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The modern perception of the First World War is one of soldiers living a miserable existence within the labyrinth of
trenches constituting the Western Front. This may be attributed to the medias portrayal of the Great War for civilisation,
frequently depicted on our television screens, by grainy images of soldiers advancing [a staged sequence for the newsreel]
or an authentic clip of a wounded man being carried through a trench on the shoulders of a comrade.
In reality the Great War extended beyond France and Flanders [Belgium], for the soldiers of the king fought and died
in theatres of war throughout the globe. The Dardenelles and Salonika campaigns for example produced thousands of wounded
and maimed servicemen. Illness and disease added to the numbers of patients and placed an intolerable burden on the field
hospital services. Patients who required extensive periods of recovery or were no longer suitable for military service
where removed from the battle zones.
| One of the earlier Great War hospital ships |
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| St Andrew served from 19 August 1914 to 29 May 1919 |
A fleet of requisitioned liners were converted into hospital ships, to return the casualties, back to the United Kingdom.
The vessels sailed under the immunity of the Geneva Convention, and were painted white all over, and usually had yellow funnels.
Around the shearstrake [hull/deck junction] ran a three metre wide green band [or red on public subscribed vessels] they
also had huge red crosses emblazoned on their sides. As the war time shipping sailed without showing lights, the hospital
ships remained illuminated during the hours of darkness. Around the hull perimeter the port and starboard sides displayed
hundreds of either red or green lights, to prevent any mistaken identity concerning the purpose of the vessel.
Initially both belligerents prosecuted the war at sea in a chivalrous manner, however as the years rolled by the war
at sea descended into barbarity. Both sides were involved in controversial incidents, but the deliberate sinking of British
hospital ships led to the deaths of innocent nurses, medics, invalids and merchant navy personnel.
Britain cited the sinkings as the latest example of Hun barbarity. Germany countered with claims Britain used the the
hospital ships for carrying troops, thereby justifying their actions. Under international law beligerents had the right
to stop, board and search any hospital vessel arousing suspicion. Such inspections did occour but unfortunately, the 1917
introduction of unrestricted naval warfare heralded open warfare on the hospital ships.
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