Dear Hank
This was pre WWI (1908) but a step on from the Boer War.
Of the six (the squad), one had to be a Royal Army Medical Corps man. He was No 4 and in charge of the others in the squad who could be specially detailed or enlisted. They were all privates. The No 4 carried the surgical haversack. There were 6 stretcher squads and these were under the command of an officer (usually RAMC). The officer (sergeant 2ic) would indicate what to do with the casualties; carry by hand seat, piggy back, fireman's lift or stretcher (or splint them up and say hop to the ambulance). An order could be "3rd squad No 1 Fireman's lift". The British Army loved the drill by numbers. They also had to deal with cavalry casualties so one member had to steady and look after the horse.
I have a little leaflet of WWII "First Aid for the Fighting Man" 1943 and by then much of the primary first aid was expected to be done by the ordinary soldier - corporals and sergeants. It says "IN WAR, a wounded man may be hours or days before he gets to a surgeon." In reality it was much better than that in the ETO. "That cold interval between getting hit and getting help." I should think most soldiers now know their A B C - airway, breathing, circulation drill Frightening to think they didn't a hundred years ago as they waited for a stretcher party.

David

I like the four-man teem holding the casulty up high

Forces of valor did this quite well with their Modern US Army. ESCI's ACW Confederate did one. I'm not sure who else.

Special metion goes to the ESCI ACW Union set where two guys carry one wonded man without the aid of a stretcher. This would be my second favorite stretcher team

Airfix French infantry have a fireman's lift. We jsut don't talk about that set much.

The strelets set The army of Henry V has two men supporting a man using some sort of early gun under the stricken man to hold him up, not an actual stretcher but it does the trick, and it's a lovely piece.

My favorite is actually Airfix's WW1 German. I always thought they looked the best both in detail & overall appearance.

Cheers to Airfix for all their stretcher teams & casualties!

CW Russian Grenadiers have an unusal casualty handling teh set of 3 figures.

I'd like to applaud S*R for producing stretcher bearers in the Crimean Russian and French sets. I like both very much.

I also applaud them for including a casualty pose in the various Cavalry and Infantry sets. I like the diversity of each and evey one. S*R's consistent variety will always endear them to me just like the Airfix sets always have - Classics in their own time.

I only wish - - - I had more free time to enjoy them all!

Hi Garrison, Spot on. Its teh classical artistic formula with many little pictures making up the big picture composition.Every major war painting/sculpyure has theses factors.Added impact.casualties add drama and depth to the figure set.

Hi Guns!

S*R has certainly made it's place in 1/72 Soft Plastic history. And I do love the Roman Mini sets, however, some of the poses could be combined with others Mini sets, such as ...

Romans Before Battle + Romans After Battle + Romans on the March + Romans on Guard at the Mile Fort Walls ...

This could free them up to do other themes. I like the Mini Themes so far, but I see some "over-kill" in similar poses ...

... And would like to see them move on more quickly to other Eras.

I must admit, in criticism, I was dumbfounded to see the latest set of Napoleonic French Marching. Oh, man, how many of these can one generation afford?

I suppose I'm wrong, but I have been saving my Salary for more of S*R's super original sets that ... "Fill the gaps other companies have left behind." For example, I'm looking forward to buying the upcoming French Cavalry - a favorite of mine. And of course the Turk Infantry, but I've O'D'ed on Highlanders already.

Just my feeling. No big deal. Don't pound me, dude! I'll always be a big fan here. I support S*R and only hope something I say will make a difference.

Cheers, Mates All - Have a Super Weekend!

The best stretcher party is always one with an empty stretcher.

A party is six with two taking a break, then pulling from the front then pushing from behind (the most arduous), each time positions are changed you also change sides to rest the other hand.

On exercise a full jerry-can or two sandbags are used as a casualty, also the origin of the log-race is to be found in stretcher-bearing.

If some needed stretcher they have to wait until battlE over , it is no time for emotional peopel.
corpsman only patch up, he focus on lesser injured to get back into fight quickest. walking wounded can still be utilsed for help with ammo.