The Guinea Pig Club In Numbers (Paperback)

The origin of the Guinea Pig Club rests with the events which took place during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Airmen suffered burn injuries when their aircraft caught fire, whilst another influence, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, created a significant number of training casualties, many of whom suffered serious burns and facial injuries whilst preparing to fly operationally against the enemy.

Leading Aircraftsman William Cruickshank could arguably be recognised as the first airman to become a Guinea Pig after suffering injuries in the air. He is also amongst the youngest of the Guinea Pigs, being just nineteen years of age. He arrived at the Queen Victoria Hospital on 2 November 1939. The need for jaw reconstruction involved six complex operations for Archibald McIndoe. It appears William was to become Guinea Pig number one, despite the club not becoming established until 1941.The club’s name is thought to have originated from a Royal Air Force pilot who was waiting for an appointment at the operating theatre at the Queen Victoria Hospital when he wryly remarked, ‘What a life – we’re nothing but a plastic-surgeon’s guinea pig’.

This book will explore many varied aspects of the Guinea Pig Club by the examination of surviving records and from the living memory of Bob Marchant from East Grinstead Hospital who worked alongside Archibald McIndoe after the war. Surprising statistics are disclosed in the context of numbers, injuries and events connected to the Guinea Pig Club. Also, the widespread causes of injuries and often surprising circumstances that saw them admitted into the care of Archibald McIndoe.

The details are fascinating, but the numbers reveal remarkable stories of resilience during the Second World War and beyond. Lieutenant Vladimir Razumov became the only Russian Red Army pilot to become a Guinea Pig Club member, his story is revealed amongst many quite exceptional men