were battalion medical orderlies RAMC trained

[RegHannay]

When I started doing research on my grandfathers diaries I assumed that his medical orderlies  would have been medically trained. Having looked at the two who worked alongside my grandfather(MO) it seems they were members of the 7th ESR and not RAMC.

 

513 Cpl Culwick. Alexander. Discharged 17/06/1916 no longer physically fit for war service. Silver war badge No12470. 

 

283 Pte Leeds. William Arthur. MM. Enlisted  7th ESR 22/08/1914. London Gazette 25/05/1917 - MM for acts of gallantry and devotion of duty under fire. (he was the official chiropodist to the battalion ?) 15/01/1918 presumed dead. 19/02/1918 reported prisoner of war.

 

Both men's stories are well documented in the diary but it did not occur to me that they were not medically trained.

 

My question is -  was this common practice to use men from the battalions to fill these posts and would they have received any medical training and Did they volunteer for the position.

Dave

 

 

Edited 2 December , 2020 by RegHannay