Chavasse Double VC, The Highly Acclaimed Biography of the Only Man to Win Two victoria Cross... Book

Read as Medical Book Group for May 2018. The group all enjoyed it, although many were sceptical they would from the book cover. The volume of letters from First World War Front to families was surprising, also that officers’ letters were not subject to review for secrets.

The Chavasse family were middle class and privileged however they were civic minded with father in the church and Noel going into medicine and his brother went into the church. They were twins and excellent sportsmen at Oxford.

Noel and brother Christopher went to First World War in their respective roles as Medical Officer and Minister. The book includes lots of family letters which give a first hand account of his time as a MO at various battles, including Passchendaele. The family was based in Liverpool as his father as the Bishop and raising money to build Liverpool’s new cathedral.

NC cousins lived in Barnt Green and book included reference to Beaconwood Auxiliary Hospital, Rednal, Worcs which was set up by his Aunt Francis and his cousins Marjory and Esme worked there.

From history of medicine view there is insight to the daily work of MO; laundry, trench foot treatments, setting up canteen and finding foot for the soldiers. It includes reference to Thomas Splint and how it was used and why, also the rare mention of stretcher bearers. It was warming to hear of the German sniper who stopped shooting at NC when he saw there was a stretcher involved.

The award of two Victoria Crosses is not common and to have a MO with this definitely illustrates how important the medical support and treatment was in the First World War.