Remembering the WW1 Doctors and Nurses

The June edition of Unlocking Warwick’s monthly social tea called ‘In The Ballroom’ featured an interesting presentation by David Bardell and Mick Byrne, who have become experts in the conditions facing the troops that went to the Western Front in WW1.

Their talk was entitled, ‘Crimson Fields’, and explained the roles of the medical teams who risked their lives in the field hospitals, and pioneered new treatments.

Nurses first became accepted as an army unit in 1902, after campaigning by Florence Nightingale, and their numbers swelled quickly during the trench warfare between 1914 and 1918. Many who served received bravery awards.

And David and Mick explained that the war accelerated many medical advances: splints for broken limbs, the use of antibiotics, X-Rays, blood transfusions and even plastic surgery were all pioneered during WW1.

After the presentation, guests were served by the volunteers with tea, coffee and a selection of cakes, and Helen’s tricky general knowledge quiz was won by one of the guests with an impressive score of 23 out of 25.

The next edition of ‘In The Ballroom’, at 2pm on July 12th, will have a very different theme. ‘Everlasting Flowers’ with Christine Ramsey will provide tips on how to dry and arrange flowers from your gardens and hedgerows for beautiful indoor displays.

Numbers must be limited for this popular social gathering, so it is important to reserve your place at the Visitor Information Centre in the Jury Street Court House, or phone them on 01926 492212.