Charles Mackie Begg Essay

under Walker's Ridge, where he continued to treat soldiers, and by the 5th of August, the station had treated over 15,000 wounded ANZAC soldiers. During the attack on Chunuk Bair, the NZ soldiers were suffering heavy losses, and the under staffed medical corps weren't coping. Only days after the attack, the assistant director of medical services was shot, so Begg took his place.
Only days later, Begg was transferred to the number one General Hospital in England, after suffering from para-typhoid fever. After a swift recovery, he returned back to Gallipoli at the beginning of November, where he was re appointed assistant director of the medical corps. In April and May 1916, the NZ Division was moved from Egypt to the western front. Charles had his heafquarters close to Armentieres in France, where they cared for the wounded soldiers and they also had the task of promoting general health of the troops. These particular skills were especially tested in September/October, when the battle of the Somme happened. The medial corps were well praised for treating the soldier's wounds, however, the sickness rate was still high.
In October, Begg was appointed deputy director of medical services, and whilst in this position, he moved to the winter head quarters near Sailly sur la Lys. At Messen in June 1917 there were 9,735 casualties evacuated and treated. However, at Passendale on the 11th October, there was extremely heavy rainfalls, which turned the ground into mud which was knee deep, meaning all vehicles with wheels were immobilised. With a team of six carriers, it took them around six hours to carry one dead soldier to a dressing station which was 5000 yards away.This was the first instance that the medical corps had failed in their job to clear the wounded soldiers, however in early November 1917, Begg was made special mention of due to his hard work there and therefore was appointed CB two months later.
In mid 1917, the troops were hit by the very first wave of the influenza pandemic, Begg was in charge of treating these
Colonel Begg receiving a haircut from an unidentified solider at Gallipoli.
http//www.europeana1914-1918.eu/pt/digitalnz/record/33835491 soldiers and also had the responsibility to treat the French Fifth Army, following this, Begg was honoured with the highest order of the Croix de Guerre by the President of the French Republic.
After 4 and a half years in the medical corps field, Begg was finally promoted to director of medical services in London, where his children and wife arrived to join him. Eight weeks after being with his family and working in London, Begg developed influenza and pneumonia, which eventually killed him about a month later. His place of death was Twickenham and he died on the 2nd February 1919. Charles Mackie Begg was buried with full military honours. At only 39 years old, Begg held the top medical post in the NZ expeditionary force, and he had also been named the most decorated member of the medical corps.