British and Commonwealth World War 1 Medical Classifications
Asessments made by medical officers as to the suitability of men to perform military duties. A system of lettering and numbering was devised to enable a man's abilities to be quickly noted.
The following are lists of categories used by the Australian and British Armies in 1914. The categories can be used in combination. I have no official reference for the Australian table.
The classifications vary between theatres of war and over time. The following is a rough guide.
[epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/MedicalCategories.html, extracted 27 Aug 2018] and
[Butler, Official History of the Australian Army Medical Services 1914-1918, Australian War Memorial 1930]
Australian Classifications
A1 |
Fit for active Service |
A2 |
Fit for active service when fully trained |
A3 |
Fit for overseas training camp, to which transferred for hardening, prior to rejoining unit overseas |
A4 |
Fit for active service when of military age |
B1A1 |
Fit for light duty only - 4 weeks |
B1A2 |
Fit for overseas training camp in three to four weeks |
B1A3 |
Fit for overseas training camp in two to three weeks |
B1A4 |
Fit for overseas training camp when passed dentally fit |
C1 |
Fit for Home Service only |
C2 |
Unfit for overseas temporarily unfit for Home Service |
C3 |
Permanently unfit for service |
British Classifications
A |
Ability to march, see to shoot, hear well and stand active service conditions |
A1 |
Fit for despatching overseas, as regards physical and mental health, and training |
A2 |
As A1, except for training |
A3 |
Returned Expeditionary Force men, ready except for physical condition |
A4 |
Men under 19 who would be A1 or A2 when aged 19 |
B |
Free from serious organic diseases, able to stand service on lines of communication in France, or in garrisons in the tropics |
B1 |
Able to march 5 miles [8 Km], see to shoot with glasses, and hear well |
B2 |
Able to walk 5 miles [8 Km] see and hear sufficiently for ordinary purposes |
B3 |
Only suitable for sedentary work |
C |
Free from serious organic diseases, able to stand service in garrisons at home |
C1 |
Able to march 5 miles [8 Km], see to shoot with glasses, and hear well |
C2 |
Able to walk 5 miles [8 Km], see and hear sufficiently for ordinary purposes |
C3 |
Only suitable for sedentary work |
D |
Unfit but could be fit within 6 months |
D1
|
Regular RA, RE, infantry in Command Depot |
D2 |
Regular RA, RE infantry in Regimental Depots |
D3 |
Men in any depot or unit awaiting treatment |