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J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-54-01-01 on 1 January 1930. Downloaded from guest. Protected by copyright. http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ on September 26, 2021 by [Photo hy Dorcth?/ WtldiJlg LmC'rENAKT-GECiEHAL SIR ARTIlUH SLOGGETT, K .n.B., K.C.1-J.G., K.e.v.o. J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-54-01-01 on 1 January 1930. Downloaded from VOL. LIV. JANUARY, 1930. No. 1. Authors are alone responsible for the statements made and the opinions expressed in their papers. ~tlurnal of tb' ~bituar\? guest. Protected by copyright. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR ARTHUR SLOGGETT, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. SIR ARl'HUR SLOGGEl'l' was the son of Inspector-General W. H. Sloggett, R.N., and was born at Stoke Damerel, Devon, on November 24, 1857. He was educated' at King's College, London, of which he was subsequently elected a Fellow. He obtained the M.R.C.S.England and L.R.C.P.Edinburgh in 1880, and on February 5, 1881, was commissioned as Surgeon in the Medical Staff. In his batch were several men who afterwards attained distinction as administrators, the most eminent among them being the late Sir William Babtie. Sir Arthur Sloggett will be chiefly remembered as a wise administrator, his savoir-faire, knowledge of the world and of men, enabled him to succeed where other men, though http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ well versed in Regulations, would have failed. Sir Arthur saw much active service ana was senior medical officer with British troops in' the Dongola expedition, 1896; he was mentioned in dispatches, received the Egyptian medal with two clasps, the Order of the Osmanieh and was promoted Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel. He was senior medical officer of the First Brigade of the British Division of the Nile expedition in 1898, and was dangerously wounded, being shot through the chest at the Battle of Khartoum. For his services he was mentioned ,in dispatches, was granted the higher rate of pay as Lieutenant-Colonel, and received, the order of the Medjidieh (3rd class). on September 26, 2021 by In the South African War he had the local rank of Colonel and was in charge of the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, then P.M.O. of a General Hospital and Commandant' Deelfontein District. He took part in the operations-in the Orange Free State in April and,May, and in the Transvaal in June' and July, 1900,' and in operations in the Transvaal, Orange Free 1 J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-54-01-01 on 1 January 1930. Downloaded from 2 Obituary State, and Cape Colony down to 1902. He was mentioned in dispatches, and received the two medals with five clasps and the C.M.G. In 1903 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and was appointed P.M.O. of the London District, where he remained until 1908. Those who served with him in those days could not help noticing how smoothly everything went in the district; there was no fuss or worry. Sir Arthur knew most people of note and his personal qualities had much to do with his successful administration. In July, 1908, he was appointed P.M.O. of the 6th Division in India with headquarters at Poona, and remained in this command until December, 1911, when he was selected for the appointment of P.M.O. of the British Forces, India. He remained at Headquarters as Director of Medical Services until 1914. In this appointment he always had the advancement of the work of the Corps at heart and was unfailing in his efforts to promote contentment among those serving under him. He was instrumental in bringing together in India some of the best athletic teams which the Corps produced. He was promoted Surgeon General in 1908, and received the C.B. Military in 1910. In 1911 he was appointed Honorary Surgeon to guest. Protected by copyright. the King. In June, 1914, he was called home to succeed Sir Launcelotte Gubbins as Director-General Army Megical Services. " When war broke out in August, 1914. Sir Arthur Sloggett remained at the War Office for the first few weeks, when he had to deal with the many problems associated with mobilization of the divisions of the Expeditionary Force, the formation of camps for new divisions which were rapidly being formed, and the work of the Red Cross. In this he was ably assisted by the late Sir William Macpherson, who at that time was Deputy Director­ General at the War Office. Unfortunately, just at this time; Sir Arthur fell ill, and after a .short interregnum, during which Sir William Macpherson carried on the duties of D.D.G. and D.G., Sir Alfred Keogh was called to the War Office to act as D.G. When Sir Arthur Sloggett had recovered he went to France and http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ Sir Alfred Keogh remained at the War Office. After the first battle of Ypres, when the German push for the Channel ports had been arrested, and affairs at the Front in France had become temporarily stabilized, Lord. Kitchener formed the opinion that the war was likely to last for two or three years instead of the few weeks suggested by the General Staff, and that it would be necessary to raise new armies. In these circumstances it was thought desirable to have a Director-General in­ France of great experience in war, and Sir Arthur Sloggett was appointed Director-General of Medical Services of the British Armies, and Chief on September 26, 2021 by Commissioner of the Red Cross and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In. both capacities he served with great distinction untiIJu~e, 1918, when his. term of office in the ordinary course ended. His business capacities, experience of war, and geniality found full scope in dealing with the Regular, Territorial, Voluntary and Red Cross medical units,and 'Yith the Consultants, who were men of great distinction in .civil life but had J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-54-01-01 on 1 January 1930. Downloaded from Sir Arthur Sloggett 3 little knowledge of Service methods and requirements when they first joined the various armies, the L. of C. and the bases. Where there might have been great ,friction everything worked smoothly under Sir Arthur's guidance. He had an unusual capacity of drawing men together and making them work harmoniously. His powers as a peacemaker were feelingly referred to by the late Earl Haig in his speech at the dinner given to the Medical Service after the war. Sir Arthur had an open mind and was always willing , to take advice from those he considered competent to give it. His wide outlook enabled him to meet all difficulties with tact and tolerance and a minimum of red tape. A medical organization gradually came illto being which was cOllsidered a model for the then existing conditions. 'l'he arrangements for the early treatment of the severely wounded, and more especially for the treatment of cranial and abdominal wounds, fractures and burns, were made possible by the facilities given to the D.M.S. of each army and the consulting surgeons. An effective liaison was also developed between the British and Allied Medical Services which was of value in creating mutual respect and guest. Protected by copyright. friendship. When the final war of movement arrived the direction of medical affairs had passed into other hands; but there is no 'doubt that the arrangements already made by Sir Arthur Sloggett had a great influence on the ultimate result. Sir Arthur's shrewd judgment and knowledge of. men aided him in the selection of his personal staff. He treated them as friends, and nb m!\on was better served. His staff loved him; they knew that behind all his actions there was a genuinely kind heart and perfect loyalty to them. His gay vitality was infectious and created an atmosphere of happiness for his im­ mediate entourage in France. If a disagreeable thing had to be done, it was accomplished in such a kindly way that no bitter feeling was left in the mind of the sufferer. http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ His exuberance of spirit might occasionally lead him into indiscretions, for he was very human, but they counted as nothing compared with the efficient control which he maintained mainly through his personal influence over all those who were in charge of the various organizations for the relief of human suffering. ' His delightful hospitality will always be remembered by those who had occasion to visit his headquarters, where they were treated to the best he had to give. Sir Arthur Sloggett had most happy relations with the three succes­ on September 26, 2021 by sive Commissioners of the Red Cross, Sir Courtauld Thomson, Lord Donoughmore, and Sir Arthur Lawley. When he left G.H.Q. he wrote to Sir Arthur Stanley, Chairman of the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross and the Order of St. John, a letter in whieh he said the officers, nursing sisters, and other ranks employed by the Committee had earned the respect of all branches of the Service, and the heroism of drivers-male J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-54-01-01 on 1 January 1930. Downloaded from 4 Obituary aud female-of the motor-ambulance convoys had been the admiration of everyone in France. Sir Arthur Sloggett was knighted in 1914, and in 1915 was created K.C.B.

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