1.1 Injuries of the First World War
Start by watching a short video in which a historian of the medical history of the war explains the kinds of injuries a soldier might have sustained and the treatments available at the time. As you watch, note if there’s anything unexpected or surprising in what is being discussed.
Discussion of the First World War often highlights the appalling death toll. But there were many casualties, often horribly disfigured. Many of them led very reduced lives after the war and plastic surgery to make them look presentable was a process that could take years.
Even once the treatment was finished, the outcome was far from perfect. It is easy to understand why so many facially disfigured soldiers never lived a full life in society again, preferring to hide away with other similarly injured men.
OpenLearn - The First World War: trauma and memory
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