Hospital Ships
During the Second World War, wounded soldiers were carried off the battlefield on a stretcher to be treated at a Regimental Aid Post. They would then be transferred by stretcher bearers or a suitable vehicle to a Casualty Clearing Station via motorised ambulance. Then onto hospital via either: motorised transport, train, aircraft or hospital ship.
Some passenger Liners/Cargo Ships were converted to hospital Ships. The ships were painted white with Red Crosses on the sides. The ship offered a smooth passage from the theatres of war back to the UK.
A patient on the ORDES orthopaedic table aboard the MAINE.. © IWM (A 20342).
The Hospital Ship MAINE. © IWM (A 20354).
The stern of the 'Atlantis Liverpool' hospital ship moored in a harbour. The bow of another boat is on the right and in the background is a coastal town. © IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 2049).
SECOND WORLD WAR CONTENTS:
References