history of 205 field hospital

20210202 – History of 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital by Colonel (retd) David Vassallo L/RAMC

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205 (Scottish) Field Hospital 'Cuir and dewitie'

Introduction

205 (Scottish) Field Hospital is one of ten field hospitals in the Army Reserves. Its home is Graham House in

Glasgow, and its squadrons are based in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.1 It was

formed in 1967 as 205 (Scottish) General Hospital RAMC (V) by the amalgamation of 5 (City of Glasgow)

General Hospital with 50 (Scottish) Casualty Clearing Station. It had the distinction of being the first

Territorial Army unit to deploy overseas since the Second World War (deploying to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in

the First Gulf War), and since then it has deployed again to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The unit emblems

The unit insignia features the Saltire and the Lion rampant, both being representative of its antecedence,

with ‘205’ emblazoned on the Saltire to distinguish the unit.

The Unit Tartan of 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital is the Graham of Montrose, worn originally by the Pipes and

Drums of 2nd Scottish General Hospital from 1920 until disbanded in 1962. It was also worn behind the cap

badge by 23 (Scottish) General Hospital. This custom was revived by '205' and now has official approval,

being worn on the Tam O’Shanter, the unit’s head-dress.

1 There are contact details for the unit on the British Army website: 205 Field Hospital, https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-

are/corps-regiments-and-units/army-medical-services/205-field-hospital/ (last accessed 30 January 2021).

https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/army-medical-services/205-field-hospital/



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The Unit motto is 'Cuir and dewitie', taken from the exhortation by Mary, Queen of Scots to her surgeons

before the Battle of Langside in 1568, to 'do their cuir and dewitie, to the wounded of both sides this day'.

During Operation GRANBY in 1991, the unit modified its insignia to feature a 'Medical Desert Rat’. It was

modelled on the original Desert Rat motif but modified to hold the Healing Staff with the Serpent, the story

of which is told in the book of Numbers.2 This insignia was only used for Operation GRANBY.

205’s insignia during Operation Granby, 1990 – 1991

The unit history in depth

The Unit originates from the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps (VMSC) Companies which formed in Edinburgh

(1886), Aberdeen (1888) and Glasgow (1893-94). Their Active Service Companies served in the South

African (Second Boer) War (1899-1902).

Following the formation of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) Volunteers in 1902, the VMSC was

reorganized into Brigade Bearer Companies with affiliation to their local Regiments.

The Brigade Bearer Companies became Field Ambulance units when the Territorial Force (TF) was

established in 1908. Within the 52nd Lowland Division there were three such units: 1st and 2nd Lowland

Field Ambulances (Glasgow) and 3rd Lowland Field Ambulance (Edinburgh).

First World War

The 1st and 2nd Lowland Field Ambulances (Glasgow) and 3rd Lowland Field Ambulance (Edinburgh) were

renumbered during the Great War to 156, 157 and 155 (Lowland) Field Ambulances respectively. They saw

service in Gallipoli (1915), Egypt, Palestine and finally France (1918).

In Edinburgh the 2nd Scottish General Hospital TF was based at Craig Leith (now the Western General

Hospital), from which a detachment deployed to St. Omer, France as 58 (Scottish) General Hospital RAMC

from 1917 to 1919.

Following the 'war to end all wars' the Territorial Force was much reduced, and in 1921 renamed the

Territorial Army (TA). The surviving Scottish Lowland Medical Units were in Edinburgh - 155 (Lowland)

Field Ambulance TA and 11/(2nd Scottish) General Hospital TA. The Glasgow units went into suspended

animation, only to be hastily reformed in 1938.

2 Numbers 21;4-9


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Second World War

The 11/(2nd Scottish) General Hospital TA mobilized as 23 (Scottish) General Hospital RAMC and served in

Palestine and UK, providing medical support teams to cover the Normandy landings in 1944. It then

advanced through France to Germany as the 21st Army Group's General Hospital, ending up near Bad

Oegnhaven.

The three field ambulances landed with the 52nd Lowland Division on the Cherbourg Peninsula in May

1940 following the evacuation at Dunkirk, soon returning to the defence of East Anglia before beginning

mountain warfare training in the Scottish Highlands, for possible operations in Norway. However in 1944

the 52nd Lowland Division landed on Walcheren Island in Holland and advanced across northern Germany

to take Bremen. Finally they moved into Norway to assist the German surrender there.

Post-war changes

The Territorial Army reformed in 1947, with 2nd (Scottish) General Hospital TA and 155 (Lowland) Field

Ambulance TA forming at Edinburgh, and 156 and 157 (Lowland) Field Ambulance TA at Glasgow,

Hamilton and Ayr. Further reductions and amalgamations followed in 1961, with 155 (Lowland) Field

Ambulance TA joining the 2nd (Scottish) General Hospital TA in Edinburgh to form 50 (Scottish) Casualty

Clearing Station (CCS) TA.

In Glasgow the original 157 (Lowland) Field Ambulance TA was amalgamated with 154 (Highland) Field

Ambulance TA to form 5 (City of Glasgow) General Hospital TA. Females joined the hospital staff for the

first time (the exact date is uncertain) but could not join the main forward medical units. The original

156 Field Ambulance was renamed 157 Field Ambulance in 1961, and then disbanded in 1967.

Formation of 205 (Scottish) General Hospital RAMC (Volunteers) – 1967

The major re-organisation of the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) in 1967 saw the formation

of 205 (Scottish) General Hospital RAMC (V) by the amalgamation of 5 (City of Glasgow) General Hospital

with 50 (Scottish) CCS. The RHQ was in Glasgow with detachments at Edinburgh, Inverness and Dunoon.3

Their operational locations were in Dortmund, West Germany in support of the British Army of the Rhine.

Op GRANBY (1990 – 1991)

During Op GRANBY, following the invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990 by Saddam Hussein’s forces,

205 (Scottish) General Hospital (V) was mobilised as a formed unit and deployed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

under the command of Colonel Glynne Jones L/RAMC, assisted by Lt Colonel Eileen Curran as matron.

It was the only Territorial Army medical unit to be mobilised for this Operation, the unit being asked to

volunteer for service in the Gulf in mid-December 1990.

The Hospital deployed in a third line medical support role, as the UK's Evacuation Hospital, and was

manned by TA personnel from 205 General Hospital and other reinforcing units, and individual

reinforcements (IR). The total strength was some 750 all ranks, both TA and Regular personnel.

3 The small detachments at Inverness and Dunoon were closed in 1992.


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205 General Hospital deployed with eight General Surgical and two Specialist Burns Teams, setting up as a

600 bed facility. It was classified as British Forces Middle East (BFME) troops, as it did not operate directly

in 1(UK) Division's area, but was used to evacuate UK casualties from theatre.

After a small amount of preparatory training, the unit personnel deployed to Saighton Camp, Chester,

from where the unit flew out to the Gulf over 11-19 Jan 1991 (advance party 11-14 January, main parties

15-19 January). The first main party arrived in Riyadh during a Scud alert on 17 January, Day One of the

Gulf War.4

The Hospital set up in the unfinished Terminal 4 buildings of King Khalid International Airport (KKIA),5

some 35 km south of Riyadh, co-located with a French medical facility. The Hospital also took on a

specialist responsibility for Burns cases in theatre.

The Hospital was declared operational on 30 January 1991, with the setting up of the medical facility

taking only 14 days. The unit Diary records that that it operated ‘under threat from missile attack with

High Explosive, and threat of Chemical and Biological Warfare’. There were missile alerts over 17-22 and

25 January particularly, mostly false alerts from other units raising the alarm, although missile launches

against Riyadh did occur on some 15 occasions between 17 January and 28 February 1991.

205 General Hospital held several casualty handling exercises in early February, and also received a

number of non-battle casualties from 33 General Hospital in Al Jubail, and 22 and 32 Field Hospitals near

Al Qaysumah airfield. It worked closely with 4626 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Sqn in the air evacuation of

many of these casualties (see diagram below).6

The AMS Magazine records that the workload was not heavy at this time, and that the hospital was able to

operate on half shifts. The Hospital was also reinforced by a 32-strong Singaporean medical team, and a

Swedish medical facility, which set up some 10 km nearer to Riyadh.

During the ground war, 205 General Hospital received no casualties until 27 February, these coming from

forward medical units. The AMS Magazine records that the casualties received were few in number, and

that ‘the staff-to-patient ration was impressive by any standards’. Despite this, the unit treated over half

the UK casualties from the ground war (most of the rest being treated by 22 and 32 Field Hospitals), also

treating and evacuating some casualties after the cessation of hostilities.7-8

4 205 General Hospital RAMC (Volunteers) fly in to a Baptism of Fire. Soldier Magazine 4 March 1991, pp.24-25.

5 IHL in Action - United States/United Kingdom, Medical Treatment and Care of Wounded Soldiers during the Persian Gulf War

https://ihl-in-action.icrc.org/case-study/united-statesunited-kingdom-medical-treatment-and-care-wounded-soldiers-during-persian (accessed 11 January 2021)

6 Leitch RA, Lillywhite LW. Medical Support for the Gulf War. In: Martin S. White, ed., Gulf Logistics (London: RUSI/Brassey's, 1995),

Chapter X (Medical Support)

7 205 General Hospital RAMC (V) (On Active Service). Army Medical Services Magazine 1991(June);45:82-84.

8 205 General Hospital RAMC (V) (On Active Service). Army Medical Services Magazine 1991(October);45:133-137

https://ihl-in-action.icrc.org/case-study/united-statesunited-kingdom-medical-treatment-and-care-wounded-soldiers-during-persian

https://ihl-in-action.icrc.org/case-study/united-statesunited-kingdom-medical-treatment-and-care-wounded-soldiers-during-persian


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Large numbers of Iraqi casualties had been expected, and it was planned that the hospital should expand

to 900 beds if required, although, in the event, no Iraqi casualties came to the unit.9

Medical evacuation scheme for Op GRANBY (205 General Hospital in Riyadh, bottom left)

The Hospital closed on 7 March 1991, the few casualties then held being moved to the Medical Reception

Station (a reduced medical facility of 205 General Hospital) prior to their evacuation to the UK. The TA

contingent of 205 (Scottish) General Hospital was flown back to the UK on 10 March 1991, while the

remaining two thirds of the hospital (the other TA personnel and the Individual reinforcements) were

flown home over 13-16 March, with the rear party leaving Riyadh on 27 March 1991.10 Three nurses were

awarded the ARRC (Associate Royal Red Cross) after this deployment.

9 Craig RP. Preparations Made and Lessons Learned by the United Kingdom Defence Medical Services during Operation Granby.

Journal of the US Army Medical Department 1992, pp. 26-30


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Commemorative Op GRANBY print (and detail), 205 General Hospital RAMC (V), Riyadh 1991

(artist: S Phillips, March 1994)

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Information courtesy of Historical Branch (Army), drawn partially from AMS Magazine.


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Re-designation as 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) – 1995

In 1995 the unit role changed under the major Army re-organisation following the end of the Cold War

with its re-designation as 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers). The Regimental Headquarters and

Squadron at Glasgow, and the Edinburgh Squadron, were joined by two new Squadrons.

The first such Squadron was formed from 252 (Highland) Field Ambulance at Aberdeen; its antecedents in

the 51st Highland Division were 153 (Highland) Field Ambulance, renamed 152 (Highland) Field

Ambulance in 1947. The Division served in France during the Great War, and in Dunkirk, North Africa, Sicily

and Italy during the Second World War. The second Squadron was established at Dundee alongside the

independent 225 (Highland) Field Ambulance (V). The four Squadrons of '205' were thereby linked to

Scottish cities with medical schools and teaching hospitals (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen).

Squadron locations (British Army website)11

Op TELIC 6 (Iraq) (May – November 2005)

Having served in the First Gulf War on Op GRANBY, the Unit returned to the region on another six month

tour in 2005, during the Second Gulf War on Op TELIC. It formed the Hospital Squadron element (BMH

Shaibah) of the UK Medical Group, supporting 3 Close Support Medical Regiment in Shaibah, near Basra

on Op TELIC 6 (May – November 2005). At that stage 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) was the

only TA Medical Unit to have been mobilised a second time for operational service abroad since the end of

the Second World War. The Squadron was commanded by Lt Col IRJ Crowe RAMC.

During this deployment the UK Medical Group was involved in numerous Battlegroup and Brigade

operations as the Iranians escalated the conflict through their militia proxies in Iraq.12 By the end of

Op TELIC 6, the Med Group had treated 6886 primary healthcare patients, admitted 801 patients to Role 3,

performed over 168 surgical procedures and evacuated 269 patients out of theatre.13

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12 Vassallo D. Organisation of the medical services in Iraq and Afghanistan. Chapter 2 (Operation Telic 6) in: Military Medicine in

Iraq and Afghanistan – a comprehensive review (Ed: Ian Greaves; CRC Press, 2019), pp.54-55.

13 Post Operational Report - 3 Close Support (United Kingdom) Medical Group – Operation TELIC 6, dated 29 Nov 2005



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Blast protection wall at BMH Shaibah (formed from 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital) on Op TELIC 6

Op HERRICK 11 (Afghanistan) (February – May 2010)

The unit subsequently completed a very busy tour of duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in command

of the Role 3 Hospital at Camp Bastion on Op HERRICK 11B (February – May 2010). This was the unit’s last

overseas deployment to date. The beginning of the tour was marked by Operation MOSHTARAK, the

largest joint offensive in the whole HERRICK campaign, which commenced on 12 February.14 -15 The end of

this tour was bookmarked by an Icelandic volcanic eruption whose resulting ash cloud disrupted flights

and delayed departure of the unit from theatre.16

Re-designation as 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital – 2013

The unit dropped ‘Volunteers’ from its title in 2013 as a result of the Future Reserves 2020 plan, under

which the Territorial Army was renamed as the Army Reserve.17

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Bricknell MCM. Focus On….Managing Health Services Support to Military Operations: Medical Lessons from OPERATION MOSHTARAK Phase 2. https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/files/987146/2_6_Bricknell_Paper_9_OP_MOSHTARAK_Medical_Lessons_final_PhD.pdf

15 Bricknell MCM. Medical Lessons from OPERATION MOSHTARAK Phase 2. Worldwide Military-Medicine.com 2 July 2014

https://military-medicine.com/article/3120-medical-lessons-from-operation-moshtarak-phase-2.html

16 Vassallo D. Organisation of the medical services in Iraq and Afghanistan. Chapter 2 (Operation Herrick 11) in: Military Medicine in

Iraq and Afghanistan – a comprehensive review (Ed: Ian Greaves; CRC Press, 2019), pp.70-72

17 The ‘Future Reserves 2020’ (FR2020) plan was outlined in Parliament by Defence Secretary Liam Fox on 18 July

2011. It was followed by the Army 2020 plan in July 2012, which announced a major restructuring of the British Army, and finally by a White Paper presented to Parliament by Liam Fox’s successor, Philip Hammond, in July 2013: Reserves in the Future Force 2020: Valuable and Valued. It was confirmed in this White Paper that the TA would be renamed the Army Reserve

https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/files/987146/2_6_Bricknell_Paper_9_OP_MOSHTARAK_Medical_Lessons_final_PhD.pdf

https://military-medicine.com/article/3120-medical-lessons-from-operation-moshtarak-phase-2.html


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Commanding Officers, Matrons and RSMs of 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital

Lists to be compiled; Appointment boards to be photographed and inserted

history of 205 field hospital

Documents