In Their Words

M1910 Medical Officer's Belt & Armband

One of the most important possessions of any battlefield medic during World War I was his belt. Contained in its pouches were several essential supplies that enabled a medic to aid wounded soldiers in a variety of ways. While an enlisted man carried basic medical supplies such as gauze and simple antiseptics, the belt of a medical officer carried much more and easily turned anyone wearing it into a mobile aid station.

A medical officer’s belt had pouches containing a variety of useful supplies. One of the larger pouches (seen on the far left of the belt pictured) held metal medicine containers which mostly likely contain pills, ointments, and antiseptics. These containers were sealed with screw tops, making them effectively waterproof. A second large pouch (seen at middle) typically contained gauze field dressings like that carried by the regular soldier. The third large pouch (seen at far right) contained tools that enabled a medic to perform rough field surgery if it was necessary to do so. Although not as complete as an actual surgeon’s kit, this pouch typically conatined scalpels, sutures, and tweezers.

The smaller pouches contained either a medicine bottle that could be filled as desired by the medic, and a small metal container which held a syringe and narcotic painkillers. Among the pain killers used were morphine, nitroglycerin, hydrochloridum, and a cocaine derivative.

Also pictured is an armband which would have been worn by battlefield medical personnel. Such armbands served to identify medics from other soldiers and as non-combatants.

From the Collections of the First Division Museum at Cantigny

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