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Experiences of the Great War

Evacuating the wounded

As early as the first month of the First World War, General Douglas Haig had recognised that new technology, especially artillery, would have a devastating effect.

Some 75% of all war casualties were due to artillery.

Haig was particularly concerned with the logistics of evacuating wounded troops. As the war progressed, fully-equipped ambulance trains were brought into service.

'The wounded are conveyed by the horse ambulance wagons from the advanced dressing stations to the divisional dressing station situated about four miles behind. This could only be carried out at night owing to the frequent shelling of the roads during the day.'

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