Royal Army Dental Corps WW2Army Medical Services
British Army

Including

Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)
Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC)
Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC)
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC)

RAMC RADC RAVDQARANC

Please link profiles of those who served in the above Corps to this project regardless of rank, conflict or nationality. People of note can be individually listed in Alphabetical Order below.

See also

Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) - WW1

History

Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)

See Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) - WW1

Surgeons were historically employed on a regimental basis. An Army Medical Department existed at the start of the Crimean War.

In 1855 the Medical Staff Corps (other ranks) was formed in response to the needs of the Crimean War. This was Officered by Regimental Surgeons. In 1857 it was re-designated Army Hospital Corps.
Regimental employment ceased in 1873 and surgeons became Army Medical Staff in the Army Medical Department. A year later in 1884 The Army Hospital Corps and the Army Medical Staff were merged to form a single Medical Staff Corps, which in 1898 was renamed Royal Army Medical Corps.
In 1901 a separate Dental Service branch of the RAMC was formed. (See Below). In 1952 the crown on the badge of the RAMC was changed.

The RAMC bear arms for personal protection only, in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

Motto/Badge Inscription In arduis fidelis (Faithful in adversity).
Uniform Blue, with dull cherry piping and facings.
Corps March - The first march of the corps was Sousa's Washington Post, but in 1914 a change was made to Her Bright Eyes Haunt Me Still , an arrangement of an 1856 composition in honour of Florence Nightingale
Her Bright Eyes Haunt Me Still .
In 1923 Bonnie Nell was favoured but replaced in 1948 by a 17th Century air, Here's a health unto His Majesty
Here's a health unto His Majesty.
Her Bright Eyes was re-introduced as the Corps slow march. When HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was Colonel-in-Chief, The Eriskay Love Lilt would be played on officer's guest nights. You Tube Royal Army Medical Corps (Quick March - Here's a Health Unto His Majesty)TheMarches09
Corps Date - 23rd June - set down in 1948 (50th Anniversary of the formation of the RAMC). Nick-name

• Castor Oil Dragoons
• Linseed Lancers
• Rats After Mouldy Cheese
• Rob All My Comrades – Royal Army Medical Corps (derogatory back-acronym from the belief that medical personnel took advantage of their position to steal from casualties)

Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC)

Army Dental CorpsRoyal Army Dental CorpsRoyal Army Dental Corps

Historically there were problems when teeth were needed to bite open cartridges when loading firearms. When the musket was phased out in favour of the percussion rifle there wasn't the same interest in soldier's teeth and neglect was the order of the day. Dentists had to be shipped out to South Africa during the Anglo Boer War to deal with poor dental health which impaired the efficiency of the army.

Before 1901 a Dental Service was provided by the Regimental Surgeon. In 1901 a Dental service was formed within the Royal Medical Corps until 1921 when it became the independent Army Dental Corps which was responsible for treating soldiers and airmen at home and abroad. Over 1000 ADC's served in WW1. In 1946 it became the Royal Army Dental Corps and assigned a new badge. In 1952 to Crown was changed in the badge - see above 1952 image.

The RADC bear arms for personal protection only, in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

Today, dental surgeons (officers) supported by technicians and surgery assistants (other ranks), serve in camp hospitals, field centres and laboratories, mobile teams and field ambulances. They are responsible for primary dental care for soldiers, entitles civilians and their dependants across the world.

Motto Ex Dentibus Ensis (From the teeth a sword).
Uniform Blue, with emerald green piping and facings.
Corps March - Green Facings - bringing together the old English airs of Green Broom and Greensleeves You Tube - "Green Facings" — Coldstream Guards
Nick-name - "Fang-snatchers"

Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC)

Army Veterinary Department Helmet Plate Army Veterinary CorpsRoyal Army Veterinary CorpsRoyal Army Veterinary Corps

Army Veterinary Service personnel have probably been present at every campaign undertaken by the British Army since. Primarily concerned with horses for the first 150 years the Army Veterinary and Remount Service (amalgamated in 1942) became responsible in 1946 for managing the Army's dog resources.

Prior to the 1790's there were no qualified veterinary surgeons (either military or civilian). Formal veterinary training began in 1791 with the foundation of a School of Veterinary Medicine in London.

The Service was founded in 1796 'to improve the practice of Farriery in the Corps of Cavalry' when the public was outraged that more Army horse were lost as the result of poor care than by enemy action. The Head of the Veterinary School was appointed Principal Veterinary Surgeon to the Cavalry and Veterinary Surgeon to the Board of Ordnance (responsible for Artillery and Engineers). He was also charged with the formation of the Army Veterinary Service through which a qualified veterinary surgeon was appointed to each cavalry regiment. Veterinary surgeons were commissioned into the army, appointments organised on a regimental basis. John Shipp was the first veterinary surgeon commissioned into the Army. He joined the 11th Light Dragoons on 25 June 1796, a date now recognised as the Foundation Day of the RAVC - John Shipp Day.

The Veterinary Medical Department was formed in 1858. In 1881 the regimental appointments were abolished (except for the Household Cavalry) and an Army Veterinary Department (officers) formed followed by (other ranks) Corps in 1903.

The "Royal'" prefix was added in 1918, conferred by King George V in recognition of the Corps' devoted services during WW1. A new design badge was issued. The crown on this badge was changed in 1952.

ARD Until 1941 the procurement and supply of horses to the Army was the responsibility of the Army Remount Department, but in 1941 the Department was reorganised as the Army Veterinary and Remount Services staffed by RAVC personnel.

Mechanisation banished horses from the Army except for ceremonial purposes, and today the equine responsibilities of the Corps are limited to the procurement and veterinary care of the mounts for the Household Cavalry, The King's Troop RHA and the Royal Military Police. However, whilst the importance of horses has declined, that of dogs has increased. The RAVC is responsible for the procurement of dogs and also the training of the dogs and their handlers for military duty.

The RAVC is part of the Army Medical Service but is also associated with the Adjutant General's Corps.

There are 546 Army Veterinary Corps casualties listed at Casualties recorded at CWGC AVC WW1 206 of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps CWGC RAVC WW1

Uniform Blue, with pipings and facings maroon.
Corps March Arrangement of Drink Puppy Drink and A-Hunting We Will Go

Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC)

(Commonly known as the QAs)

The corps traces its heritage to Florence Nightingale, who was instrumental in lobbying for the support of female military nurses. Sidney Herbert, Secretary of State for War, wrote to Florence Nightingale asking her if she would organise a party of nurses to take to the Crimea and superintend the nursing in Scutari. Nursing care was provided to the army during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) and the English Civil War and Interregnum (1642-1660) when Parliament employed nurses at the three military hospitals in London.

Timeline

1881 - Army Nursing Service (ANS) was formed after the problems of the Crimean War. Nurses accompanied the army on campaign in Egypt and the Sudan.
1887 - Princess Christian, Queen Victoria’s daughter, gave her name to the Army Nursing Service Reserve and the Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service who served with the British Army during the Anglo-Boer War. The force that went to South Africa was the largest ever sent abroad. 1897 - Nursing Reserve (NR) was formed.
1902 - ANS and NR were reorganised and renamed Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) by Royal Warrant, named after Queen Alexandra, who became its President. Queen Alexandra was a Danish princess before she married King Edward VII and chose the cross of the Order of Dannebrog as the basis of the badge of the QAIMNS. The motto, Sub Cruce Candida, (Under the White Cross), was adopted by the Corps.
1907 - Territorial Army Nursing Service (TANS) was formed.
1914-1918 At the outbreak of war in 1914 there were under 300 nurses in the QAIMNS. By the end of the war there were 10,404 (including reservists). Army nurses served in Flanders, the Mediterranean, the Balkans, the Middle East and onboard hospital ships. Almost 200 army nurses died on active service and in 1916, when the Military Medal was instituted as an award for bravery, some of the first awards went to military nurses. CWGC 76 Nurses and CWWGC 128 Staff Nurses 9 Probationer Nurses recorded.

1939-1945 With the outbreak of World War 2, nurses served all over the world, including Norway, Iceland, Greece, Ceylon and South Africa. The changing working conditions and wartime shortages led to changes in uniform. Khaki slacks and battledress blouses replaced the grey and scarlet ward dress and rank insignia was adopted to signify the officer status of the nurses. In the Far East the fall of Hong Kong and Singapore led to many army nurses being captured by the Japanese and placed in Far East prisoner-of-war camps.

1949 - QAIMNS were amalgamated with TANS to become a regular corps in the British Army and renamed Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC)

July 1950 the first non-commissioned ranks were admitted to the Corps and in 1954 the first nurses to undertake State Registered Nurse training within the Corps successfully passed their examinations. QARANC was still an all-female organisation as male nurses were members of the RAMC and it was not until April 1992 that male nurses transferred to the QARANC and female non-nursing trades transferred from the QARANC to the RAMC and RADC. (Male nurses had briefly been admitted in 1904 and wore a bronze version of the QAIMNS cape badge.)
October 1967 the QARANC Depot and Training Establishment had a purpose built home built at the Royal Pavilion in Aldershot, where it remained until it’s transfer to Keogh Barracks in Mytchett in 1996.

Motto - Sub cruce candida (Under the White Cross)
Uniform - Dark Grey, facings scarlet
Corps March - Grey and Scarlet composed by the RAMC Director of Music in 1950 - an arrangement of Purcell's King Arthur and the air Gentle Maiden You Tube - Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (March Past Music) Foundation Day 27 March

Equivalent Army rank (from 1941) The 'QAs" are known by their rank, which is preceded by the letter Q as in QCpl.

• Staff Nurse (Phased out before 1941)
• Sister ➜ Lieutenant
• Senior Sister ➜ Captain
• Matron ➜ Major
• Principal Matron ➜ Lieutenant-Colonel
• Chief Principal Matron ➜ Colonel
• Matron-in-Chief ➜ Brigadier

References, Sources and Further Reading

• WIKI Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
• British Army Website
• Army Medical Services Museum
• QARANC
• Women Medal Recipients - Military and Civilian
  
  

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Notable Army Medical Services Personnel

British born

(Combined list)

Names with Bold links are to Geni profiles or projects. Other links take you to external biographical web pages.

• WIKI Royal Army Medical Corps officers
• WIKI Royal Army Medical Corps soldiers

A

• Captain Harold Ackroyd VC died 11/8/1917 WIKI Harold Ackroyd
  
• Major William Barnsley Allen VC DSO MC (1892-1933)
  
• Captain Henry John Andrews VC, MBE (23 March 1871 – 22 October 1919) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross. Service/branch - British Indian Army, Indian Medical Services Waziristan Campaign Born in London. WIKI Henry John Andrews

B

• Lieutenant General Sir William Babtie VC KCB KCMG (7 May 1859 – 11 September 1920) Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross. Second Boer War WIKI William Babti
• Dame Ethel Becher, Matron in Chief 1910 – 1919
• William Bradshaw VC (12 February 1830 – 9 March 1861), born in Thurles, County Tipperary, was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. Assistant Surgeon, Crimean War - 50th Regiment of Foot and 90th regiment of Foot. WIKI William Bradshaw
• Dame Sidney Browne, Matron in Chief 1902 – 1906

C

• Brigadier Helen Cattanach, Matron in Chief 1973 – 1977
• Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC died 4/8/1917
• Major Dr. Thomas Joseph Crean, VC DSO (Dublin, Ireland, 19 April 1873 – Mayfair, London 25 March 1923) was an Irish rugby union player, British Army soldier and doctor. 2nd Boer War and WW1. WIKI Thomas Crean
• Colonel John Crimmin VC CB CIE VD (19 March 1859 – 20 February 1945) Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. Indian Army, Bombay Medical Service. Karen-Ni Expedition, Burma. WIKI John Crimmin
• Brigadier Dame Barbara Cozens, Matron in Chief 1960 – 1964

D

• Major General Henry Edward Manning Douglas VC CB CMG DSO (11 July 1875 – 14 February 1939) English recipient of the Victoria Cross. Royal Army Medical Corps, 2nd Boer War. Fought in WW1. WIKI Henry Edward Manning Douglas

E

F

• Joseph John Farmer VC (15 May 1854 – 30 June 1930) English recipient of the Victoria Cross, Army Hospital Corps, Anglo Zulku War and First Boer War. WIKI Joseph John Farmer
• Andrew Fitzgibbon VC (13 May 1845 – 7 March 1883) Irish soldier, possibly the youngest recipient of the Victoria Cross. British Indian Army, Apothecary, Indian Medical Establishment - Second Opium War. WIKI Andrew Fitzgibbon
• Sir Alexander Fleming

G

• Brigadier Dame Helen Gillespie, Matron in Chief 1952 – 1956
• Brigadier Dame Monica Golding, Matron in Chief 1956 – 1960
• Brigadier Barbara Gordon, Matron in Chief 1968 – 1973
• Captain John Leslie Green VC died 1/07/1916 WIKI John Leslie Green

H

• Surgeon Major Thomas Egerton Hale VC CB (24 September 1832 – 25 December 1909) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross. Lieutenant Colonel, 7th Regiment of Foot, 43rd Regiment of Foot, 94th Regiment of Foot. Crimean War and Indian Mutiny. WIKI Thomas Egerton Hale
• Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC (23 February 1912 – 23 January 1945) English recipient of the Victoria Cross. Royal Army Medical Corps, World War II. WIKI Henry Eric Harden
• Florence Hodgins, Matron in Chief 1924 – 1928
• Surgeon General Sir Anthony Dickson Home VC KCB (30 November 1826 – 10 August 1914) Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross. 3rd West India Regiment, 13th Hussars, 90th Regiment of Foot, 35th Regiment of Foot, 8th Hussars; Crimean War, Indian Mutiny, Second Anglo-Chinese War, New Zealand Wars, Third Anglo-Ashanti War. WIKI Anyhony Home
• Major General Sir Neville Reginald Howse VC, KCB, KCMG (26 October 1863 – 19 September 1930) British-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross. Director General of Medical Services; Australian Army Medical Corps. Second Boer War, First World War. WIKI Neville Howse
• Lilian Hunnings, Matron in Chief 1946 – 1948

I

• Colonel Edgar Thomas Inkson VC DSO (5 April 1872 – 19 February 1947) recipient of the Victoria Cross, born in India. Royal Army Medical Corps. Second Boer War, World War I. WIKI Edgar Inkson
  

J

• Deputy Surgeon General Joseph Jee VC CB (9 February 1819 – 17 March 1899) English recipient of the Victoria Cross. Anglo Persian War, Indian Mutiny. Honorary Surgeon to the Queen WIKI Joseph Jee
• Dame Katharine Jones, Matron in Chief 1940 – 1944

K

• Caroline Keer, Matron in Chief 1906 – 1910

L

• Lieutenant-Colonel Ferdinand Simeon Le Quesne VC (25 December 1863 – 14 April 1950) Jersey, Channel Islands born recipient of the Victoria Cross. Royal Army Medical Corps, Second Boer War, World War I WIKI Ferdinand Le Quesne
• Major General Sir Owen Edward Pennefather Lloyd VC KCB (1 January 1854 – 5 July 1941) Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. Royal Army Medical Corps - Kachin Hills Expedition. WIKI Owen Edward Pennefather Lloyd

M

• Staff Surgeon William Job Maillard VC (10 March 1863 – 10 September 1903) English recipient of the Victoria Cross. Royal Navy. HMS Blake, HMS Hazard; 1898 Occupation of Crete WIKI William Job Maillard
• Captain George Allan Malling VC (1888-1929)
• Surgeon General William George Nicholas Manley, VC, CB (17 December 1831 – 16 November 1901) British Army officer, surgeon - recipient of the Victoria Cross. Royal Regiment of Artillery, Royal Army Medical Corps. Crimean War, New Zealand Land Wars, Franco-Prussian War, Second Anglo-Afghan War, Anglo-Egyptian War WIKI William Manley
• Daisy Martin, Matron in Chief 1934 – 1938
• Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Martin-Leake VC & Bar (1874-1953)
• Private Richard George Masters VC (1877-1963) WIKI Richard George Masters
• Dame Maud McCarthy, Matron in Chief 1914 – 1919 - service during the Boer War and WW1
• Colonel Bridget McEvilly, Matron in Chief 1999 – 2002
• Surgeon Valentine Munbee McMaster VC (16 May 1834 – Belfast 22 January 1872) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross. 8th Highlanders, Anglo-Persian War, Indian Mutiny, Umbeyla Campaign WIKI Valentine McMaster
• Marguerite Medforth, Matron in Chief 1930 – 1934
• Brigadier Joan Moriarty, Matron in Chief 1977 – 1981
• Surgeon General James Mouat VC KCB (14 April 1815 – 4 January 1899) English recipient of the Victoria Cross. Crimean War, New Zealand Wars WIKI James Mouat

N

O

• Dame Sarah Oram, Matron in Chief 1915 – 1919
• Rosabelle Osborne, Matron in Chief 1928 – 1930

P

Q

R

• Captain Harry Sherwood Ranken VC died 25/9/1914 WIKI Harry Ranken
• Lieutenant-Colonel James Henry Reynolds VC (3 February 1844 – 4 March 1932), born Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), County Dublin, Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. Bfritish Army. Army Medical Department. Ango-Zulu War - Rorke's Drift. WIKI James Henry Reynolds
• Catherine Roy, Matron in Chief 1938 – 1940
• Captain John Fox Russell VC died 6/11/1917

S

• Surgeon Major William Henry Thomas Sylvester VC (16 April 1831 – 13 March 1920) English recipient of the Victoria Cross. British Army. 23rd Regiment of Foot, 25th Regiment of Foot. Crimean War, Indian Mutiny. WIKI William Henry Thomas Sylvester
• Dame Anne Beadsmore Smith, Matron in Chief 1919 – 1924

T

• Lieutenant Colonel William Temple VC (7 November 1833 – 13 February 1919) British Army officer and an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. British Army. Royal Regiment of Artillery. New Zealand Wars. William Temple (VC)
• Brigadier Dame Anne Thomson, Matron in Chief 1948 – 1952
• Brigadier Dame Margot Turner, Matron in Chief 1964 – 1968 - active service in WW2. She survived being ship wrecked before being taken Prisoner by the Japanese Army . She survived and had an illustrious nursing and military career and became a Colonel Commandant of the QAs.

U

V

W

• Surgeon Major Harry Frederick Whitchurch VC (22 September 1866 – 16 August 1907) English recipient of the Victoria Cross. British Indian Army, Indian medical Services. Lushai Expedition, Malakand Frontier War, Chitral Expedition, Boxer Rebellion WIKI Harry Frederick Whitchurch
• Dame Louisa Wilkinson, Matron in Chief 1944 – 1946

X-Y-Z

Notable Army Medical Services Personnel

Born - Rest of the World

• Lieutenant Colonel Campbell Mellis Douglas VC (5 August 1840 in Quebec City – 31 December 1909), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross. assistant surgeon in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers), British Army during the Andaman Islands Expedition. WIKI Campbell Mellis Douglas
• Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson VC, MC (16 December 1883 – 9 April 1954) was an American-born Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) during WW1. WIKI Bellenden Hutcheson Hutcheson was a graduate of Northwestern University Medical School. In 1915, he renounced his United States citizenship in order to join the Canadian Army as a medical officer. He reclaimed his American citizenship after the war. 75th (Mississauga) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. WIKI Bellenden Hitcheson
  
• Major-General William Henry Snyder Nickerson VC CB CMG (27 March 1875, Dorchester, New Brunswick – 1954), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross. Royal Army Medical Corps, Second Boer War, World War I WIKI William Henry Snyder Nickerson
• Surgeon General Herbert Taylor Reade VC CB (2 September 1828, Perth, Upper Canada – 23 June 1897, Bath), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross. 61st Regiment of Foot, British Army. Indian Mutiny WIKI Herbert Taylor Reade
• Francis Alexander Caron Scrimger VC (February 10, 1880 – February 13, 1937), was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross. Service/branch - Canadian Expeditionary Force. WW1 WIKI Francis Alexander Caron Scrimger
  
• Brigadier John Alexander Sinton, VC, OBE, FRS, DL (2 December 1884 – 25 March 1956) was a Canadian born British medical doctor, malariologist and soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross. WW1 WIKI John Alexander Sinton
  

References and Further Reading

• WIKI Royal Army medical Corps
• WIKI Royal Army Dental Corps
• WIKI Royal Army Veterinary Corps
• WIKI Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
  

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