Medical Staff Corps

The Medical Staff Corps

The Medical Staff Corps was raised by Royal Warrant dated 11 June 1855, to provide the army with orderlies for the care of the sick and wounded in General Military Hospitals during the Eastern Campaign of 1854–1856. It replaced the short-lived Hospital Conveyance Corps which had been hastily raised to transport the wounded during the Crimean War.

In 1853, Russia went to war with the Ottoman Empire. On 22 February 1854, an Army of Observation proceeded to Malta. In March 1854, Britain found herself in a major conflict for the first time since the Napoleonic Wars. French and British troops landed in the Crimea on 14–16 September 1854.

Prior to the Crimean War, the sick in General Military Hospitals were attended to by non effective soldiers, generally pensioners, receiving various rates of pay from 3d to 6d a day and free rations. Sick soldiers in the regimental hospitals were looked after by regimental orderlies. During the war in the Peninsula, drummers and bandsmen of the corps engaged in the fighting, were used to aid the sick and injured on the battlefield. These soon became overwhelmed by the considerable number of casualties.

In February 1854, Inspector General Andrew Smith, Director General of a combined Army Medical Department and Ordnance Medical Department, clearly foresaw the need for a body of men, not liable to be diverted by any authority from the special service for which it is intended, and to be in every respect, except that of military discipline, under the immediate control of the Medical Department.¹ The DG repeatedly urged the Military Secretary, Horse Guards to raise an ambulance corps for the conveyance of the wounded. It would greatly conduce to the interests of the service, wrote Smith, if a corps of 400 men were organised for duty in connection with the sick and wounded of the force, and that I believe such a corps might easily be raised from able bodied volunteers from the Indian Depôts at Chatham.¹

officer MSC — Warrant Officer MSC. Officers wore a broad red strip on their trousers while the men had red piping. Forage caps of the Medical Staff Corps had a gold cap band with two red stripes; officers had a gold lace with two black lines (RAMC/737/2).

On 4 April 1854, Director General Smith proposed that upon the arrival of the Expeditionary Force in Turkey, 800 natives (preferably Armenians) be assimilated into a corps of special attendants for the service of the sick and wounded, under regular military discipline, which will, if it be wisely organised and properly managed, inspire the combatants with comfort and confidence and greatly advance the cause of humanity.¹

DG Smith failed to get the required authority to raise his ambulance corps. Instead, the War Office prepared a Pensioners' Conveyance Corps for service in the Crimea. The establishment consisted of 10 sergeants and 250 privates as hospital orderlies, and 10 sergeants and 100 privates as ambulance wagon drivers. The hospital orderlies came from pensioners recalled to the colours; the wagon drivers from the pensioners of the artillery. The pay was 1s 10d for sergeants and 1s 3d for privates. The men were untrained for the varied and at times highly specialised services demanded of them; some were too old and many were of disorderly habits. Furthermore, although medical officers supervised their work, there was no true military organisation, no system of command, and neither discipline nor authority could be directly enforced.

The Pensioners' Conveyance Corps arrived in Turkey towards the end of July 1854. It was encamped near Varna where some of the men fell ill with cholera. The men were incapable of looking after their wagons or the wild, unbroken mules that had been handed over to them as draught animals. There were no farriers, smiths or wheelwrights; not a single man could shoe a horse or assemble a wagon. They could not repair the slightest defect and broken wagons had to be abandoned. In addition, the harnesses sent out from England were made for large horses required to pull heavy wagons and were unsuitable for mules.

At the end of August 1854, the Army embarked at Varna for the Crimea. It reached the Crimea on the morning of 14 September 1854. Part of the Pensioners' Conveyance Corps embarked on the John Masterman Medical Store Transport, with canvas bearers for the conveyance of the wounded men. However, on disembarking in the Crimea the pensioners deliberately left their stretches in their wagons.

The whole Ambulance Corps proved an utter failure. The fighting on the Alma on 20 September 1854 found it totally inefficient for the duties for which it had been detailed. It was only thanks to the assistance of the sailors of the fleet and the loan of a French ambulance that the wounded from Alma were able to be removed from the field.

By December 1854 the Commissariat of the 1st Division was incapable of removing the 253 sick of the Cavalry Division from the lines above Sebastapol to Balaclava. All requests by Staff Surgeon 1st Class Thomas Alexander for arabas to convey the sick had to be turned down. The men and mules of both ambulance waggons were laid up and unfit for work. The severe weather had not only killed a number of oxen and mules but also 20 arabas had been rendered unusable by the incessant wear and tear upon the roads.

On 25 October 1854, DG Smith renewed his efforts to raise his Ambulance Corps. He pointed out to the Military Secretary the total failure of the Corps of Pensioners attached to the Expeditionary Army, the impossibility of engaging locally able bodied soldiers in sufficient number for the requirements of the hospitals, and the unsuitability of relying on the convalescents, who were the only available orderlies, and who were not generally in a state of health to enable them to endure the night watching and to furnish the assistance to the many wounded.

By February 1855, Horse Guards was fully aware that Lord Raglan's ambulance was much disorganised and suggested the formation of an ambulance corps based on the Prussian Ambulance Corps. This consisted of one company with 10 or 15 ambulance carriages to such army corps. Each company had 4 officers, 3 medical officers and 211 Non-Commissioned Officers which was supplied with powerful red light lanterns for distinction at night. A return dated 17 September 1855 compiled by Captain G P Pigott officer-in-charge Ambulance Corps gives a strength of 2 officers and 210 men; 45 of the men were attached from Line Regiments and 111 from the Land Transport Corps.

By March 1855, the preliminaries for the formation of a Medical Staff Corps, with its rate of pay and plan of organisation, were all settled but not put into fruition. The Medical Staff Corps was finally established on 11 June 1855. On 22 June, Captain George Bunbury was placed in charge of its Headquarters at the Invalid depôt Chatham.

On 27 July 1855, the Association Medical Journal, later the British Medical Journal, informed its readers that the Medical Staff Corps at the invalid depôt Chatham, which has been formed under the staff officer, Captain George Bumbery, into eight companies, is now complete. Orders have been sent into the recruiting districts not to enlist any more men. As the Medical Staff Corps is for service in the Crimea, to attend the sick and wounded in the field; and to execute orders from medical officers and from the medical departments, it is necessary that every orderly should be able to read and write. It has been ascertained that 280 young men who have entered and passed medical inspection, and been approved, can neither read nor write. The head-quarters of this Medical Staff Corps will be at Chatham.

SSgt Lee AMD — Sgt Lee Army Medical Department. His cloth helmet with a spike was introduced in 1878. The helmet badge, worn from 1869 to 1878, shows a laurel wreath, surmounted by a Victorian crown, within the wreath, a rope circle with a cross of red enamel on a background of white enamel. The rest in gilt (RAMC/737/2).

On 20 September 1855, the original Warrant of 11 June 1855 constituting the Medical Staff Corps was amended to increase its strength from nine companies (800 men) to ten companies (1200 men). Each company was to be in attendance in a hospital for 500 patients and was to provide soldier servants to medical staff officers serving in General Hospitals at Home. The Medical Staff Corps was to be composed of a Purveyor's Department and a Surgeon's Department. The non-commissioned officers though taking ranks with those of the other corps of the army were not to wear the ordinary distinctions of NCOs on their uniforms but were to wear other distinctions by which the different grades were to be shown.

The Purveyor's Department had: 1 steward to rank as sergeant major, 4 assistant stewards to rank as sergeants, 6 issuers to rank as privates, 2 washermen to rank as corporals, 1 cook to rank as sergeant, 4 assistant cooks to rank as privates.

The Surgeon's Department had: 1 wardmaster to rank as colour sergeant, 8 assistant wardmasters to rank as corporals, 3 barbers to rank as privates, 20 orderlies of the 1st class to rank as privates, 70 orderlies of the 2nd class to rank as privates.

Their daily rate of pay was: Stewards 5 shillings (s), Wardmasters 4s, Assistant Stewards and Cooks 3s 6 pence (d), Assistant Wardmasters 2s 6d, Orderlies 1st Class 2s, Orderlies 2nd Class 1s 3d. The last three were to receive an increase of a penny a day for every 5 years service in the corps. Orderlies employed as servants to officers of the medical staff were not eligible for promotion until after 3 years' service in the corps.

The Medical Staff Corps gradually replaced the pensioners at the General Hospital at Fort Pitt, and the military hospitals at Chichester, Portsmouth, and Aldershot. Regimental orderlies were not replaced by orderlies from the Medical Staff Corps.

The first detachment of the Medical Staff Corps left Southampton for the Crimea on 6 October 1855. It arrived at Scutari on 26 October. A second group left Chatham on 24 October and arrived at Scutari on 12 November. This detachment consisted of one steward, four assistant stewards, eight assistant ward masters and 147 orderlies in charge of Captain J Maxwell 34th Regiment who was on his way to join his corps. They embarked on board the the steam ship Thames which was taking out detachments of the 16th, 17th and 18th Regiments to join their service companies. A third detachment left on 13 November for Balaclava and on to Scutari, where it arrived on 12 December 1855.

The Crimean War was concluded with the Treaty of Paris on 30 March 1856. In July 1856, the Select Committee on the Medical Department of the Army chaired by Lord Sidney Herbert, recommended: That the Medical Staff Corps, which was raised for service during the late war, should continue a part of the peace establishment; and that it is desirable it should be recruited from the ranks of the army, provided volunteers offer in sufficient numbers, possessing the requirements deemed essential to qualify for the particular service on which the corps is to be employed.

By 31 March 1856, the establishment of the Medical Staff Corps had reached a 1,000 men. As the Corps was close to its establishment DG Smith requested the Adjutant General to suspend recruiting for it in all the districts except London, where the best recruits were to be obtained. The Corps had 10 Stewards, 10 Ward Masters, 40 Assistant Stewards, 80 Assistant Ward masters, 20 Washer men, 10 Cooks, 40 Assistant Cooks, 30 Barbers, 560 Orderlies of the 1st and 2nd class, and 400 Servant Orderlies of the 2nd class.

The Medical Staff Corps had been improvised in haste during the Crimean War. In August 1856, Judge Advocate General Charles Pelham Villiers (1852–1858), in his letter to the Adjutant General declared that all the Non-Commissioned Officers of the Medical Staff Corps had been enlisted illegally under the warrant of 11 June 1855. As the law of enlistment and attestation stood, every enlisted soldier was attested for a particular regiment, be it infantry, cavalry or artillery. The word corps did not appear in the statutes raised by Parliament. The War Office had been aware of the anomaly and had, without any legislative sanction, merely struck off the word Regiment in the attestation papers and replaced it with Medical Staff Corps. Such alterations in the statutes governing recruitment could only be effected by an Act of Parliament. No amendments to the law governing enlistment had been enacted when the Medical Staff Corps had been raised, rendering the recruitment into the corps illegal and inadmissible. Judge Advocate General Pelham Villiers further ruled that the ranks of the Medical Staff Corps ranging from ward master to stewards and orderlies had no equivalent rank in the army, and the men so ranked were not acknowledged as having any military rank at all.

The constitution of the Medical Staff Corps was revised under Royal Warrant dated 1 August 1857, which established the Army Hospital Corps. The Medical Staff Corps was not phased out until 1860 when the men from the Medical Staff Corps were transferred to the new Army Hospital Corps. The first transfers from the Medical Staff Corps to the Army Hospital Corps took place on 31 October 1859 when No 4 MSC William Stawtree and No 461 MSC Benjamin Rawlins became No 1 AHC and No 2 AHC respectively with the rank of Sergeant Major. No 2 MSC Blake John became No 275 AHC Sergeant Major on 30 November.

On 6 February 1883, allegations of neglect of the sick during the Egyptian Campaign (13 July–6 Sep 1882) led to the formation of a Departmental Committee of the Army Medical Department under the chairmanship of The Earl of Morley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for War. The committee enquired into the constitution, organisation, and training of the Army Hospital Corps and Bearer Companies, and their establishment in peace and war. It also scrutinized the organisation of field hospitals, nursing in army hospitals, whether by male or females, and transport of invalids by sea and hired transports.

Lord Morley's made a number of recommendations for the improvement of the Army Medical Services, which were embodied in the Royal Warrant of 20 September 1884. Accordingly, the medical officers and the quartermasters of the Army Medical Department were to be styled The Medical Staff; the warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Army Hospital Corps, reverted back to their original title The Medical Staff Corps. The officers of the Medical Staff were granted command over the Medical Staff Corps, all patients in military hospitals, and such officers and men as were attached for duty to the Medical Staff Corps. However, officers of the Medical Staff were not to hold any military command outside their Corps.

The new Medical Staff Corps had its baptism of fire in the Suakin Expeditionary Force of March 1885 under Sir Gerard Graham. On 21 February 1885, six warrant officers, forty sergeants, and 250 rank and file were assembled at Aldershot. They were formed into two Bearer Companies and four Field Hospitals. The hospital and bearer companies of the Medical Staff Corps arrived at North Woolwich from Aldershot in charge of Surgeon Major George Joseph Hamilton Evatt. On the 22nd February 1855, they embarked on board the Steam Ship Calabria for Suakin.

In addition, the following medical officers were also appointed to the Medical Staff Corps and assembled at the Depôt and Training School, Aldershot for a course of instruction in stretcher drill and first aid to the wounded on the battle field: Surgeons J R Forrest, M W Russell, W. R. de Momini, B. F. Zimmerman, A. F. Stace, A. Stables, J. F. E. McGrath, E. A. C. Smith, G. Moffett, W. M. Hewson, H. A. Hames, J. D. Moir, R. Crofts, F. M. Dobson, A. T. J. Lilly, R. Caldwell, A. C. Reilly, S. E. Duncan, J. Maher, A. Perry, S. Cordoys, A. de C. Scanlan, H. W. James, R. Trevor, H. D. Innes, W. Turner, and B. O. W. Morton.

The Medical Staff Corps for Suakin consisted of:

No 2 Bearer-Company
1. Surgeon Major George Joseph Hamilton Evatt – o/ic
2. Surgeon William Keays
3. Surgeon Robert Isaac Dalby Hackett
4. Warrant Officer x 1
5. Non Commissioned Officers x 6
6. Rank and File x 55
No 3 Field Hospital
1. Surgeon Major William Edward Riordan – o/ic
2. Surgeon Abraham William Bate
3. Surgeon Robert Colquhoun Johnston
4. Rank and File x 32
Stationary Field Hospital
1. Surgeon Major Alexander Haldane Stokes – o/ic
2. Surgeon Major George Corry
3. Surgeon Edward Richard Power
4. Surgeon Henry Mitcheel
5. Warrant Officer x 1
6. Non-Commissioned Officers x 8
7. Rank and File x 67
Base Hospital
1. Captain of Orderlies Sylvester
2. Quartermaster Johnston
3. Warrant Officer x 1
4. Non Commissioned Officers x 7
5. Rank and File x 104

By November 1885, the number of non commissioned officers and men of the Medical Staff Corps employed during the campaign in Egypt and the Sudan reached 850. Of these, 362 were attached to the Nile Expeditionary Force and 468 to Suakin. In addition, there were 3 Non-Commissioned officers and 53 privates belonging to Line Regiments employed with the Nile Force. Of the Medical Staff Corps on the Nile, 30 were returned as sick in hospital, the ratio being 83 per 1,000. Of those at Suakin, 20 were in hospital or 41 per 1,000 of the strength. The distribution according to rank was 8 sergeants major, 105 staff sergeants and sergeants, 98 corporals, and 426 ward orderlies.

SSgt Alfred Owens VMSC wearing the collar badges of a Volunteer Infantry Brigade Bearer Company (RAMC/737/2).

In November 1895, eighty-five warrant officers, non commissioned officers and men of the Medical Staff Corps joined the Depôt Medical Staff Corps at Aldershot to form a provisional company for active service in Ashanti. The company was under the command of Surgeon Major William Owen Wolseley with Surgeon Captain O'Callaglhan as company officer, and Lieutenant (QM) Lines as Quartermaster. The warrant officers and non commissioned officers were armed with a revolver, the rank and file with a Martini Henri carbine. An advance party left England on 23 November 1895. Three female nurses accompanied the expedition. Mrs T. A. Gray, Acting Superintendent of Nurses and a Dame of the Royal Red Cross embarked accompanied by army nursing sisters for work in the hospitals. The base was at Accra, where large medical stores were accumulated.

RAMC Warrant — Royal Warrant 23 June 1898 creating the RAMC.

The Volunteer Corps had been authorised by the War Office on 12 May 1859, with each Volunteer Rifle Companies having a section of stretcher bearers.

In 1884, the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps (VMSC) came into existence, when volunteer companies of the Medical Staff Corps were formed among the students of several of the London hospitals. Surgeon James Cantlie had for some time been training medical students in medical work in the field, and in 1883 called together a committee interested in the movement. The Charring Cross students were joined by a company from University College Hospital under the command of Captain J E Squire, who had been a combatant officer. The movement grew in size and received officially recognition in 1885.

On 1 April 1885, was gazetted the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps (VMSC) with a constitution of four companies, Adjutant (Captain J E Squire), Quartermaster and Surgeon Commandant. This last was a new title conferred on its founder James Cantlie who was at the time a supernumerary assistant surgeon with the rank of Lieutenant in the London Scottish Volunteers. Lt Col J E Squire became commandant in February 1898.

In 1902, in recognition of its work in the South African War, the title changed to the Royal Army Medical Corps (Volunteers).

Under the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act of 1907, the Volunteer Organisations ceased to exist on 31 March 1908 when the RAMC (V) became the Royal Army Medical Corps Territorial Force.

The Royal Warrant, Army Order 93 of 23 June 1898, merged the Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Medical Staff Corps, with the commissioned officers of the Army Medical Staff to create the Royal Army Medical Corps. The Corps came into existence on 1 July 1898.

The Medical Staff Corps

1855 Medical Staff Corps

11 June 1855 Formation of the Medical Staff Corps.

24 Oct A detachment of the Medical Staff Corps left Chatham for Southampton and the Crimea. It stopped at Malta on the steamer Ripon at the end of Nov 1855. The detachment consisted of one Steward, 4 Assistant Stewards, 8 Assistant Ward-Masters and 147 orderlies, under the command of an officer of the 34th Regiment on his way to join his unit.

1st Class Orderlies deserting in Malta in 1855:

4 Sep No 298 Steward Hamilton.
6 Sep No 36 Saunders Edward.
26 Sep No 138 Morrine John.
16 Nov No 150 Lewis Alfred.

Burials in 1855:

6 Oct Thomas Newman aged 26 years Medical Staff Corps.
9 Nov Assistant Ward Master Thomas Thomas aged 29 years Medical Staff Corps.

1856 Medical Staff Corps

Prior to the Crimean War, assistant surgeons compounded all regimental prescriptions and a certificate to that effect formed part of the monthly sick returns. From 1856 however, sergeants were taught compounding and received one shilling a day for their work.

15 Apr 98 Rank and File of the Medical Staff Corps arrived from England.

The following arrived from Scutari between 1 April to 30 September 1856:

Stewards (1856)
1. No 121 Hickie Henry (from Aug 1856)
  7 August In the Collegiate Church of St Paul's Valletta Bachelor CSgt Richard Lethbridge Yeabsley 47th Regiment born in Yealmpton, Devonshire, son of Nathaniel and Ann Yeabsley married Charlotte Hickie, spinster daughter of Eliza and Steward Henry Hickie.
Ward Masters (1856)
1. No 5 Connell Bartholomew
2. No 126 Dunn Edward – Left for Portsmouth 10 July 1856.
3. No 115 Farrell James
4. No 113 Goddard James
Probationary Cook (1856)
1. No 995 Knight Benjamin – Arrived from Scutari Aug 1856.
Assistant Ward Masters (1856)
1. No 28 Bowles John
2. No 49 Fiander Mercer
3. No 95 Graves James
4. No 48 Horton William
5. No 99 Layton Ernest
6. No 583 Kent William Thomas
7. No 384 Pearce Villers
8. No 475 Rand Stephen
9. No 528 Salisbury Robert Henry
10. No 86 Treacher William
11. No 886 Witherspoon Thomas
1st Class Orderlies (1856)
1. No 374 Cahill Francis
2. No 231 Cameron William
3. No 82 Dinely Samuel
4. No 230 England Henry
5. No 229 James Frederick
6. No 142 Kitson James
7. No 259 Ludlow Thomas
8. No 160 Meggs Robert
9. No 154 McAllister John
10. No 296 McGowan Patrick
11. No 58 Miller George
12. No 291 Melvie William
13. No 167 O'Brien Patrick
14. No 131 Pennycook John
15. No 417 Pontin Walter
16. No 198 Portlock William
17. No 40 Russell George
18. No 1273 Searls John
19. No 68 Scully John
20. No 155 Smith Henry
21. No 163 Smyth Henry
22. No 355 Syne David
23. No 51 Timlin Robert
24. No 394 Thiviston William
25. No 16 Thomson William
26. No 279 Way George
27. No 397 Ward John
28. No 222 Wood Andrew
29. No 306 Walsh Edward

2nd Class Orderlies (1856)
1. No 532 Brodie Edward
2. No 103 Bond John
3. No 490 Croley John
4. No 579 Catt John
5. No 593 Canley Patrick
6. No 589 Coole William
7. No 585 Cooper George
8. No 594 Compton Frederick
9. No 551 Deuchan Charles
10. No 556 Davies George
11. No 570 Danford Robert
12. No 587 Davies John
13. No 548 Fewkes William
14. No 669 Gillman David
15. No 565 Hayling Frederick
16. No 574 Inston Maxwell
17. No 636 Isabel William
18. No 117 King William
19. No 550 Love George
20. No 562 Leonard Godfrey
21. No 668 Lightfoot Edward
22. No 534 Mercer John
23. No 554 Munro William
24. No 560 Millman Samuel
25. No 563 Morley William
26. No 591 March William
27. No 588 Moore James
28. No 586 Mew William
29. No 670 McPherson Walter
30. No 1182 Nowlan William
31. No 575 Overbury Nathaniel

Extracts from the Defaulter's Book Army Hospital Corps and Medical Staff Corps at Malta:

MSC No 155, AHC No 163 Smyth Henry

2 July 1855 Enlisted for the Medical Staff Corps.
20 Oct Tried by District Courts Martial for going absent without leave and for smuggling into hospital a bottle of spirits contrary to the regulations and for having made a false statement to Staff Surgeon Mandeville Edward William Thomas.
Was imprisoned by the Garrison Officer Commanding Lieut General Pennefather KGB for 42 days with hard labour, 30 days of which were remitted.
6 Sep 1856 Forfeited two days pay for being absent without leave from 21:00 hrs on the 6 September to 06:00 hrs of the 7 September.
6 Nov Lost one days pay and confined to barracks by Major Mitford for 4 days for being absent without leave.
2 Mar 1859 Imprisoned for 42 days with hard labour for being absent without leave from 26 February to 2 March 1859.
Left Malta for Birr, Ireland.
1 Aug 1865 Discharged from the army.

90th Foot Reg No 3608, MSC No 1292, AHC No 117 King William

27 Oct 1854 Enlisted in 90th Foot.
1 Feb 1856 Transferred to the Medical Staff Corps as a 2nd Class Orderly.
23 Feb 1856 Confined to hospital for seven days for being drunk when reporting for duty.
19 Mar 1856 Forfeited one days' pay and was imprisoned with hard labour for 72 hours by Brigadier-General Rumley for being absent with out leave for three hours and returning drunk.
18 Nov 1872 Discharged from the army.

MSC No 417 AHC No 153 Pontin Walter

2 July 1855 Enlisted in the Medical Staff Corps.
1 Mar 1856 Confined to barracks for 7 days by Brig-General Rumley for being absent without leave for 16 hours.
Apr 1858 Moved to Chatham from Malta.
21 May 1878 Discharged from the army on completion of his 2nd period of engagement.

Baptisms in 1856:

16 Apr Peter Goddard born 15 April 1856, son of Phoebe Jane and Ward Master James Goddard was privately baptised by the Rev George Lawless Chaplain to the Forces.

Burials in 1856:

17 Apr Peter Goddard infant son of Ward Master James Goddard General Hospital Valletta.
26 June 2nd Class Orderly John Carter Medical Staff Corps.
16 Aug Orderly John Davies aged 22 years Medical Staff Corps.

1857 Medical Staff Corps

1 Aug 1857 The Army Hospital Corps was raised by Royal Warrant on 1 August 1857. According to the returns of the Malta Garrison there were 68 men of MSC in Malta on 1 April 1857 and 61 men in September 1857. In November there were 68 men of the Army hospital Corps recorded as being in Malta.

Strength of the Medical Staff Corps / Army Hospital Corps – Malta 1857
Date	Regiment	Rank & File	Garrison Strength
1 April	MSC	68	7016
1 May	MSC	66	6717
1 June	MSC	65	5142
1 July	MSC	64	5130
1 August	MSC	62	5100
1 September	MSC	61	4331
1 October	AHC	59	4320
1 November	AHC	68	4105
1 December	AHC	54	4252
Table I: Distribution of the British Army (Adjutant's General Office) – AHC Malta 1 April to 1 December 1857.

The following are listed as serving in Malta in the quarter April to June 1857:

Stewards ranking as Sergeant Majors
1. No 121 Hickie Henry
Ward Masters ranking as Colour Sergeants
1. No 5 Connell Bartholomew
Assistant Ward Masters ranking as Corporals
1. No 28 Bowles John
2. No 82 Dinely Samuel
3. No 48 Horton William
4. No 583 Kent William Thomas
5. No 216 Shepherd Robert
6. No 147 Wilkinson Keith
1st Class Orderlies ranking as Privates
1. No 231 Cameron William
2. No 230 England Henry
3. No 1645 Grant William
4. No 223 Gunn William (Returned to Depôt 25 June)
5. No 135 Goodway Thomas. Enlisted for the MSC 2 Feb 1855. On transfer to the AHC his regimental number changed to 876. On 29 July 1857, he was charged with being absent from roll call for 8 hrs 30 minutes for which he forfeited 2 days pay and was awarded 10 days of drill. He died on 6 July 1866.
6. No 56 Hersey William
7. No 142 Kitson James
8. No 154 McAllister John
9. No 58 Miller George
10. No 59 Morey Henry
11. No 291 Melvie William
12. No 167 O'Brien Patrick
13. No 417 Pontin Walter
14. No 198 Pollock William
15. No 40 Russell George
16. No 355 Syme David
17. No 155 Smith Henry
18. No 349 Thurston William
19. No 306 Walsh Edward

2nd Class Orderlies ranking as Privates
1. No 549 Bond John
2. No 558 Benwell John
3. No 576 Brereton T H
4. No 647 Beale Thomas
5. No 490 Croley John
6. No 579 Catt John
7. No 593 Canly Patrick
8. No 589 Cook William
9. No 585 Cooper George
10. No 594 Crompton Frederick
11. No 551 Denham Charles
12. No 556 Davies George
13. No 570 Dunford Robert
14. No 738 Gardiner Alexander
15. No 1019 Griffiths William (Until 12 July)
16. No 565 Haylingo Frederick
17. No 595 Halford Henry B
18. No 638 Isabel William
19. No 1292 King William
20. No 554 Munro William
21. No 560 Millman Samuel
22. No 591 March William
23. No 588 Moore James
24. No 586 Mew William
25. No 670 Mcpherson Walter
26. No 603 Moon James
27. No 575 Overbury Nathaniel. From 23 April. Discharged at Portsmouth 6 May.
28. No 553 Preston Alfred
29. No 568 Pross Thomas
30. No 929 Poole Joseph
31. No 498 Thompson James
32. No 592 Williams George
33. No 590 Woodhouse George
34. No 674 Wickstead George

The rate of pay per day was: Stewards 5 shillings, Ward Masters 4 shillings, Assistant Stewards 3 shillings 6 pence, Probationer Cooks 3 shillings 6 pence, Assistant Ward Master 2 shillings 6 pence, 1st Class Orderlies 2 shillings, 2nd Class Orderlies 1 shilling 3 pence.

The Army Hospital Corps was withdrawn from Malta in December 1857 and no longer appears in the returns of the Distribution of the British Army for 1 January 1858.

Extracts from the Defaulter's Book Army Hospital Corps and Medical Staff Corps:

MSC No 549, AHC No 103 Bond John

10 Nov 1855 Enlisted in the Medical Staff Corps.
1 May 1856 Reported for being drunk and fighting. Was disallowed all indulgences for a month by the Brigade Major.
6 Apr 1857 Placed in the cells for 48 hours on the orders of Col Budd for using improper language to non-commissioned-officers of the 14th Regiment in hospital.
19 Feb 1859 Awarded at Chatham 28 days confinement to barracks for being absent from tattoo.
31 Dec 1864 Tried by a District Courts Martial for going absent without leave from the Royal Victoria Hospital Netley.
4 Jan 1865 Discharged from the army.

14th Foot No 3682 AHC No 443 Marshall John

21 Nov 1854 Enlisted in the 14th Foot. Was a veteran of the Crimea having served at Sevastopol and Balaklava.
Malta 4 June 1856 While still serving in the 14th Foot was confined to barracks for 10 days by Maj Budd for being drunk in barracks.
8 Nov 1856 While still serving in the 14th Foot was confined to Camp for 8 days by Maj Budd for being drunk and creating a disturbance.
6 Oct 1857 Confined to barracks for 10 days by Lt Col Budd for being drunk.
30 Nov 1859 Transferred from 14th Foot to the Army Hospital Corps.
12 Dec 1864 After transferring to the AHC, he persisted in being drunk on duty at the hospital and was discharged from the army.

Baptisms in 1857:

12 Aug 1857 Frederick William Goddard born 15 July 1857, son of Phoebe Jane and Ward Master James Goddard MSC.

Burials in 1857:

27 Mar 1857 William Morley MSC aged 23 years was buried at Floriana.

1858 Medical Staff Corps

1 Dec 1858 There were no men of the MSC serving in Malta, but six were recorded as serving in Gibraltar.

Baptisms in 1858:

27 Jan Henrietta Melita Hickey born 2 January 1858, daughter of Elizabeth and Store Keeper Henry Hickey MSC.

1884 Medical Staff Corps

Edgley J A — SSgt Edgley Alfred John MSC
(Courtesy F Galvin).

20 Sep 1884 The Warrant Officers, NCOs and men of the Army Hospital Corps became the Medical Staff Corps.

Strength (AHC 1 July 1884): 1 Warrant Officer, 15 Sgts, 72 rank and file, total 88 men.
The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 86 men. It had 54 admissions with 1 death. 7 invalids returned to England.

Marriages in 1884:

20 Nov Sgt Joseph Henry Lawton MSC aged 25 yrs, to Annie Steele, spinster, aged 21 yrs.

1885 Medical Staff Corps

Burials at Pietà Military Cemetery in 1885:

5 Feb 1885 Death of 5688 Pte Arthur Henry Campbell Dodd at 02.30 hours. He was born in May 1861, the fourth son of the Rev Henry P Dodd.

Strength (1 Jan 1885): 1 Warrant Officer, 10 non-commissioned officers, 44 rank and file.

Strength (1 Dec 1885): 1 Warrant Officer, 12 Sergeants, 85 rank and file, 98 all ranks.

Detachment of the Medical Staff Corps Malta 1 April to 31 December 1885
Regt_No	Name	Remarks
	Sergeants Major
2701	Hewett Martin	Left for England on 27 April 1885.
2000	Fowles G.	Promoted Sergeant Major on 1 May 1885.
	1st Class Staff Sergeant
2701	Hewett Martin	Promoted Sergeant Major on 29 March 1885.
	2nd Class Staff Sergeant
4078	Andrews A.
2264	Jarvis Charles	Returned to England 22 Oct 1885.
	Sergeants
2581	Bright A.	Compounder of Medicine 1 Nov 1885. Granted extra duty pay (6d) 19 May 1885. Promoted Sergeant 1 June 1885. Remitted part of his pay to Mrs M. A. Bright 10 Dec 1885.
4434	Carroll W.	Granted extra duty pay (6d) 20 May 1885. Compounder of Medicine 1 Nov 1885. Promoted Sergeant 1 June 1885. Remitted part of his pay to Mrs M. A. Bright 10 Dec 1885.
2999	Chamberlin W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885.
3789	Dryden T.	On 10 Dec 1885 remitted part of his pay to Mr Robert Dryden.
2745	Edgley Alfred John	Married Margaret O'Connor in 1879 at Cork Ireland. Had eight children but five died in infancy — Alfred Henry died Malta 1885, Ann A. born Malta 1886, Mary Clare born Malta 1889. Arrived from England on 19 June 1885.
4268	Green J.
4351	Keene H.	Promoted from L/Sgt June 1885.
4711	Macdonald W.	Appointed Compounder of Medicine 1 Nov 1885.
2803	Midgley A.	Arrived from England 29 Sep 1885. Compounder of Medicine 1 Nov 1885.
4359	Short G.	Returned to England 22 Oct 1885.
5269	Stead T.	Arrived from England 29 Sep 1885.
3922	Taylor A. K.	In hospital from 1 to 24 June. Died at Cottonera Hospital at 12.35 am on 24 June 1885.
1957	Thatcher J.	Left for England 28 Sept 1885.
2121	Vickery G.	Arrived from England 10 Oct 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
	Lance Sergeants
2581	Bright A.	Promoted from Cpl on 29 Apr 1885.
4351	Keene H.	Promoted from Cpl to Lance Sergeant 14 May 1885.
391	Eaton A.	L/Sgt attached to MSC from 10 Sept 1885.
	Corporals
4339	Batchelor Edward	Returned to England 22 Oct 1885.
3192	Collier H.	Promoted to Cpl on 1 July 1885.
2569	Inskip L.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885.
3293	Murphy A.	In hospital from 6 to 22 June 1885. Attached to 1st/Dorsetshire Regt on 26 Sept 1885.
680	Patterson W.	Attached to MSC from 1 Apr 1885. Rejoined his regiment on 10 Sept 1885.
	Lance Corporals
3192	Collier H.	Promoted from Pte 1 June 1885. Promoted Cpl 1 July 1885.
	Privates
6585	Allwright F.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. Confined to barracks 22 to 23 Oct 1885.
6292	Arnold A.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle Attached to 1st/Dorsetshire Regt 6 Oct 1885.
6631	Baker A.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6427	Bailey W.	Arrived 1 Oct 1885.
6533	Baldwin G.	Transferred to MSC from 1st/Hants on 1 May 1885.
6441	Blake W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6450	Blakeley W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6689	Bovey C.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
5239	Burton C.	Absent 15 to 16 April 1885. Reduced from 2nd to 3rd Class Orderly on 15 Apr 1885. Fined 5 shillings for drunkenness 9 July 1885. Absent on 5 July. Placed in guardroom from 6 to 9 July and in cells 10 to 16 July. Confined to Civil Prison from 8 Aug to 7 Nov 1885. Returned to England 14 Nov 1885.
6638	Butler William	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6416	Butt W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
5261	Cain T.	In hospital 7 July to 10 Aug 1885. Returned to England 10 Aug 1885.
4727	Cakebread A.	Lunatic attendant. Returned to England 18 June 1885.
6589	Carter J.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6719	Chivers G.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6792	Clarke J. A.	Transferred from 1st/Hampshire Regt on 1 July 1885.
3192	Collier H.
6592	Cooper W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6630	Coulson R.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. In hospital from 16 to 23 Oct 1885.
6469	Coppock B.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6604	Currie W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6186	Dumbleton H.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6444	Dare H.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6405	Davies S.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
5243	Delaney C.	Transferred from 1st/Hants on 1 May 1885. Granted Good Conduct pay at 1 penny a day from 23 July 1885.
6479	Doggett A.
6810	Dowdall J.	Arrived from England 10 Oct 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6452	Ferrall F.	Arrived from England 10 Oct 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6422	Fielde J.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. Deserted from Cottonera on 16 Nov 1885.
6605	Foster S.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. On 9 Dec 1885 was fined 5 shillings for drunkenness.
6515	Geary H.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
2364	Gentry J. E.
6414	Gibbs F.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6813	Goodall H.	Transferred to MSC from 1st/Hampshire Regt on 1 July 1885.
6609	Grant M.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6502	Griffin A.	Transferred to MSC from 1st/Hampshire Regt on 1 May 1885.
5196	Hardy C.	Arrived from England 19 June 1885.
6485	Harmsworth W.	Transferred to MSC from 1st/Hampshire Regt on 1 May 1885.
6614	Harrison C.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. Lunatic Attendant and 2nd Class Orderly since 1 Dec 1885
5802	Hart A	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. 2nd Class Orderly since 1 Dec 1885.
6588	Hartley H.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6582	Heap T.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. Appointed 1st Class Orderly 1 Nov 1885.
5510	Hoadley B.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6436	Horgan P.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. On 18 Dec 1885 was fined 5 shillings for drunkenness.
6423	Howard H.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6293	Jennison G.	Arrived from England 10 Oct 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6586	Jeffery H.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. 2nd Class Orderly since 1 Dec 1885.
5677	Johnson G.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. 2nd Class Orderly since 1 Dec 1885.
6597	Judd B.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. 2nd Class Orderly since 1 Dec 1885.
6812	Kitcher H.	Transferred to MSC from 1st/Hampshire Regt on 1 July 1885.
6565	Knowles J.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6404	Lamacroft W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6673	Ley W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
3676	Lloyd J.	Arrived from England 19 June 1885.
6439	Lonsdale W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle 2nd Class Orderly 1 Dec 1885.
6811	Maycock A.	Transferred to MSC from 1st/East Kent Regt on 1 July 1885.
6613	McCracken W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. On 9 Dec 1885 was fined 2 shillings 6 pence for drunkenness.
6635	Mitcheel W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
3828	Mitcheel H.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. Prisoner from 18 to 31 Dec 1885.
6610	McDonald W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6432	McGrath J.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6453	McQuade J.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. 2nd Class Orderly 1 Dec 1885.
6613	McCracken W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
4693	Nicholls G.	Transferred from 1st/Hants on 1 May 1885.
6396	Morris W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. In hospital from 1 to 4 Dec 1885. Died at 07:45 hrs on 4 Dec 1885 at Cottonera.
6468	North F.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. 2nd Class Orderly 1 Dec 1885.
6750	Parks T.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. 2nd Class Orderly 1 Dec 1885.
6547	Penton J.	Transferred to MSC from 1st/Hampshire Regt on 1 July 1885.
6636	Robertson W.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6493	Rogers W.	Transferred to MSC from 1st/Hampshire Regt on 1 May 1885.
6622	Ross E.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
5689	Rowan R.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6610	Salkeld G.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6457	Sleigh A.	Arrived from England on 10 Oct 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6651	Smith T.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6475	Smith E.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6438	Smith S.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6389	Smith J.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6566	Stanmore G.	Transferred from 1st/Hampshire Regt 1 June 1885.
6959	Stanmore H.	Arrived 1 Sept 1885.
6528	Stanton H.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
4535	Thwaites J.	In hospital from 1 Apr to 8 May 1885.
6510	Tonkin J.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6545	White J.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. Deserted at Cottonera on 16 Nov 1885.
6619	Wells F.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
4192	Wilkins W.	Transferred from 1st/Hants on 1 May 1885. Returned to England on 22 Oct 1885.
6037	Willan R.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle.
6695	Williams C.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 SS Stirling Castle. Prisoner from 1 to 31 Dec 1885.
6650	Wooldridge P.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 SS Stirling Castle.
4407	Wyatt R.	Returned to England 22 Oct 1885.
1255	Able H.	Attached Privates from 1st/East Kent Regt (Buffs) from 25 to 26 June 1885.
1258	Chance J.	Attached Privates from 1st/East Kent Regt (Buffs) from 25 May to 25 Sept 1885.
793	Hardes J.	Attached Privates from 1st/East Kent Regt (Buffs) from 22 Apr to 19 May 1885.
485	Harvey W.	Attached Privates from 1st/East Kent Regt (Buffs) from 1 Apr to 9 Sept 1885.
491	Ryan W.	Attached Privates from 1st/East Kent Regt (Buffs). Left 9 Sept 1885.
1244	Smith F.	Attached Privates from 1st/East Kent Regt (Buffs) from 1 to 21 Apr 1885.
746	Webb J.	Attached Privates from 1st/East Kent Regt (Buffs) from 25 to 26 June 1885.
1324	Coffey W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Hampshire Regt. Left 23 Sept 1885.
62	Penton J.	Attached Privates from 1st/Hampshire Regt. Transferred to MSC 1 July 1885.
128	Rogers W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Hampshire Regt. Transferred to MSC 1 May 1885.
410	Rollins W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Hampshire Regt. from 24 to 31 Oct 1885.
605	Veck W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Hampshire Regt. from 1 May to 31 Oct 1885.
1001	Battery B.	Attached Privates from 1st/Dorsetshire Regt from 24 June to 4 Sept 1885.
1242	Bridge H.	Attached Privates from 1st/Dorsetshire Regt from 9 Aug to 25 Sept 1885.
1152	Daniells J.	Attached Privates from 1st/Dorsetshire Regt from 24 June to 4 Sept 1885.
831	Littler A.	Attached Privates from 1st/Dorsetshire Regt from 10 to 25 Sept 1885.
1156	Maggs R.	Attached Privates from 1st/Dorsetshire Regt from 10 to 24 Sept 1885.
1096	Pierce W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Dorsetshire Regt from 13 July to 21 Sept 1885.
1316	Shepherd W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Dorsetshire Regt from 10 to 30 Sept 1885.
1423	Smith J.	Attached Privates from 1st/Dorsetshire Regt from 9 Aug to 31 Oct 1885.
1676	Bradbury F.	Attached Privates from 2nd/South Yorkshire Regt from 24 June to 27 Aug 1885.
641	Coyne W.	Attached Privates from 2nd/South Yorkshire Regt from 20 to 30 Sept 1885.
939	Gascoyne G.	Attached Privates from 2nd/South Yorkshire Regt from 23 June to 30 Sept 1885.
791	O'Brien J.	Attached Privates from 2nd/South Yorkshire Regt from 8 June to 19 Sept 1885.
2258	Redfern G.	Attached Privates from 2nd/South Yorkshire Regt from 1 to 30 Sept 1885.
1757	Terry J.	Attached Privates from 2nd/South Yorkshire Regt from 13 July to 30 Sept 1885.
2003	Wilson W.	Attached Privates from 2nd/South Yorkshire Regt from 23 June to 30 Sept 1885.
2104	Burdett F.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 26 Sept to 3 Oct 1885.
130	Dow H.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 4 to 15 Oct 1885.
2109	Hooper G.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 26 to 30 Sept 1885.
2149	Sampson J.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 16 to 31 Oct 1885. Granted Good Conduct Pay of 1d from 16 Oct 1885.
Table 2: Detachment of the Medical Staff Corps Malta 1 April to 31 December 1885.

1886 Medical Staff Corps

Sarah Inskip — Sarah and Hannah Inskip
(Pieta Military Cemetery)

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 98 men. It had 66 admissions into hospital with no deaths. 3 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 5.05. The average sick time to each soldier was 18.80 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 27.92 days.

Sarah Inskip died on 3 September 1886 aged 8 years 5 months. Also Hannah Inskip who died on 25 September 1886 at Citta Vecchia Malta aged 9 months. The children were the beloved daughters of Corporal Leonard Inskip Medical Staff Corps and Angusina his wife.

Detachment of the Medical Staff Corps serving in Malta from 1 January to 31 December 1886.
Regt_No	Name	Remarks
	Quartermaster
	Gordon Robert	Acting Paymaster. Pay at 10s 6d a day.
	Sergeants Major
2000	Fowles G.	Promoted Sergeant Major 1 May 1885. Pay at 5s 6d a day.
	2nd Class Staff Sergeant	Pay of a 2nd Class SSgt was 4s 3d a day
4078	Andrews A.
4268	Green J.	Promoted 2nd Class Staff Sergeant on 3 Mar 1886.
	Sergeants
2581	Bright A.	Compounder of Medicine 1 Nov 1885.
4434	Carroll W.	Compounder of Medicine 1 Nov 1885.
2999	Chamberlin W.	Prisoner from 1 to 3 Apr 1866. Tried but acquitted by District Court Martial. On 2 Sept 1886 returned to England on the SS Geelong.
4929	Donn A.	Arrived from England on 27 Dec 1886.
3789	Dryden T.	From 10 July 1886 remitted part of his pay to his spouse Helen Dryden.
2745	Edgley Alfred John	Married Margaret O'Connor in 1879 at Cork Ireland. Had eight children but five died in infancy — Alfred Henry died Malta 1885, Ann A. born Malta 1886, Mary Clare born Malta 1889. Arrived from England on 17 June 1885.
5072	Hendren E.	Arrived from Egypt on 9 Feb 1886. Embarked for England 10 Apr 1886.
4351	Keene H.	Returned to England on SS Geelong 3 Nov 1886.
4711	Macdonald W.	Compounder of Medicine
2803	Midgley A.	Compounder of Medicine
5269	Stead T.	Returned to England on the SS Clyde 10 Oct 1886.
4440	Turner A.	Arrived from Egypt on 5 May 1886.
2121	Vickery G.
	Corporals
3192	Collier H.	Appointed Compounder of medicines on 2 May 1886.
5243	Delaney C.	Promoted L/Cpl 27 Jan 1886. Promoted Cpl 22 Apr 1886. On 12 Apr 1886 remitted part of his pay to his brother James Delaney. On 18 Sept 1886 remitted part of his pay to his brother Francis Delaney 20 King Street, Regent Street, London.
2364	Gentry J. E.	Promoted L/Cpl 22 Apr 1886. Promoted Cpl 1 July 1886.
6502	Griffin A.	Promoted Cpl 8 Oct 1886.
6485	Harmsworth W.	Promoted L/Cpl 3 Feb 1886. Promoted Cpl 3 May 1886.
6614	Harrison C.	Promoted L/Cpl on 20 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly in Jan 1886. Promoted Cpl 3 Mar 1886.
5510	Hoadley B.	Promoted L/Cpl on 12 Mar 1886. Promoted Cpl 20 June 1886.
2569	Inskip L.
3293	Murphy A.	Attached to 2nd/South Yorkshire Regt to 3rd Dec 1886.
4387	Waller W.	Promoted Cpl 29 July 1886.
	Lance Corporals	Pay at 1s 5d a day
4693	Nicholls G.	Promoted L/Cpl 13 Mar 1886. Granted Good Conduct Pay of 2d a day from 30 Non 1886.
6502	Griffin A.	Promoted L/Cpl 11 July 1886. Promoted Cpl 8 Oct 1886.
6811	Maycock A.	Promoted L/Cpl 18 Aug 1886.
5689	Rowan R.	Promoted L/Cpl 26 Nov 1886.
	Privates	Pay at 1s 2d a day
6585	Allwright F.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Jan 1886.
6292	Arnold A.	Ceased to be Attached to 2nd/South Yorkshire King's Own Light Infantry Regt from 22 Apr 1866. 2nd Class Orderly 2 Nov 1886.
7016	Austin E.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 2 Nov 1886.
6631	Baker A.	On 11 Aug 1886 remitted part of his pay to his father Robert Baker.
6427	Bailey W.	2nd Class Orderly 22 July 1886. Lunatic Attendant from 14 Feb to Mar 1886.
6533	Baldwin G.	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886. Attached to 1st/South Yorkshire Regt. from 22 Apr 1886 to 3 Dec 1886.
5677	Betts F.	Arrived from Egypt 18 July 1886. Fined 2 shilling 6 pence for drunkenness 4 Nov 1886.
6441	Blake W.	2nd Class Orderly 5 June 1886.
6450	Blakeley W.	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886. Deserted from the Station Hospital Cottonera 5 May 1886. Sent from England for trial 11 June 1886. Back on the strength of the MSC Malta 21 July 1886.
6689	Bovey C.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 24 Sept 1886.
6638	Butler William	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886. 1st Class Orderly 4 Nov 1886.
6416	Butt W.	In hospital 26 to 28 Feb 1886.
6583	Carter J.	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886.
7021	Casey T.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 22 July 1886. 1st Class Orderly 15 Sept 1886.
6719	Chivers G.	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886. 1st Class Orderly 4 Nov 1886.
6792	Clarke J. A.	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886. 1st Class Orderly 15 Sept 1886.
6976	Collins S.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886.
7020	Coombe J.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886.
6592	Cooper W.	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886. 1st Class Orderly 15 Sept 1886.
6469	Coppock B.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Jan 1886.
6630	Coulson R.	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886.
6604	Currie W.	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886.
6444	Dare H.
6405	Davies S.
7050	Deleann J.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886.
595	Dick G.	Attached to 1st/Gordon Hldrs from 1 to 31 Mar 1886.
6479	Doggett A.	2nd Class Orderly 18 Jan 1886.
6810	Dowdall J.	In guard room between 10 and 13 Mar and in cells from 14 to 20 Mar 1886. Confined to barracks on 21 Mar 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 14 July 1886.
7001	Downing R.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886.
6186	Dumbleton H.	1st Class Orderly 1 Apr 1886. Returned to England on the SS Khedive on 17 Sept 1886.
5684	Farrell W.	Arrived from Egypt 18 July 1886.
6452	Ferrall F.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 1 Apr 1886.
6422	Fielde J.	Arrived from England 29 Sept 1885 on SS Stirling Castle. Deserted from Cottonera on 16 Nov 1885.
6605	Foster S.	Deserted from the Station Hospital Cottonera on 21 Jan 1886.
6515	Geary H.	Fined 7s 6d for drunkenness on 3 Mar 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 14 July 1886.
6414	Gibbs F.	In hospital from 26 to 31 Jan 1886.
6155	Godfrey G.	Arrived from Egypt 18 July 1886.
6813	Goodall H.	1st Class Orderly 1 Apr 1886. Returned to England on the SS Khedive 17 Sept 1886.
7048	Gracie H.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886. Special attendant from 10 June to 8 July 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 22 July 1886. 1st Class Orderly 14 Oct 1886.
6609	Grant M.	2nd Class Orderly 14 July 1886.
6502	Griffin A.	Transferred to MSC from 1st/Hampshire Regt on 1 May 1885. Promoted L/Cpl 11 July 1886.
5196	Hardy C.	Returned to England on the SS Khedive on 17 Sep 1886.
5802	Hart A	Deserted from the Station Hospital Cottonera on 22 Jan 1886.
6830	Harkness T.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886.
6588	Hartley H.	Discharged by purchase on 20 Mar 1886.
6582	Heap T.	In prison from 1 to 19 Jan 1886. In the guard room on 20 Jan 1866. 2nd Class Orderly 14 July 1886.
6436	Horgan P.	In hospital 8 to 31 Jan 1886. Lunatic attendant from 11 Apr 1866. 1st Class Orderly 5 June 1886.
6423	Howard H.	2nd Class Orderly Jan 1886. Special Attendant from 27 June to 6 July 1886.
6293	Jennison G.	2nd Class Orderly 18 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 1 Apr 1886. Reduced to 2nd Class Orderly 5 June 1886. In prison from 5 to 11 June and confined to barracks from 12 to 18 June 1886.
6586	Jeffery H.	1st Class Orderly since 1 Jan 1886. Attached to 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry Regt from 2 Aug to 1 Oct 1886. From 17 Nov 1886 remitted part of his pay to his sister Mrs Annie B. Webb.
5677	Johnson G.	Lunatic attendant from 25 Jan 1886 to 6 Feb 1886.
6597	Judd B.	1st Class Orderly on 1 Mar 1886.
6812	Kitcher H.	2nd Class Orderly 18 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 18 Sep 1886.
6565	Knowles J.	Deserted from the Station Hospital Cottonera on 11 Feb 1886.
6404	Lamacroft W.	2nd Class Orderly 5 June 1886.
2140	Lanning W.	Attached to 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry from 2 Jan to 31 Mar 1886.
6673	Ley W.	Special Attendant from 10 June to 8 July 1886.
3676	Lloyd J.	Absent from 8 to 10 Jan 1886. Reduced in rank from 1st Class to 2nd Class Orderly in Jan 1886. Forfeited Good Conduct Pay from 8 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 4 Nov 1886.
6439	Lonsdale W.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Dec 1885.
6811	Maycock A.	2nd Class Orderly 18 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 1 Apr 1886. Promoted L/Cpl 18 Aug 1886.
6613	McCracken W.
6610	McDonald W.
6432	McGrath J.	Deserted from the Station Hospital Cottonera on 5 Jan 1886.
6453	McQuade J.	1st Class Orderly on 1 Mar 1886. Lunatic Attendant – Oct 1886.
3828	Mitcheel H.	Prisoner from 1 to 31 Jan 1886. Returned to England on 6 Feb 1886.
6635	Mitcheel W.	Deserted from the Station Hospital Cottonera on 5 Jan 1886.
77	Murphy A.	Attached to 2nd/South Yorkshire King's Own Light Infantry up to 3 Dec 1886.
5812	Muddell W.	Arrived from Egypt 18 July 1886.
6468	North F.	In hospital 1 to 31 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 2 July 1886.
6750	Parks T.	1st Class Orderly on 1 Mar 1886.
7060	Patch C.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 4 Nov 1886.
6547	Penton J.	1st Class Orderly on 1 Apr 1886.
6636	Robertson W.	Deserted from the Station Hospital Cottonera on 21 Jan 1886.
6493	Rogers W.	2nd Class Orderly 18 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 15 Sep 1886.
6622	Ross E.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 10 Feb 1886. Lunatic attendant on 22 Mar 1886.
5689	Rowan R.	Good Conduct Pay of 1 d a day from 7 Feb 1886.
6610	Salkeld G.	In Civil Prison from 1 Mar to 23 Apr 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 15 Sep 1886.
6457	Sleigh A.	2nd Class Orderly 18 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 21 Oct 1886.
7041	Smart C.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 14 July 1886. 1st Class Orderly 4 Nov 1886.
6651	Smith T.	Deserted from the Station Hospital Cottonera on 11 Feb 1886.
6475	Smith E.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Feb 1886. In prison from 24 to 31 July 1886.
7004	Smith G.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 4 Nov 1886.
6438	Smith S.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 6 Oct 1886. From 17 Nov 1886 remitted part of his pay to his mother Mrs Charlotte Smith.
6389	Smith J.	2nd Class Orderly 8 Feb 1886.
6566	Stanmore G.	Discharged by purchase on 23 Feb 1886.
6959	Stanmore H.	2nd Class Orderly 18 Jan 1886. 1st Class Orderly 1 Apr 1886. Good Conduct pay of 1 penny a day from 19 July 1886.
6528	Stanton H.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Aug 1886. From 16 Dec 1866 remitted part of his pay to his sister Lizzie Simmons and his uncle Harvey Stanton.
6980	Squibb J.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886.
4535	Thwaites J.	On 17 Sept 1886 returned to England on the SS Khedive.
6510	Tonkin J.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Jan 1886.
4387	Waller W.	Promoted Cpl 29 July 1886.
6619	Wells F.	2nd Class Orderly 1 Jan 1886. Discharged by purchase 3 June 1886.
7005	Whatley J.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 14 July 1886. 1st Class Orderly 4 Nov 1886.
6037	Willan R.
6695	Williams C.	In prison 1 Jan to 20 Feb 1886. In the guard room on 21 Feb 1886. In prison 1 to 26 Sept. In guardroom 27 Sept 1886. Returned to England on the SS Geelong on 3 Nov 1866.
7084	Willmott J.	Arrived from England 10 Apr 1886. 2nd Class Orderly 4 Nov 1886.
6650	Wooldridge P.	1st Class Orderly 19 Nov 1886.
1672	Braddick H.	Attached Privates from 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry from 20 Oct to 31 Oct 1886.
2140	Lanning W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry from 1 to 26 Apr 1886.
313	Lanning W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry from 1 Oct to 31 Dec 1886.
136	Withey T.	Attached Privates from 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry from 1 Oct to 31 Dec 1886.
1672	Braddick H.	Attached Privates from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 3 Nov to 31 Nov 1886.
954	Hamond G.	Attached Privates from 1st/Royal Berkshire Regt from 1 Nov to 18 Nov 1886.
595	Dick G.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 1 to 26 Apr 1886.
997	Gillanders J.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 18 Nov to 31 Dec 1886.
1309	Hammond H.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 20 Apr to 20 Oct 1886. Granted Good Conduct Pay of 1 penny a day from 30 May 1886.
2029	Cleal B.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 27 Apr to 1 Oct 1886. From 27 May 1886 remitted part of his pay to his spouse MaryAnne Cleal, Barns Street, Crewkerne Somerset.
2067	Hay W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 27 Apr to 1 Oct 1886. From 27 May 1886 remitted part of his pay to his spouse MaryAnne Cleal, Barns Street, Crewkerne Somerset.
Table 3: Detachment of the Medical Staff Corps serving in Malta from 1 January to 31 December 1886.

1887 Medical Staff Corps

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 93 men. It had 35 admissions into hospital with no deaths. 2 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 2.01. The average sick time to each soldier was 7.88 days.

The average duration of cases of sickness was 20.96 days.

Detachment of the Medical Staff Corps serving in Malta from 1 January to 31 December 1887.
Regt_No	Name	Remarks
	Quartermaster
	Gordon Robert	Promoted Lieutenant Feb 1887. Promoted Captain July 1887.
	Sergeants Major
2000	Fowles G.	Returned to England 21 May 1887.
	1st Class Staff Sergeant
2089	Bishop A.	Arrived from Egypt on HMS Jumna 10 June 1887.
	2nd Class Staff Sergeant
4078	Andrews A.	Returned to England 4 Apr 1887.
2745	Edgley Alfred John	Compounder of Medicine 21 Feb 1887. Promoted 2nd Class Staff Sgt 9 July 1887.
4268	Green J.	From 1 Sept 1887 remitted part of his pay to his wife Kate Green, West End Ely. On furlough to England 9 Oct to 9 Dec 1887. Joined depôt on expiration of furlough.
2803	Midgley A.	Compounder of Medicine Promoted 2nd Class Staff Sgt 2 Mar 1887. Returned to England 31 Aug 1887.
	Sergeant
2581	Bright A.	Compounder of Medicine On 17 Jan 1887 remitted part of his pay to his brother George Bright at 42 Regent Street Clifton Bristol and to his mother Maryann Bright.
3192	Collier Henry	Compounder of medicines Promoted Lance Sergeant 3 Mar 1887. Promoted Sergeant 26 June 1887.
4434	Carroll W.	Compounder of Medicine
4929	Donn A.	Attached to Gordon Hldrs from 10 to 17 Feb 1887.
3789	Dryden T.	From 10 July 1886 remitted part of his pay to his spouse Helen Dryden.
4711	Macdonald W.	Compounder of Medicine
4411	Metcalf E.	Arrived from England 11 Dec 1887.
4440	Turner A.	Arrived from Egypt on 5 May 1886.
2121	Vickery G.
	Corporals
5243	Delaney C.	From 17 Sept 1887 remitted part of his pay to his brother Francis Delaney, 20 King Street, Regent Street London.
2364	Gentry J. E.	Promoted Cpl 1 July 1886.
6502	Griffin A.	Promoted Cpl 8 Oct 1886.
6485	Harmsworth W.	Promoted Cpl 3 May 1886.
6614	Harrison C.	Promoted Cpl 3 Mar 1886.
5510	Hoadley B.	Promoted Cpl 20 June 1886.
2569	Inskip L.
6811	Maycock A.	Attached to 2nd/Essex Regt 12 July 1887.
5812	Muddell W.	Promoted L/Cpl 7 Jan 1887. Promoted Cpl 10 July 1887.
3293	Murphy A.	Returned to England 4 Apr 1887.
4693	Nicholls G.	Promoted Cpl 18 June 1887.
6528	Stanton H.	Promoted L/Cpl 10 Jan 1887. Promoted Cpl 20 July 1887. On 3 Feb 1887 remitted part of his pay to his niece Miss A Simmons.
4387	Waller W.	Attached to Gordon Hldrs from 10 to 17 Feb 1887.
	Lance Corporals
6592	Cooper W.	Rejoined MSC from 2 Bty Northern Div Royal Artillery 8 Aug 1887. Compounder 1 July 1887.
6586	Jeffery H.	Promoted L/Cpl 1 Aug 1887.
5689	Rowan R.	Compounder 25 July 1887.
	Privates
6585	Allwright F.
6292	Arnold A.	Confined by Civil Power from 23 Feb to 29 Apr 1887. In guard room 30 Apr 1887.
7016	Austin E.
6427	Bailey W.	Attached to 2nd/Essex Regt 12 July 1887.
6631	Baker A.
6533	Baldwin G.
5677	Betts F.	Attached to 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry 5 Aug 1887.
6441	Blake W.
6450	Blakeley W.	Attached to 1st/Royal Hldrs 14 Aug 1887.
6689	Bovey C.
6638	Butler William
6416	Butt W.
6583	Carter J.
7021	Casey T.
6719	Chivers G.
6792	Clarke J. A.
6976	Collins S.
7020	Coombe J.	Deserted 12 Dec 1887.
6592	Cooper W.	Attached to 2nd Bty Northern Div Royal Artillery on 10 June 1887. Promoted L/Cpl July 1887.
6469	Coppock B.
6630	Coulson R.	Deserted 5 Nov 1887.
6604	Currie W.	Attached to Gordon Hldrs from 10 to 17 Feb 1887. Lunatic attendant 6 to 11 June 1887.
6444	Dare H.	Attached to 2nd/Essex Regt 12 July 1887.
6405	Davies S.	Attached to Gordon Hldrs from 10 to 17 Feb 1887. Attached to 2nd Bty Northern Div Royal Artillery from 10 to 8 Aug 1887. Attached to Royal Hldrs 14 Aug 1887.
7050	Deleann J.
595	Dick G.	Attached to 1st/Gordon Hldrs from 1 to 31 Mar 1886.
6479	Doggett A.
6810	Dowdall J.
7001	Downing R.
5684	Farrell W.
6452	Ferrall F.	Fined 5s for drunkenness 5 July 1887.
6515	Geary H.	Fined 7s 6d for drunkenness on 3 Mar 1886. Fined 7s 6d for drunkenness 4 Mar 1887.
6414	Gibbs F.	Fined 2s 6d for drunkenness 27 June 1887.
6155	Godfrey G.
7048	Gracie H.
6609	Grant M.
6830	Harkness T.
6582	Heap T.	Fined 7s 6d for drunkenness 4 Jan 1887. Returned to England 1 Mar 1887.
6436	Horgan P.
6423	Howard H.
6293	Jennison G.
6586	Jeffery H.	Attached to Gordon Hldrs from 13 to 17 Feb 1887.
5677	Johnson G.	Attached to 2 Bty Northern Div Royal Artillery 8 Aug 1887.
6597	Judd B.
6812	Kitcher H.
6404	Lamacroft W.
2140	Lanning W.	Attached to 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry from 2 Jan to 31 Mar 1886.
6673	Ley W.	1st Class Orderly 25 Jan 1887.
3676	Lloyd J.	Returned to England 19 Apr 1887.
6439	Lonsdale W.
6613	McCracken W.
6610	McDonald W.
6453	McQuade J.	Lunatic attendant 1 to 30 Jan 1887.
77	Murphy A.	Attached to 2nd/South Yorkshire King's Own Light Infantry up to 3 Dec 1886.
6468	North F.
7123	Officer T.	Arrived Mar 1887. Returned to England 31 Aug 1887.
6750	Parks T.
4390	Payne R.	Arrived from England 11 Dec 1887.
7060	Patch C.
6547	Penton J.
7799	Porter H.	Arrived from England 11 Dec 1887.
6636	Robertson W.	Deserted from the Station Hospital Cottonera on 21 Jan 1886.
6493	Rogers W.
6622	Ross E.	Attached to 2 Bty Northern Div Royal Artillery 8 Aug 1887.
5689	Rowan R.
6610	Salkeld G.	Fined 7s 6d for drunkenness 15 July 1887. Attached to 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry 5 Aug 1887.
7540	Scott E.	Arrived 1 Apr 1887.
7315	Sheil R.	Arrived from England 11 Dec 1887.
6457	Sleigh A.
7041	Smart C.	Attached to Gordon Hldrs from 10 to 17 Feb 1887.
6475	Smith E.
7004	Smith G.
6389	Smith J.
6438	Smith S.	From 17 Jan 1887 remitted part of his pay to his mother Charlotte Smith, 13 Teriel Place Heavitree Exeter.
6980	Squibb J.	1st Class Orderly 25 Jan 1887.
6959	Stanmore H.
7871	Sturgess A.	Arrived from England 11 Dec 1887.
6510	Tonkin J.
7005	Whatley J.
6656	Wheeldon F.	Arrived from England 11 Dec 1887.
6037	Willan R.
7353	Williams H.	Arrived from England 11 Dec 1887.
7084	Willmott J.
6650	Wooldridge P.
313	Swannell S.	Attached Privates from 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry from 11 Jan to 24 Feb 1887.
136	Withey T.	Attached Privates from 1st/Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry from 11 Jan to 24 Feb 1887.
997	Gillanders J.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 1 Jan to 10 Jan 1887 and then to 24 Coy Royal Engineers from 11 Jan 1887.
1309	Hammond H.	Attached Privates from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 11 Jan to 28 Feb 1887. Confined by Civil Power from 23 to 28 Feb 1887. Returned to his unit on 1 Mar 1887.
876	Hailstones A.	Attached Privates from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 13 to 31 Dec 1887.
1314	Hunt G.	Attached Privates from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 24 Feb to 12 Sept 1887.
2420	Murdoch J.	Attached Privates from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 1 Mar to 31 Aug 1887.
1098	Pitts W.	Attached Privates from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 24 Feb to 30 Sept 1887.
2767	Stanley G.	Attached Privates from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 1 to 13 Dec 1887.
1016	Stoddart D.	Attached Privates from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 13 to 31 Dec 1887.
2356	Wright G.	Attached Privates from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 12 Sept to 30 Sept 1887.
17818	Bulling G.	Attached L/Cpl from Royal Engineers from 19 Apr to 10 May 1887.
13985	Batt A.	Attached Sappers from Royal Engineers from 18 Feb to 9 May 1887.
16254	Fournean J.	Attached Sappers from Royal Engineers from 18 Feb to 4 Apr 1887.
11654	Gough J.	Attached Sappers from Royal Engineers from 18 Feb to 15 Apr 1887.
18711	Lawrence M.	Attached Sappers from Royal Engineers from 5 Apr to 9 May 1887.
20115	Such A.	Attached Sappers from Royal Engineers from 18 Feb to 9 May 1887.
18756	Thompson S.	Attached Sappers from Royal Engineers from 18 Feb to 9 May 1887.
Table 4: Detachment of the Medical Staff Corps serving in Malta from 1 January to 31 December 1887.

Baptisms in the Garrison Church, Valletta in 1887:

20 Mar Henry Charles Frederick Collier son of Louisa and Cpl Henry Collier, of the Cottonera Hospital, born on 4 Mar 1887.
29 May Florence Maud Nicholls daughter of Dinah Price and Cpl George Nicholls, of the Valletta Hospital, born on 14 Sep 1886.
13 Nov Sidney Thomas William Bright son of Elizabeth and Sgt Albert Bright, of the Forrest Hospital, born on 19 Oct 1887.

1888 Medical Staff Corps

Albert Henry Cole died from an accident at Citta Vecchia 11 Mar 1888. (Pietà Military Cemetery).

Burials in 1888:

Albert Henry Cole the dearly beloved son of Staff Sergeant Cole Medical Staff Corps and Sarah Harriet his wife who met with an accident at Citta Vecchia on 9th from which he died on the 11th March 1888 aged 4 years and 3 months.
1 Nov 1888 Alfred Bishop aged 12 years, son of SSgt Alfred John Bishop was buried in Pietà Cemetery.

Baptisms in 1888:

9 Dec Baptism of Arthur Ernest Bishop son of Catherine Sarah and SSgt Alfred John Bishop of the Sanatorium Citta Vecchia, born on 10 Nov 1886.

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 100 men with 45 admissions into hospital. 5 invalids returned to England.

In 1888, the MSC entertained over 550 guests at a grand ball held at the Malta Union Club in the Auberge de Provence.

Detachment of the Medical Staff Corps serving in Malta from 1 January to 31 March 1888.
Regt_No	Name	Remarks
	Quartermaster
	Gordon Robert	Promoted Captain July 1887.
	Sergeants Major
	West R.	Arrived from England 26 Jan 1888.
	1st Class Staff Sergeant
2089	Bishop A.	Death of his son Alfred aged 12 years on 1 Nov 1888.
	2nd Class Staff Sergeant
3428	Cole F.	Arrived from England 26 Jan 1888.
2745	Edgley Alfred John
3699	Taylor A.	Arrived from England 26 Jan 1888.
	Sergeants
2581	Bright A.	Returned to England 10 Feb 1888.
4434	Carroll W.	Returned to England 10 Feb 1888.
3192	Collier H.	Compounder of medicine.
4929	Donn A.	Attached to Gordon Hldrs from 10 to 17 Feb 1887.
3789	Dryden T.
4711	Macdonald W.	Returned to England 10 Feb 1888.
4411	Metcalf E.
4440	Turner A.
2121	Vickery G.
5249	Wakefield	Arrived from England 26 Jan 1888.
	Corporals
5243	Delaney C.
2364	Gentry J. E.	Returned to England 10 Feb 1888.
6502	Griffin A.
6485	Harmsworth W.
6614	Harrison C.
5510	Hoadley B.
2569	Inskip L.
6811	Maycock A.	Attached to 1st/Gordon Hldrs.
5812	Muddell W.
4693	Nicholls G.
6528	Stanton H.
5689	Rowan R.	Compounder of Medicine.
4387	Waller W.
	Lance Corporals
6592	Cooper W.
6586	Jeffery H.
	Privates
6585	Allwright F.
6292	Arnold A.	Returned to England 30 Jan 1888.
7016	Austin E.
6427	Bailey W.	Attached to 1st/Gordon Hldrs.
6631	Baker A.
6533	Baldwin G.
5677	Betts F.
6441	Blake W.
6450	Blakeley W.
6689	Bovey C.
7768	Browne L.
6638	Butler William
6416	Butt W.
6583	Carter J.
7021	Casey T.
6719	Chivers G.
6792	Clarke J. A.
6976	Collins S.	Returned to England 30 Jan 1888.
7020	Coombe J.	Deserted 12 Dec 1887 but rejoined from England 26 Jan 1888.
6469	Coppock B.
6604	Currie W.
6444	Dare H.	Attached to 1st/Gordon Hldrs.
6405	Davies S.
7050	Deleann J.
595	Dick G.	Attached to 1st/Gordon Hldrs from 1 to 31 Mar 1886.
6479	Doggett A.
6810	Dowdall J.
7001	Downing R.
5684	Farrell W.
6452	Ferrall F.
6515	Geary H.
6414	Gibbs F.
6155	Godfrey G.
7048	Gracie H.
6609	Grant M.
6830	Harkness T.
6436	Horgan P.
6423	Howard H.
6293	Jennison G.
6586	Jeffery H.	Attached to Gordon Hldrs from 13 to 17 Feb 1887.
5677	Johnson G.
6597	Judd B.
6812	Kitcher H.
6404	Lamacroft W.
6673	Ley W.
6439	Lonsdale W.
6613	McCracken W.
6610	McDonald W.
6453	McQuade J.
6468	North F.
6750	Parks T.
4390	Payne R.
7060	Patch C.
6547	Penton J.
7799	Porter H.
6493	Rogers W.
6622	Ross E.
6610	Salkeld G.
7540	Scott E.
7315	Sheil R.
6457	Sleigh A.
7041	Smart C.
6475	Smith E.
7004	Smith G.
6389	Smith J.
6438	Smith S.
6980	Squibb J.
6959	Stanmore H.
7871	Sturgess A.
7505	Tidmarsh A.	Arrived from England 26 Jan 1888.
6510	Tonkin J.
7767	Ward H. L.	Arrived from England 26 Jan 1888.
7005	Whatley J.
6656	Wheeldon F.
6037	Willan R.
7353	Williams H.
7084	Willmott J.
6650	Wooldridge P.
1371	Duncan A.	Attached Private from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 1 to 15 Jan 1888.
252	Graham G.	Attached Private from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 16 Jan to 31 Mar 1888.
876	Hailstones A.	Attached Private from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 13 Dec 1887 to 31 Jan 1888.
2420	Murdoch J.	Attached Private from 1st/Royal Highlanders from 1 to 9 Jan 1888.
1822	Robb R.	Attached Private from 1st/Gordon Highlanders from 10 Jan 1888.
442	Grinshaw	Attached Private from 2nd/Essex Regt from 10 Jan 1888.
Table 6: Detachment of the Medical Staff Corps serving in Malta from 1 January to 31 March 1888.

1889 Medical Staff Corps

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 98 men with 36 admissions into hospital and 1 death. 1 invalid returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 2.45. The average sick time to each soldier was 9.12 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 24.84 days.

Burials in 1889:

17 Mar 1889 Child Violet Annie Pfiel aged 1 year, daughter of Sgt Pfiel MSC was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.

1890 Medical Staff Corps

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 101 men with 67 admissions into hospital and 1 death. 3 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 4.22. The average sick time to each soldier was 15.25 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 22.90 days.

Baptisms in 1890:

16 Mar Edward Vivian Harvey Pollett born 30 Jan 1890, son of Alice Eliza and 1st class SSgt Alfred Cotsford Pollett MSC Cottonera.
4 May Sidney Herbert Campbell Buckley born 4 Feb 1890, son of Mary Anne and QM John Buckley Medical Staff.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1890:

15 Aug Sidney Herbert Buckley aged 6 months, son of Capt Buckley, Quarter Master Medical Staff.

Burials in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1890:

12 Mar R Payne aged 32 years 10 months, died at the Cottonera Hospital.
15 May Edward Vivian Harvey Pollett aged 3 months died at the Cottonera Hospital.
3 July Frank Gaiger aged 1 year 3 months died at the Cottonera Hospital.
16 Sep Alice Eliza Pollett aged 32 years wife of Sgt A C Pollett, died at Cottonera Hospital.

1891 Medical Staff Corps

Pte John Postgate MSC died 15 March 1891 aged 29 yrs.
(Pietà Military Cemetery)

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 103 men with 55 admissions into hospital and 2 deaths. 3 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 3.03. The average sick time to each soldier was 10.73 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 20.11 days.

Warrant Officers and Non Commissioned Officers of the Medical Staff Corps Malta January 1891:

Warrant Officer 2132 R West at Valletta Hospital from January 1888. Attested 9 March 1868
1st Class SSgt A C Pollett at Cottonera Hospital from July 1889.
1st Class SSgt T J McLintic. Attested 20 August 1874.
2nd Class SSgt H Bridges at Forrest Hospital. Attested 16 September 1875.
2nd Class SSgt H Woolley. Attested 5 March 1881.
Sgt T Mahon at Cottonera Hospital from September 1888. Attested 4 July 1878.
Sgt 5249 H P Wakefield at Valletta Hospital. Attested 11 February 1880.
Sgt G Vickery at Valletta Hospital. Attested 10 July 1873.
Sgt 3332 R A Bell at Gozo. Attested 17 May 1876.
Sgt 4506 C W Buckland at Valletta Hospital. Attested 24 June 1880.
Sgt E A Metcalfe Staff at Valletta Hospital. Attested 1 May 1880.
Sgt 5413 A Collins at Cottonera Hospital. Attested 12 April 1883.
Sgt B S Gledhill Staff at Valletta Hospital from December 1888. Attested 16 August 1884.

Cpl W Drummy.
Cpl 3560 T Greenham at Cottonera Hospital from July 1889.
Cpl W Waller at Malta from May 1886.
Cpl W P McCarthy at Valletta Hospital from September 1889.
Cpl W G Carter
Cpl 5689 R C Rowan at Valletta Hospital from September 1895.
Cpl J A McInery at Forrest Hospital from July 1889.
Cpl J R Kenshole
Cpl 6438 S Smith at Valletta Hospital from September 1885.
Cpl W Butler at Valletta Hospital from September 1885.
L/Cpl G Rowbotham
L/Cpl J Willmott at Malta from March 1886.
Pte H Shanmore at Cottonera Hospital from June 1885.
Pte J Waller at Cottonera Hospital from July 1889.
Pte 5980 F H Gibbon

Merritt G — Lt Col George Merritt (QM retd.) playing bridge at his home in Durban in his 97th year. (Courtesy AMS archives)

Lt Col George Merritt OBE (1856 – 5 June 1953) enlisted in the Army Hospital Corps as a dispenser in 1874. He served in Bermuda from November 1874 to July 1878, the Zulu War of 1879, and the Egyptian War of 1882. Returning from Egypt in 1884 he was posted to the War Office, where he became superintending clerk of the Records Branch of the Corps. He remained at the War Office until commissioned in June 1889. He was posted to Malta in December 1891, serving there until 1897.

Robert A Bell — Sgt Robert Arthur Bell MSC enlisted in May 1876. He served in the Army Hospital Corps and then in the Medical Staff Corps at Fort Chambray Gozo. He married and raised a family in Malta and retired in 1896 as a compounder Staff Sgt (Courtesy D Cunningham).

Merritt was them appointed officer in charge medical stores at Woolwich and was largely responsible in equipping troops for the South African War. He worked at the War Office serving under Colonel Gubbins, Colonel Johnson, Major Babtie, and Major Russell until December 1904, when he was posted to the Army stores at Capetown. He remained there until his retirement in June 1911.

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he joined the South African Defence Force and served with the South African General Hospital in German West Africa. In July 1916, he accompanied the South African General Hospital to France. Returning to Richmond he was responsible under the High Commissioner for handing over the hospital to the Imperial authorities, the final evacuation of South Africa convalescents and the disposal of property. He was promoted to the rank of Lieut Colonel and awarded the OBE for his services.

His son Major B. T. Merritt served in the 1914–1918 and 1919 Afghan Wars in the 10th Gurkhas. His eldest grandson Pilot Officer Anthony Merritt was shot down and killed at El Alamein in the Second World War.

Lt Colonel George Merritt took up residence in South Africa in 1937.

Baptisms in 1891:

19 Apr Robin Charles Chambray Bell born 7 Apr 1891, son of Emma Elizabeth and Sgt Robert Arthur Bell of Fort Chambray Gozo.
26 Apr Alfred Herbert Bridges born 26 Mar 1891, son of Sarah Elizabeth and SSgt Henry Bridges of Forrest Hospital St Julians.
12 June Irene May Buchland born 21 May 1891, daughter of Alice and Sgt Charles William Buchland MSC.
12 June Isabel Jason Metcalfe born 5 Nov 1887, daughter of Isabel Laura and Sgt Edward Arthur Metcalfe MSC.

Burials in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1891:

12 Feb Frederick William Milner aged 1 year 4 months, died at Cottonera Hospital.
17 Mar Pte John Postgate aged 30 years was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.
19 Nov F R Gaiger aged 1 year 8 months, died at Cottonera.

1892 Medical Staff Corps

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 101 men with 86 admissions into hospital and 1 death. 12 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 5.06. The average sick time to each soldier was 18.83 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 24.53 days.

Warrant Officer Bertram Edward Essex was posted to Malta with his family in 1892 and served in Malta up to 1897. He was born on 2 June 1860 and served in the ranks of the Army Hospital Corps and the Medical Staff Corps from 1880 to 1894. He was promoted Warrant Officer in 1894 and became a QuarterMaster and Honorary Lieutenant on 6 December 1899. He served in Egypt from 1882 to 1885, Cyprus in 1885, South Africa from 1899 to 1902 and Egypt 1908 to 1912. He died at the Citadel Hospital Cairo Egypt on 15 December 1912.

Baptisms in 1892:

7 May Frederick Henry Woolley born 23 Apr 1892, son of Harriett and SSgt Henry Woolley of Cottonera.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1892:

19 July William Hoppers aged 18 months, son of SSgt Hoppers.
23 Aug Alfred Donald Stevens aged 1 year 11 months.
2 Sep Alfred John Bayley Scammell aged 8 months, son of SSgt Scammell.

1893 Medical Staff Corps

Pte John Whatley MSC Valletta died 20 March 1893 aged 35 yrs.
(Pietà Military Cemetery)

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 113 men with 58 admissions into hospital and 1 death. 6 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 3.59. The average sick time to each soldier was 11.59 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 22.59 days.

Marriages in 1893:

5 June 1893 Pte Harry Cracknell MSC, aged 22 yrs to Alice Lives, spinster, aged 23 yrs.

Baptisms in 1893:

28 Jan Bessie Howells born 28 Dec 1892, daughter of Elizabeth Eliza and Cpl William Franklin Howells of Salvatore Gate Cottonera.
30 May Violet Bayley Scammell born 29 Apr 1893, daughter of Jane Harriett Emma and Sgt Samuel Thomas Digby Scammell of Valletta.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1893:

22 Mar Pte John Whatley aged 35 years.
1 Dec Elsie Cameron Essex aged 6 years 3 months, daughter of Jean Cameron nee Martin and WO Bertram Edward Essex.
12 Dec Stanly Pelham Essex aged 4 years 3 months, son of Jean Cameron nee Martin and WO Bertram Edward Essex.

1894 Medical Staff Corps

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 120 men with 63 admissions into hospital and 1 death. 5 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 4.10. The average sick time to each soldier was 12.17 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 23.75 days.

A group photograph of the Army Medical Staff and Orderlies of the Medical Staff Corps at the Valletta Military Hospital captured by R. Ellis in 1894 appeared in the Times dated 15 December 1997.

The men of the Medical Staff Corps were distributed at Valletta, Cottonera, Forrest, Citta Vecchia and Gozo.

Baptisms in 1894:

17 Jan Arthur Harold Merritt born 17 Nov 1893, son of Mary Anne and SSgt Edward James Merritt MSC of the Station Hospital Valletta.
26 Jan Celia Helen Haynes born 7 Dec 1893, daughter of Celia Helen and Pte Thomas William Haynes of No 69 Strada Buono Giorno Bormla (Cospicua).
27 Dec Percy Clifford Essex born 4 Dec 1894, son of Jean Cameron and Sgt Maj Bertram Edward Essex of Valletta.

Burials in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1894:

27 Mar Pte Sidney Hughes aged 23 years, died at Cottonera.
1 Dec Celia Helen Haynes aged 11 months, daughter of Pte Haynes died at Cottonera.

1895 Medical Staff Corps

gordon — Gordon died on 15 June 1895 aged 1 yr 5 mths only child of Sgt Smellie MSC and his wife Rose (Pietà Military Cemetery).

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 118 men with 78 admissions into hospital and 3 deaths (25.42/1000 mean strength). 8 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 6.40. The average sick time to each soldier was 19.80 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 29.05 days.

Baptisms in 1895:

2 Feb Walter Ernest Hawkey born 4 Jan 1895, son of Frances Mary and Sgt Maj Richard Augustus Hawkey of Cottonera.
21 Apr Marion Bertha Merritt born 13 Mar 1895, daughter of Mary Anne and SSgt 1st Class Edward James Merritt of Citta Vecchia (Mdina).
2 June Phyllis Melita Muriel Bell born 4 May 1895, daughter of Emma Elizabeth and SSgt Robert Arthur Bell of Gozo.
6 Oct Alfred James Henry Sims born 12 Sep 1895, son of Maria Augusta and L/Cpl Alfred James Sims of Cottonera.
13 Oct Celia Jane Haynes born 26 Sep 1895, daughter of Celia Helen and L/Cpl Thomas William Haynes of Cospicua.
13 Oct Beatrice Mary Annie Pearce born 21 Apr 1894, daughter of Leslie and Pte George Pearce of Pembroke.
13 Oct George Albert Pearce born 6 Sep 1895, son of Leslie and Pte George Pearce of Pembroke.
29 Dec Edwin Victor Munden born 12 Dec 1895, son of Emily Elizabeth and Pte William Munden of Gozo.

Burials in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1895:

7 Jan Pte William George Studd aged 29 years, died at Cottonera.
3 May Edith Melita Archer aged 35 hours, daughter of Pte Archer died at Cottonera.
4 Oct Pte Jesse James Cook aged 28 years died at Cottonera.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1895:

15 Mar Infant Gordon Smellie, aged 1 year 5 months, son of Sgt Smellie.
29 Nov Infant George Albert Pierce, aged 2 months 22 days, son of Pte Pierce.

1896 Medical Staff Corps

Thomas William Humphreys — Thomas William son of Sgt Humphreys MSC died 21 Jan 1896 aged 5 yrs 6 mths. (Pietà Military Cemetery)

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 123 men. It had 66 admissions into hospital with 1 death. 2 invalids returned to England.

Glover Samuel William — Samuel William Glover son of SSgt H W Glover died Valletta on 4 Dec 1896 aged 6 yrs 11 mths (Ta' Braxia Cemetery).

Its average constantly sick was 2.64. The average sick time to each soldier was 7.86 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 14.64 days.

Baptisms in 1896:

13 Feb Lilian Violet Halls born 26 Sep 1895, daughter of Alice and Pte James Halls of Citta Vecchia.

Burials in 1896:

21 Jan Thomas William Humphreys, aged 5 years 6 months, son of Sgt Humphreys MSC was buried at Pietà Military Cemetery.
4 Dec Samuel William Glover, aged 6 years 11 months, son of SSgt H W Glover MSC was buried at Ta' Braxia Military Cemetery.

1897 Medical Staff Corps

The Medical Staff Corps had an average strength of 140 men. It had 118 admissions into hospital with 6 deaths. 8 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 7.20. The average sick time to each soldier was 18.77 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 22.27 days.

Baptisms in 1897:

5 Aug George William Stacy Bush born 8 July 1897, son of Edith Mary and Sgt George Watson Stacy Bush of Valletta.
14 Oct May Lilian Andus born 18 Sep 1897, daughter of Amy Hutchen and SSgt Henry Joseph Francis Andus of the Sanatorium Citta Vecchia.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1897:

15 May Alfred James Edwards Sims, aged 1 year 8 months, son of Pte Sims.
30 Aug Pte Thomas Henry Wilson, aged 40 years.
5 Oct Cpl John Garner aged 26 years.
10 Feb 1897 Pte James Hutchinson aged 33 years, died at Cottonera and was buried in Rinella Military Cemetery.

24 Mar A detachment of the MSC served in Crete as part of the Cretan International Force.

1898 Medical Staff Corps

Baptisms in the Garrison Church in 1898:

10 Mar Kathleen Hutton born on 17 February 1898, daughter of Sgt Major Edward Hutton Medical Staff Corps and Florence Annie, resident at Valletta.

Burials in 1898:

15 Oct 1898 Pte John Smith aged 33 years was buried at Pietà Military Cemetery.

23 June Amalgamation of the Medical Staff Corps with the Army Medical Staff to form the Royal Army Medical Corps.

13 July One of the first soldiers of the Medical Staff Corps to arrive in Malta on the formation of the RAMC was No 11177 Pte George Biddiscombe who was born in Greenwich, Kent on 2 March 1880.

On 19 August 1896, aged 18 years, George Biddiscombe enlisted in the MSC at Maidstone Kent for 7 years in the army and 5 years in the Reserve. He was appointed a 3rd Class Orderly on 22 December 1896. He served in Cork (1897) and Fermoy (1898), became a 2nd Class Orderly on 1 December 1897 and embarked for Malta on 13 July 1898.

He served at Kandia, Crete (22 August to 27 September 1898) where on 6 September 1898, he received a gun shot wound to his right leg during the Moslem attack on the Field Hospital. Private G Biddiscombe was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette Issue 27045 page 458 dated 24 January 1899), and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette Issue 27060 page 1586 dated 7 March 1899), for his part in the rescue of a wounded soldier of the 1st/Highland Light Infantry under heavy enemy fire. The medal was presented to him by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 11 May 1899.

On 14 December 1898, he was invalided home and left Netley Hospital on 6 January 1899 after 4 months treatment in various hospitals. He deployed to South Africa on 14 October 1899 where he remained until to 22 September 1902.

Organisation of The Field Hospital in 1898

The Field Hospital replaced the Regimental Hospitals which disappeared with the introduction of the Unification System of 1878, when regimental surgeons became part of the Army Medical Department.

In addition to the surgeons and Stretcher Bearers attached to every regiment in action, each sub-division of infantry had its Bearer Company and Field Hospital.

A Bearer Company consisted of 3 Medical Officers, 1 Warrant Officer, 6 NCOs, and 54 men from the Medical Staff Corps. In addition there were an officer and 34 men of the Army Service Corps for transport duties. The transport consisted of 10 ambulance wagons, 4 forage carts, and a water cart.

Dressing Station with ambulance waggon conveying patients from the front. (The Navy and Army Illustrated Vol XV No 311 page 455 published 17 January 1903).

The Bearer Company was responsible for following up the fighting line, attending to the wounded, and evacuating the casualties on stretchers in the ambulance waggons to the Dressing Station located about a kilometer behind the fighting line. At the Dressing Station the wounded are reassessed and moved on to the Field Hospital.

The Field Hospital of about 100 beds was not static but was able to advance or retreat with the infantry. Although there were 13 Field Hospitals on the establishment, none existed in peace time, but were mobilised as hostilities dictated. It was commanded by a Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel and manned by one Surgeon-Major, two Surgeon-Captains, one quartermaster of the Army Medical Staff, one sergeant major, seven staff sergeants and sergeants, and 32 rank and file of the Medical Staff Corps. One warrant officer and 16 men of the Army Service Corps were attached to the Field Hospital for transport duties.

The Field Hospital cleared its wounded by moving them further up the chain to the Base Hospitals.

The compound ranks of the medical staff were introduced by the Royal Warrant of 7 August 1891 and abolished on the formation of the Royal Army Medical Corps in 23 June 1898.

On overseas service, each Field Hospital was established for 40 tents. Twenty five bell tents, taking four patients each on field stretchers, were assigned for the sick and wounded. The tents were arranged in five rows of five tents each. The rest were used for as an operating theatre, a surgery tent housing medicines and the medical and surgical panniers, and tents for staff accommodation. In addition the Field Hospital had six general service waggons and a forage cart.

The Medical Staff Corps at Home was organised in 18 Service Companies and two depôt Companies located at Aldershot, where recruits were trained. Nos 1, 2 and 3 Service Companies manned the three Military Hospitals at Aldershot, while another two companies served at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley. The remaining companies had their HQs at the headquarter stations of the different military districts. On mobilisation, each company formed the cadre of the Field Hospital and Bearer Company.

Field Ambulace — Field Ambulance on parade 1906

Field Ambulances came into existence in 1905, when, following the experiences of the South African War, the hitherto completely separate units of Bearer Coys and the Field Hospital of a hundred beds were combined.

Following the South African War, the transport element (Bearer Coy) was combined with the treatment element (hospital staff). The Field Ambulance was divided into a Bearer Division and a Tent Division both of which were subdivided into three equal sections known as A, B and C.

A Major commanded a Field Ambulance, while the sections were under the command of RAMC captains. The role of the Field Ambulance was to collect the sick and wounded from the forward area, render first aid and evacuate casualties to a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS). The personnel of a Field Ambulance consisted of seven medical officers, a quartermaster and about 220 men. One or more sections usually B and C would be sent forward to form an Advanced Dressing Station (ADS). Section A, Headquarter Section, usually remained in the rear to form a Main Dressing Station (MDS). Casualties from an ADS were transported in motor ambulances to a MDS.

Bibliography

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