On the outbreak of the First World War, Almeric Paget and his first wife, the American socialite Pauline Payne Whitney, offered the services of 50 trained masseuses to the British War Office.
[1] At this time the demand for physiotherapy (or Massage and Electrical Treatment as it was known) increased and the Pagets were asked to open a day centre in London to relieve pressure on the military hospitals in London.
[1] Lady Alexander Paget offered her house at 55 Portland Place and soon over 200 men were being seen at the clinic seen every day.
[1] In 1916 the work of the Corps was favourably inspected by Alfred Keogh, the Director General of the Army Medical Service.
[4] All members of the Corps were given the option to join the new Service which was controlled jointly by the War Office and the Ministry of Pensions.