Great War Medical Interest: the remarkable journal and scrap books of Professor H. Alexis Thomson

Great War Medical Interest: the remarkable journal and scrap books of Professor H. Alexis Thomson, C.M.G., F.R.C.S., M.D., comprising thirteen volumes of manuscript notes, telegrams, M/S correspondence, official forms, press cuttings, maps, and other material, all documenting this eminent Scottish surgeon's experiences in the Field and at home during the war. Already 51 at he outbreak of war, and a highly accomplished surgeon, he joined the R.A.M.C. in August 1914 and was attached to the 2nd Scottish General Hospital at Craigleith. As well as performing in his principal role as a surgeon, he exerted himself in the mobilization of resources on the home front, such as the organisation of Wemys Castle as a Naval hospital, as may be seen in correspondence with Lord and Lady Wemys. Other material relates to a visit to France in 1914 to inspect hospitals, and in June 1915, motivated by the belief that his expertise will be of most benefit if he is able to operate on soldiers as soon as possible after they receive their injuries, he returns to the continent as a Major to take charge of the surgical division at No. 25 General Hospital, B.E.F. The journals now begin to include detailed hand written notes on the cases that he saw, and the difficulties of treating war wounds in field conditions. Another entry describe a visit to the front line, where a enemy sniper is attempting to pierce the parapet of the trench by striking it with a succession of bullets at the same point of impact. He describes the case of a man with a serious leg injury, and his resistance to another surgeon advocating amputation at the hip. He frequently travels to treat the wounded, including a difficult car journey through fog. He is promoted to Senior Consultant to the 3rd Army BEF, with the rank of Colonel. As well as being a surgeon of formidable expertise and remarkably sound judgement in challenging cases, Thomson was the first surgeon to capture operations on film and use them in his teaching, and among the many important documents in this collection is his licence to practise cinematography. In addition to the aforementioned material, and much else similar, this archive includes a mass of press cuttings covering all aspects of the war.