By the time Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 the lessons learnt by the British Army in the Napoleonic Wars had largely been forgotten.  During the Crimean War provision of medical support was the responsibility of "Civil Departments" rather than trained experienced professionals. As a result the medical provision was a fiasco. 

In response a new formation was created in 1855 - "The Medical Staff Corps". This only consisted of soldiers as medical officers were employed directly by their regiments.  In 1857 the Medical Staff Corps was reorganised into the "Army Hospital Corps" but in 1884 the name was reverted.   In 1873 the practice of medical officers being part of the regiment was abandoned and a new organisation was created: the "Army Medical Department".

On the 1st July 1898 the officers from the Army Medical Department and and men from the Medical Staff Corps were merged to form the "Royal Army Medical Corps". The Corps developed during the Boer War but reached its peak in size and experience during the Great War. The Royal Army Medical Corps stills exists today and has its own museum.

Our group has several members that portray medical staff.  We have members that support our Home Service events as the Medical Staff Corps, our Zulu War events as the Royal Hospital Corps and our Boer War events as the Royal Army Medical Corps.

"The Diehard" Company, members of the Victorian Military Society ~ Our aim is to educate

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