Introduction

Abstract

The introduction provides a concise exploration of the history of Irish medical involvement in the British Army prior to the outbreak of the First World War. In doing so, this section offers important contextual information which demonstrates that Irish medical involvement in the British Army was not a First World War phenomenon, rather it was a long-standing tradition that was perpetuated and considerably escalated by the outbreak of the conflict in 1914. The introduction also includes an analysis of the several medical organisations and voluntary groups that participated in the conflict and enlisted Irish recruits, including the Royal Army Medical Corps and Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service and explores the reasons for Irish medical involvement in each organisation prior to 1914.