Product Description

The Second World War produced a unique band of heroes: a small international group of men that were uniquely celebrated and lauded for their remarkable courage. The group was the so-called Guinea Pig Club, and its 647 survivors included British, Canadian, Czech, and Polish airmen. Before the war, no one had anticipated airmen would survive midair fires. Consequently, provision for their care was virtually nonexistent. Their rehabilitation was placed in the hands of one plastic surgeon named Archibald McIndoe at a hospital in East Grinsted in the south of England. McIndoe quickly constructed a medical infrastructure from scratch. After arguing with his superiors, he set up a revolutionary new treatment regime. Uniquely concerned with holistic care, McIndoe also enlisted the help of the local civilian population. He rightly secured his patients a place in society as Allied war heroes. The Canadian government was so impressed with his work that it funded a Canadian wing at the hospital.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #594723 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

About the Author
E. R. Mayhew is the narrator of a forthcoming BBC documentary on the Guinea Pig Club and was a key advisor on an award-winning Canadian documentary.