Auxilarly Hospitals in
World War 1

🩺 Healing the Wounded: The Story of Great War Hospitals

During the First World War, the British Army lost around 877,000 men and a further 1.6 million were wounded. Despite elaborate medical preparations, the system was frequently overwhelmed by the sheer scale of casualties — especially during major battles such as the Somme (1916) and Passchendaele (1917).

This course explores how the military and civilian medical services rose to meet this enormous challenge. We’ll trace the journey of wounded soldiers from the front line to recovery, following their path through:

• Regimental Aid Posts and Dressing Stations, where first aid was given

• Casualty Clearing Stations, dealing with the severely injured

• Auxiliary Hospitals across Britain, including the first in Nottinghamshire at Arnot Hill House in Arnold

We’ll discover the crucial role of doctors, nurses, volunteers and local communities in caring for those who returned home, and how their work transformed both medicine and attitudes toward rehabilitation and post-war care.

This is the story of compassion and courage behind the lines — the unsung contribution of Great War hospitals and the people who ran them.