Camaraderie

Private, RAMC - attatched to the Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infatry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, in France 1944

Not currently finished.

Less often remembered in favour of the more 'exciting' soldiers of the Second World War (i.e. the infantry, armoured corps etc), the Royal Army Medical Corps played a vital role in all campaigns. Here, a medical Private drags a wounded comrade from the Durham L I to safety while under fire - above and to the left of the figure are bullets striking the parados.

The medic would have provided immediate first aid, to stabalise the wound and attempt to stop or reduce the catastrophic bleeding that a gunshot wound could cause. In this case he was reasonably lucky - he could do this from the relvative safety of the slit trench, but often this would have to be done while exposed directly to enemy fire. He is now dragging the injured DLI soldier to the rear - to a casualty station, then depending on the severity of the wound, the casualty would be sent to a field hospital or (if possible) returned to England.

The BEF's medical services were actually quite good, with a reasonably efficient system and good hospitals and medical staff. Indeed, plastic surgery was pioneered by British Army medics as they attempted to rebuild patients' shattered faces to give them some sort of life after thier injuries.

This particular medic goes unarmed, carrying instead medical supplies and extra water. In an effort to distinguish that he is a non-combatant, he wears an armband with the red cross on it, but this was not always enough, and many medics became casualties, by deliberate enemy means (i.e. being targeted and shot) or by chance (mortar shell etc).

There are countless stories of medics going into extreme danger to assist and rescue wounded comrades, and it understandable why of the three men who were awarded VCs twice, two of them were serving with the RAMC. As true now as it was then, the medic remained one of the most valued members of any platoon.

This is currently unfinished, I have to do the other side of the slit trench and more troops (and redo that chap on the Vickers. His legs are just.. wrong..) Aside from that details on the two main figures need to adjusted. Taken on a camera phone rather than scanned, hence the shoddy picture quality

Drawn as ever with a cheap crappy HB pencil on photocopy paper..