Medical advancements on the Western Front.
Distinguished surgeon and author Tom Scotland RCSEd (Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh) delivered a quite brilliant presentation to Branch members at the Scots Guards Club in Edinburgh on Sunday 11th October 2026.
His presentation focused on medical advances on the Western Front during the First World War and included subjects such as wound excision, blood transfusion, the Thomas splint and early surgical intervention etc New treatments in war surgery between 1914-1918 significantly improved the survival chances of critically wounded British soldiers - even those suffering from penetrating chest and abdominal wounds.
Tom highlighted many unsung heroes of the medical services. Men like Aberdonian surgeon Sir Henry Gray - an advocate for cleaning out dead tissue from wounds. Orthopaedic surgeon Robert Jones who promoted the use of the Thomas splint to avoid heavy blood loss when a femur was fractured. And the Canadian, Lawrence Bruce Robertson, a pioneer in blood transfusion.
Contrary to popular myth, it was another presentation which demonstrated the men of the British Expeditionary Force learned from experience and introduced improvements throughout the conflict.
