What would WWII Medics Carry?

So far as I know it was illegal under the Geneva Convention, however, there were cases were it was acceptable to carry purely in self-defence. Most did not. If any carried it would be a sidearm as any weapon deemed offensive, or used in an offensive role, would forfeit the medic’s status as a non-combatant. I read in a book, maybe The Longest Winter, that an American soldier recalled shooting a German medic because he had a sidearm and therefore he considered him fair game.
 
Oh, I did not know it was illegal. I ask because My Grandad was a Medic, and I was just curious to what he might have carried.

I know a former combat medic who was in the reserves way back when we still had the C1's. He said he was issued a SMG since, in his words (at least form hat i can remember lol) "The military knew I was a lousy shot so they gave me a SMG". Would this have just been for training purpose?
 
According to the CF website, our medics nowadays are issued with sidearms purely for defense of self and defense of those under their care, but are still considered non combatants. Not sure if this was always the case.
 
Geneva Convention specifies that medics are allowed to carry weapons to defend themselves and their patients, usually a sidearm. The same Convention mentions that it's illegal to (knowingly) shoot at medical personnel, vehicles marked with the red cross (or red crescent) and/or buildings marked as such. That part of the Convention <rarely> is followed in the real world.
 
Geneva Convention is antiquated and useless. Only works if both sides agree to it and follow it. This has never happened as history is written by the victor and they tend to make it sound like they followed it while the enemy did not when in reality both sides just kind of pick and choose what parts they "follow" and parts they outright ignore.
 
A war vet, now 88 told me of his friend a Medic, selected from a bed ward in London end of 44, to be Infantry Section Commander in Italy. There he was a medic leading into over 6 months of combat, an experienced Infantry Section. True story. And that Candian Medic just passed away out west, now he would have some good true stories. No doubt armed too.
 
I think that some, if not most American medics serving in the Pacific theatre carried a 1911, since the Japanese went after medics specifically. Not sure if Canadian or British medics would have done the same. If they did, it would have been a Webley revolver or Browning Hipower.
 
Sadly, it seems honour is disolving from the battlefield quickly these days. All the same, no war is honourable, "for all wars are civil wars, for all men are brothers"
 
No one wearing the red cross can be armed... medics these days do carry riffles but the don't wear the red cross, if so they can't be armed. That would be against the geneva convention.
 
scruffee said:
No one wearing the red cross can be armed... medics these days do carry riffles but the don't wear the red cross, if so they can't be armed. That would be against the geneva convention.
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Wrong. You can be armed wearing the red cross. Self defence of yourself, persons under your care, and self defence of others. We do not wear the cross overseas because it makes us more of a target than we already are.
 
cote_b said:
I think that some, if not most American medics serving in the Pacific theatre carried a 1911, since the Japanese went after medics specifically. Not sure if Canadian or British medics would have done the same. If they did, it would have been a Webley revolver or Browning Hipower.
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Very few if any Browning Hi-Powers made it to the the Pacific,..or as in the area the Brits and Aussies fought,..a astute medic that wanted to survive , a encounter with a Jap...would search for a Webley ,Smith&Wesson, or Colt New Service revolver, chambered in the .455...for better knock-down power, as compared to the .38/200....or a bottle of rye would certainly sweeten a deal on a 1911.45, from one of our thirsty, but generous American allies:cheers:
 
I spoke to an actual WW2 veteran medic at the old Toronto Military, where I had a Bren and sten display.

He came over and started talking to me about the sten.

He stated he used to carry on in his truck. He said something about the fact he wasnt supposed to carry one but they the germans were not also supposed to be doing a lot of things.

He said there were lots of times it was just him and a buddy out in the woods looking for injured barely any support, stuff like that.

Sounded like a brave guy,
 
"...maybe a Hi-Power..." Few and far between for the PBI during W.W. II. Most went to the Paras. PBI officers carried Webley or Enfield revolvers.
 
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