Casualty Clearing Station Board Game

Innovative game of probability and chance the World War One Casualty Clearing Station Board Game launched in Worcester on 16 July

• Created by the George Marshall Medical Museum and The Infirmary Museum as part of the Worcestershire World War One Hundred project.

Pupils from Tudor Grange Academy Worcester helped launch the World War One Casualty Clearing Station Board Game on 16 July, an innovative education resource created by the teams at the George Marshall Medical Museum and The Infirmary Museum as part of the Worcestershire World War One Hundred project.

Designed for secondary school mathematics pupils, the board game is one of probability and chance which sees the player take on the role of a First World War Medical Officer making decisions, dependent on condition, about the fate of injured soldiers sent to a casualty clearing station during the First World War.

In 1916, 734,000 men were wounded and evacuated from casualty clearing stations by a range of means such as trains and barges. As the war progressed and treatment of regiments became more sophisticated and refined, the casualty clearing station became more self-contained treatment centres carrying out amputations and treatment of bullet trauma wounds. Casualty clearing stations revolutionised the surgery of World War One and made a significant contribution to the outcome of the War.

Louise Price, George Marshall Medical Museum said: “After the Battle of Ypres, the British Army realised that too many injured soldiers were dying; they were simply not arriving at hospital in time. First Responders were needed and casualty clearing stations were set up about 5 miles from the Front. With this innovative board game, we can now engage all Key Stage 3 students, not just those taking a History course, with the importance of the casualty evacuation chain, and properly commemorate the work done by the Medical Officers in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

“Based upon the museums’ collections of Lt. Col. Goddard, a Medical Officer during both the Boer War and the First World War, students will apply their knowledge of probability and percentages to find the best course of action for each injured soldier. Should they return to the Front? Or should they go to a Base Hospital for further treatment? In playing the board game, students will use their skills to engage with both History and Mathematics in a fun and informative way.”

Dr Adrian Gregson, Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service said: “As part of the Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme Worcester’s two medical museums, the George Marshall Medical Museum and The Infirmary Museum have taken a completely innovative approach to interpreting World War One’s medical history creating a fantastic mathematics resource. We look forward to showcasing the Game and encouraging schools to get playing.”

The Casualty Clearing Station Board Game will be available for a free loan from the George Marshall Medical Museum and The Infirmary Museum. Initially for schools across Worcestershire the Board Game will also be available soon for download by schools outside the area.

For further information on the Casualty Clearing Station Board Game contact the team at the George Marshall Medical Museum and The Infirmary Museum on 01905 542373.

Picture credit: Simon Handley