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Chavasse: Double Vc
Many heroes emerged during the First World War, but only one man was twice awarded the Victoria Cross during that conflict. This was Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps as Medical Officer to the 10th Battalion, the King's (Liverpool Regiment)--the Liverpool Scottish.
The author has unearthed a forgotten archive of his letters from the Front; she has also been allowed complete access to the Chavasse family correspondence, photographs and other documents, most of them in private hands and never before published.
The result is a fascinating study of a man who, while typical in almost every way of the Victorian/Edwardian middle class from whence he came, stands out for his simple courage and unflinching devotion to duty.
The narrative follows Noel Chavasse from his birth (with a twin brother, Christopher) in 1884, to his education and maturity in Oxford and Liverpool. While Noel grew up and qualified as a doctor, his father became Bishop FJ Chavasse of Liverpool and embarked on the building of the largest and last twentieth-century cathedral in the Anglican world.
Together with that of his remarkable family, this account of the life of Noel Godfrey Chavasse, VC and Bar, MC is one that has waited 75 years to be told. This is a deeply moving story about a modest but heroic young man seen against the background of his devoted family and the grim realities of the First World War.
The author has unearthed a forgotten archive of his letters from the Front; she has also been allowed complete access to the Chavasse family correspondence, photographs and other documents, most of them in private hands and never before published.
The result is a fascinating study of a man who, while typical in almost every way of the Victorian/Edwardian middle class from whence he came, stands out for his simple courage and unflinching devotion to duty.
The narrative follows Noel Chavasse from his birth (with a twin brother, Christopher) in 1884, to his education and maturity in Oxford and Liverpool. While Noel grew up and qualified as a doctor, his father became Bishop FJ Chavasse of Liverpool and embarked on the building of the largest and last twentieth-century cathedral in the Anglican world.
Together with that of his remarkable family, this account of the life of Noel Godfrey Chavasse, VC and Bar, MC is one that has waited 75 years to be told. This is a deeply moving story about a modest but heroic young man seen against the background of his devoted family and the grim realities of the First World War.
261 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 22, 2018
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.
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.
April 7, 2018
A fascinating insight into one person's experience of the First World War, this time from the perspective of a Medical Officer. The research was conducted by the many hundreds of letters that Chavasse and his family wrote and you therefore get a real sense of the person and why he so deserved the Double VC of the title. Not a book that I would ordinarily pick off the shelf, I'm glad that I read it and enjoyed it very much.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews