The History of the
Royal Army Medical Corps
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Early Times: Army Medical Services
• Ancient Greeks and Romans first realised the
need for Medical Services
• Helped Moral by removal of sick and wounded
soldiers off the battlefield
• Enabled wounded soldiers to return to battle
more quickly
• Each roman Legion had a Surgeon in
attendance
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Regular Army
• Formed in 1660 by King Charles
• Each regiment had a Medical Officer and a
Warrant Officer for medical duties
• 1689 war broke out in Ireland
• First time British Army had Field Hospitals
• Known as “Marching or Flying Hospitals”
• Female nurses where used for first time
• Situated 1 mile from the battlefield
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Regular Army
• Duke of Marlborough
• Helped supply good food and clean water to
fighting troops
• Great respect and moral from troops
• Over years Medical Services had highs and
lows due to peace and war
• Crimean War against Russia in 1854
• Not until a Cholera epidemic killed 1000
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Nurses Arrive
• Florence Nightingale and 37 nurses arrive
• This was the birth of Army Medical Services
• Start of First Aid Posts to ferry men to Field
Hospitals
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Victoria Cross
• First 3 Victoria Cross’s
awarded to Army
Medical Services
• 1855 Royal Warrant
signed for formation of
Medical Staff Corps
• Renamed 3 Years later
to Army Hospital Corps
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Royal Army Medical Corps
• Queen Victoria signed Royal Warrant on 1 July
1898
• So formed Royal Army Medical Corps
• Within 3 months in Sudan 6 VC’s are won
• Added to 15 already won by other medical
personnel = 21 Victoria Crosses
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World War1 & 2
• 9,345 medical Personnel killed in “Line of
Duty”
• Total of 31 Victoria Crosses won for gallantry
• Lost most personnel during WW1 & WW2
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Modern RAMC
• Now has Regular and TA
units
• High profile in all
Humanitarian Operations
• Medical Officer and staff in
all Med Centres through the
world
• Very important in Iraq and
Afghanistan
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Cap Badge
• Crown
Used to represent Royal Warrant
• Rod and Serpent
Adopted by Medical Profession
Dates back to Ancient Greece
Greek physician angered Pluto by
constantly healing sick and
wounded
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Cap Badge
• Pluto complained to Jupiter
• Who killed Greek Physician
with a bolt of lightening
• He became a God
• Temples used as hospitals
• Each contained a pit of
harmless snakes
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Cap Badge
• Used for healing sores
• Rod and Serpent has
now become the sign
of art and science of
medicine
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• Laurel Wreath
All ranks fused to become one
corps
Wreath of Laurel encircles Rod
and Serpent
This brings the Crown, Rod
and Serpent together
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Cap Badge “MOTTO”
• IN ARDUIS FIDELIS
• Means
“IN HARDSHIP FAITHFUL”
Or
Commonly translated as
STEADFAST IN ADVERSITY
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Cap Badge
• Has a Maroon
Backing
• Represents the
Victoria Crosses
won by the RAMC
and Army Medical
Services
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Cap Badge
• Wear your Cap Badge
with pride
• It has a long and
Glorious History
• Be Proud
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The End
The End
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