The Museum of Military Medicine

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of D-Day landings.

Back in 2024, for the 80th anniversary the museum at Keogh Barracks had a temporary exhibition on display. In case you missed it, here are the panels from that exhibition which focused on the medical preparation and provision for Operation Overlord.

We do like to celebrate the lesser known national days here at the museum! Apparently today is "national hug your cat day". One of our volunteers found an article and photo about Lance Corporal "Boots" who served as mascot for the Royal Army Veterinary Corps for his mice catching abilities!

This week is Volunteers Week and we want to take pause to say thank you to our wonderful volunteers.

Our volunteers give so much to our organisation, without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. So much of work in the heritage sector is undertaken by volunteers, many sites wouldn't be able to open their doors without them.

Thank you to everyone of our volunteers who have been remarkable this past year with their help with the closure of the old museum and their continued behind the scenes work helping us prepare for the future.

The museum was sad to hear of the recent passing of Brigadier David Weeks RAMC. David alongside his son Richard were some of the last visitors to the museum at Keogh Barracks who came to the museum as part of an organised visit arranged with The Friends of Millbank. It was a pleasure to speak to David and hear some of the stories he recalled to those that attended the visit.

His son Richard has kindly sent us the remaining copies of his fathers self-published autobiography to sell in the museum shop to raise money for the museum charity. We only have 8 copies of the book, sold as a 2 part set for £20. Sadly no further copies will be printed so please visit our shop below should you wish one for yourself.

A review of the book can be found on the Friends of Millbank Website:

https://www.friendsofmillbank.org/books/ .tab=0

And copies from the shop can be found here:

https://shop.museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/product/the-story-of-brigadier-david-weeks-supplementary-tales-two-book-set/

Our condolences go out to his family and all that knew him.

In Arduis Fidelis

The Story of Brigadier David Weeks & Supplementary Tales (two book set) Two part book set on the Story of Brigadier David Weeks RAMC covering his early life studying medicine to his enlistment within the RAMC and the incredible career that followed. Sold as part of a 2 book set. 51 & 35 pages 241g A4 and A5 size Paperback  

Two pieces of instrument from our collection introduced today are closely related to military medicine:

The arrowhead extractor (at the top of the photo) was invented by John Bradmore, an English surgeon, metalworker, and physician to Henry IV. He designed the instrument in 1403 to remove a bodkin arrowhead embedded about six inches deep in the skull of the future Henry V (then known as Prince Hal) following the Battle of Shrewsbury.

The invention of the bullet extractor (at the bottom) was designed to remove bullets from wounds. It developed gradually over several centuries, evolving from simple early tools into increasingly specialised instruments in response to advances in firearm technology.

Coffee pot presented to Staff Sargeant F G Sweetman Army Veterinary Corps on the occasion of his marriage in 1916. MoMM Collection.

New donation at the museum:

We at the museum are very grateful to Colin who reached out to us regarding the diary of his great uncle who wished to donate it to the museum.

This particular donation are the wartime memoirs of Francis Ernest Reed who wrote them after the war in October 1921 from the notes, photos and maps he had compiled.

Titled “The Great Adventure” Francis acknowledges himself his account is shaped into a narrative, yet emphasises that every incident is truthful and witnessed by himself, mixing narrative, sketched diagrams, photos and posters. Starting with his enlistment in 1915, Francis documents his time training as a stretcher bearer, before departing for France in 1915, his extensive memoirs covers Loos, the Somme, Arras and Passchendaele before the allied offensive and his eventual demobilisation in 1919. Throughout the book, his account does not soften the realities he encountered and reflects how deeply these experiences affected him.

After leaving the army in 1919, Frank made his home with his brother in Blackpool, living in the basement of the boarding house. His wartime experiences had a lasting impact, believed to be undiagnosed PTSD. In later life, he is remembered by his great niece as a gentle and modest man, prior to his death in 1964.

Just a quick reminder that the Museum of Military Medicine's 2026 AGM will take place in four weeks time, on Wednesday 10 June.

This year we are holding it at the National Army Museum at Chelsea, and the main speaker will be Maj Gen (retd) Alan Hawley. Details below. The meeting will start at 2 p.m. and will include updates on our relocation plans.

We hope to see you there!

Happy International Nurses Day to all the nurses working within the Defence Medical Services and their civilian counterparts, with whom they work closely.

Thank you for all the wonderful work you do past, present and future. Here are some of a few snaps we featured a few years ago as part of our QARANC 75 Exhibition.

Cartoons depicting life as an officer in the R.A.M.C. illustrated by Captain Alexander Edward Gordon Fraser in 1920. MoMM Collection.