Beyond the Stones: Medicine and WW1

As we know many people might not be able to travel to Oban this year and see our new temporary exhibition - Beyond the Stones: Magic, Medicine and the MacDougalls, members of our staff and volunteer team have agreed to share some of their research into a series of blog posts. This one was written by Shannen Provan-Sloan, our Collections Development Officer.

Alexander James MacDougall, 29th Chief, graduated from Edinburgh University in 1894 with a Bachelor of Medicine, and later with a Master of Surgery. The eldest son of a doctor, Alexander spent the early years of his medical career in India, continuing his father Henry’s research into malaria. His work in this area was incredibly successful, eventually resulting in a species of mosquito – the aedes MacDougalli - being named after him. His medical years did not end there, however.

In 1914 at the outbreak of World War One, Alexander joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and was posted quickly to France, a long way from his home in Dunollie, where he left his wife Colina and three daughters – Coline, Jean and baby Hope who would have been not even 1 at the time. Alexander joined the British Expeditionary Force - the six divisions the British Army initially sent to the Western Front during World War One. By 1915, Alexander had been promoted to the command of the 11th Field Ambulance, 4th Division, which fought in the Second Battle of Ypres in the same year. Field Ambulances were mobile front line medical units, which were responsible for establishing and operating a number of points along the casualty evacuation chain. It is likely that Alexander would have been in command of around 65 men in the ‘A’ section of the Field Ambulance, though a full strength Field Ambulance in all of its sections comprised 10 officers and up to 224 men, providing life saving emergency care on the front lines.

Alexander later mobilised the 35th ambulance casualty clearing station, which he commanded in Egypt, France and Palestine. Casualty clearing stations were another part of the casualty evacuation chain, and would be located further back from the front line than Aid Posts or Field Ambulances. The job of Casualty Clearing Stations was to treat the wounded either sufficiently enough that they could return to duty or, more likely, to sustain them until they could be evacuated to a Base Hospital.

Following almost two years with the casualty clearing station, Alexander was appointed Assistant Director of Medical Services of the 52nd Division, which came with an increase in rank to temporary Colonel.

In June 1922, Alexander was appointed by the King to be a Companion of the Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, which is a British order of Chivalry named in honour of two military saints. At this time, Alexander James had achieved the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and had obviously been recognised for his contributions to front-line care for troops.

Whilst Alexander was caring for the injured, Colina was at Dunollie, raising money for the troops and organising supplies. She published requests in the Oban Times for the provision of knitted mufflers and mittens for troops who were stationed in freezing conditions. Colina also advertised the national egg drive programme which aimed to provide eggs to soldiers recovering in Scottish hospitals and send them across to France. Due to their high nutritional value, eggs were seen as a priority for a wounded soldier’s diet during recovery. Colina put Dunollie forward as a deposit location for local eggs, advertising this both through the Oban Times and on posters throughout the town of Oban.

Whilst pushing the egg drive, knitting clothing and advertising for mittens and mufflers, Colina was also using her own home here at Dunollie as a way to fundraise for injured troops or those on the front line. In 1917, Dunollie hosted a garden party, seeking to use the funds to improve comfort for troops. The day was a resounding success, raising £228 to be sent overseas. Colina also became the chairperson of the Oban Voluntary Committee and the Vice President of the Lorn Division of the British Red Cross Society, which ran the Dungallan Auxiliary Hospital in Oban. If you are interested in this topic, you might like one of our previous blog posts: Oban War Efforts during World War 1 (dunollie.org)

This incredible couple provided both direct and indirect care to countless wounded troops throughout the First World War, with Alexander James going on to serve in the Home Guard as a welfare officer in WWII. Between them, they tended to the wounded, evacuated them to safe hospitals, kept them warm, fed them and sent money to their aid. Not only did Alexander commit his medical skills to caring for injured soldiers, but Colina, with three girls to raise, devoted her time to fundraising, knitting, volunteering, and advertising for ways to care for the men overseas. You can find out more about Alexander James and Colina in our temporary exhibition Beyond the Stones: Magic, Medicine and the MacDougalls!