Sling stretcher - Sherwood Forresters, 1915

[David_Blanchard]

Does anyone have more information or a photograph of a sling stretcher invented by Captain Britton Gill RAMC, Sherwood Forresters in July 1915? 
 

Information from WD of the ADMS July 1915. (There is no photograph attached in the appendix) 

 

David 

[Matlock1418]

48 minutes ago, David_Blanchard said:

Captain Britton Gill RAMC

Seems like: Capt. George Brittan GILL. Royal Army Medical Corps. 

 https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2750588  ,  https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C697403, 

M

[TullochArd]

Perhaps similar to, or a precursor of, the articulated version below ......... "A stretcher designed for narrow trenches (1916): British surgeon George Herbert Colt designed this bendable stretcher as a way to move wounded men through the twists and turns of narrow, muddy trenches. Carried on the bearers’ shoulders, the wounded soldier lay semi-upright in the canvas sling suspended underneath"

Wounded: Conflict, Casualties and Care | Science Museum

Edited 23 October , 2022 by TullochArd

[seaJane]

All I can find on Capt GB Gill in the JRAMC is a note in the Feb 1916 issue that a communication had been received from him. Other people seem to have been working on trench stretchers too: - click here (apologies for the mentions of stretcher bearers which were inadvertently trawled in).

[David_Blanchard]

Many thanks with the help provided for this enquiry. Much appreciated.

 

David 

[Ian Riley]

There was clearly a demand for innovation in finding solutions to the problem of navigating a trench with a stretcher. Lance Corporal WE Pinnington DCM of the Liverpool Scottish [1/10th King's (Liverpool Regiment) ], one of Noel Chavasse's regimental bearers who was awarded the DCM for his finding and clearing wounded at Guillemont in early August 1916, patented a short stretcher for use in trenches when he was with the 3/10th KLR at Park Hall in Oswestry in 1917 . The patent in supported by other technical drawings. Pinnington's officer training with the RAF was interrupted by the ending of the war and he went on to be a teacher of woodwork. This original document from the Liverpool Scottish Museum Archive is on the battalion's very best embossed notepaper

[David_Blanchard]

Many thanks for these additional details.

 

David 

[Matlock1418]

2 hours ago, Ian Riley said:

There was clearly a demand for innovation in finding solutions to the problem of navigating a trench with a stretcher. Lance Corporal WE Pinnington DCM of the Liverpool Scottish [1/10th King's (Liverpool Regiment) ], one of Noel Chavasse's regimental bearers who was awarded the DCM for his finding and clearing wounded at Guillemont in early August 1916, patented a short stretcher for use in trenches when he was with the 3/10th KLR at Park Hall in Oswestry in 1917 . The patent in supported by other technical drawings.

Excellent info and illustration - 4' 5" would certainly seem better than 7' 9"

Do you know if it was it ever used?

M

Edit: It seems they were endorsed.

Thanks to Mr G***** https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nO8xGONoMn0C&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&dq="pinnington+stretcher"&source=bl&ots=B5XfpDbW9K&sig=ACfU3U1L89xR3VO2MXzC-zZj501zqOqV7w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiA2Zfd0_36AhXERkEAHSGSBH4Q6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q="pinnington stretcher"&f=false

 

Edited 26 October , 2022 by Matlock1418
edit

[TullochArd]

2 hours ago, Matlock1418 said:

Excellent info and illustration - 4' 5" would certainly seem better than 7' 9"

Do you know if it was it ever used?

M

Edit: It seems they were endorsed.

 

I wonder.  An issue with Pinnington's design is that the centre of gravity of the casualty is moved significantly and in excess of 75% of the weight is now borne on the arms of the man the rear.  I know which end I'd be at.  The Colt "bendy" sling version distributes the weight more evenly on the shoulders of the SBs and the Brittan-Gill sling may well have done similar.  I suspect that casualty evacuation routes were a more considered factor as the war progressed and the deployment of these items, if available, was perhaps limited to pinch points hence we don't see many of them.  I also wonder if they actually appear anywhere on unit RAP equipment tables or were held as local stores?

Edited 26 October , 2022 by TullochArd

[Matlock1418]

18 minutes ago, TullochArd said:

I wonder.  An issue with Pinnington's design is that the centre of gravity of the casualty is moved significantly and in excess of 75% of the weight is now borne on the arms of the man the rear.  I know which end I'd be at. 

Certainly the length would seem 'better' but I do acknowledge your point and similarly agree for the Pinnington design - I suppose it really depended on how much the CofG was shifted, given the casualty's feet seem to have extended behond the front SB's hands - but I reckon I think I know which end would likely seem preferrable from a SB's point of view [We would probably be having a vigourous 'discussion' over it!]

M

[seaJane]

I wonder whether the Navy's Neil-Robertson stretcher was ever used in the trenches?

Edited 26 October , 2022 by seaJane
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