types of stretcher are incapable of being adequately decontaminated after exposure to mustard gas, and experioments are being carried out to evolve a type which will meet all requirements.

1943 'RAMC Training Pamphlet No. 1' (27 pages0states on the first page: RAMC Training, 1935, Part A-Military Training- is to be revised. Until a revised edition is complete the Progressive Field Training for Stretcher Bearers, shown in Part I of this training pamphlet, will be substituted for the stretcher exercises contained in RAMC Training, 1935, Chapter VII, paras. 53 to 80. On page 21 a wide webbing sling for stretcher bearers is shown in a drawing. Reference to the sling is: stretcher sling. This is the 'single' model.
Amendments No. 1 to the RAMC Training pamphlet No. 1 gives the drill for the application of the stretcher harness manifold.

The 1944 RAMC Training Pamphlet No. 3 (360 pages) does not have any information on the actual stretchers.
And this goes also for the 1952 RAMC Training Pamphlet No. 3 (353 pages)

Somehow along that period 1939-1945 (or even later?) the positioning of those steel U-shaped runners, complete with the stretcher tensioning set-up (traverses) has been moved some 3 to 4 inches inwards, looking from the length of each pole. A 1941 dated stretcher carrying trolley, made by Watsonian (of Sidecar fame), does not like the newer set-up, so presumably the change took place after the trolley was made. Any ideas on this?

Apart from the Mark II stretcher, there are two models of folding or 'Airborne' stretchers: one, the 1942 model (my designation) , judging by period photographs, has rounded knobs on the end of each carrying handle. No dates have been found on this model
The later model with a more simple construction of the carrying handles (discontinued the rounded knob on each handle) are sometimes dated on the round end plate of the handles, or alternatively on the 'inside end' of the handle on the flattened piece. But alas, no written source material has been found by me, yet.

Apart from the standard WW2 Mark II and the folding model (Airborne) a contraption was in use called the Neill Robertson stretcher. I have seen instructions on its use in a period RN pamphlet and even some coverage in an Air Force film. Would the army have used this for the removal of wounded out of confined spaces, too?
Any help?

Rob

PS both the 1943 pamphlet No. 1 and the amendment are available as repro on my website: http://www.robvanmeel.nl

text changed and some information on Great War stretchers added.

Rob

the text from the 1935 RAMC Training on stretchers added.

Just to add the RAF Medical Service made extensive use of the Robertson strechers during the war. Especially when it cam to crash rescue from aircraft. There are various ways in which this happened.
One of which states that
"the MT section must have a crane to aid in the extraction of casulties from aircraft".

Would love to be able to find such an example for my collection.

I have been very kindly donated two British Army Stretchers, is there anyway of dating them at all? When i go and pick them up i will get some snaps.

Most stretchers that you find these days, have been converted, presumably for a different set of rails in the post war ambulances, by moving the legs inward, some 12 cm. app. on either end.
If they have not got this conversion, that would make them either WW2 or earlier, or this older pattern was maybe manufactured too, along the moer common type?
Sometimes there is a year stamp in the wood, that could well be the year of manufacturer. Otherwise you could cut the wood and have the year rings examined by an expert: that would give the year in which the tree that was used for the wooden legs, was chopped down!

Didnt think of that!!!

They dont seem to have been modified, however you never know!

Cheers

Ah ha!!

MAtter now sorted cheers for the replies.. (And i didnt have to cut the stretcers!!!! )


Shaun