Westmeath doctors in World War II remembered in new book
Medical heroes from Westmeath have been honoured in a new book, the sequel to ‘Irish Doctors in the First World War’.
‘Irish Doctors in the Second World War’ features a roll of honour recording medics who served, were decorated, and lost their lives. It features numerous Westmeath born doctors hailing from Mullingar and Athlone.
Three of the doctors include Kevin, Henry and Annie Gertrude (Moore) Patton, who were from Mullingar.
The book recalls a story about Captain Patton, who tended to, and evacuated all wounded from a scene of action in face of heavy and accurate shellfire and machine gun fire from the enemy tanks in 1943. He did so despite having a broken ankle.
“During the approximate 30 minutes of the action, this officer not only showed complete disregard for his own personal safety, but also a very high standard of devotion to duty,” the book reads.
This beautiful fully illustrated hardback also includes harrowing first-hand accounts from Irish doctors detailing the horrors of the atomic bomb and the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. It charts the vital contributions of Irish doctors in WWII, a conflict that demonstrated to the world how military warfare had changed since the Great War.
While advancements in medical care during the inter-war years made field medicine almost unrecognisable compared to 1918, that was tempered by innovations in the destructive power of the machines of war. From the Maginot Line to the Far East, Irish doctors risked their lives in a terrifying new landscape.
This richly illustrated book tells the stories of Irish medical personnel who served, and includes excerpts from first-hand accounts, such as that of Aidan MacCarthy, a Japanese POW who was present when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, as well as heartrending reports from Irish doctors arriving in liberated concentration camps.
Combined with its meticulously compiled roll of honour commemorating those who served, it is a powerful tribute to their humanity and indomitable spirit.
About the authors
Patrick J Casey is a founding member of the Medal Society of Ireland. He is a life-long military medal collector with a keen interest in the profiles of those awarded military honours. Pat has written numerous articles on the history of Irish regiments, their insignia, uniforms and awards.
Kevin T Cullen is a retired geologist and past president of the Institute of Geologists of Ireland. He compiled and self-published the World War One Roll of Honour for County Monaghan, his native county, in 2010.
Joe P Duignan is a retired surgeon and former council member of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
He has lectured on the nature and treatment of wounds and diseases of past military campaigns from the Crimea to WWII, and on the medical advances during that period.