WONZ 206 – Louisa Hormann on The Guinea Pig Club

Main Speaker: Louisa Hormann, Archives Technician at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Other Speakers: Dave Homewood and W/C Brett Marshall

Recorded: 1st of September 2019

Released: 25th of September 2019

Duration: 39 minutes 50 seconds

This is the first episode from the recent Wings Over New Zealand Forum Meet at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Wigram, Christchurch. We hear an introduction from Dave Homewood, and a welcome to the crowd from Wing Commander Brett Marshall. And then the first speaker of the day was Louisa Hormann who works as an Archives Technician at the Museum.

Louisa makes a fascinating presentation based on her research into The Guinea Pig Club, whose members were burn victims that were being treated using pioneering plastic surgery techniques at the RAF Hospital at East Grinstead. Louisa details the background of the surgical techniques and the club, and she talks about the New Zealand connections with all four of the main surgeons. She also gives some personal stories of New Zealanders who were members of the club. Also discussed is how the work of the surgeons and the members of the Club are remembered today in the museum context.

Above: Louisa Hormann during her talk (Photo Phil Treweek)

Above: Louisa Hormann during her talk (Photo Phil Treweek)

Above: Among the club’s many social exploits was the monthly publication of The Guinea Pig magazine. The illustration in the Guinea Pigs’ thought bubble would change every issue. From the collection of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Air Ministry Pamphlet for the First Aid and Early Treatment of Burns in the Royal Air Force (1944 above; 1956 below, first and second editions). From the collection of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Above: Diagram from May 1944 first edition of First Aid and Early Treatment of Burns in the Royal Air Force. From the collection of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Above: The McIndoe Memorial Statue at East Grinstead was designed by renowned British sculptor Martin Jennings and unveiled in June 2014. © Copyright Peter Trimming and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

Above and below: Vernon Mitchell in the early stages of burns surgery and during reconstructive surgery, after an aircraft accident. From the collection of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Above: Jack Williamson’s scrapbook contains photographs and notes about his treatment at Ely Hospital. From the collection of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Quick Links:

•  The Air Force Museum of New Zealand’s Website

•  The Air Force Museum of New Zealand’s Facebook Page

•  The Air Force Museum of New Zealand’s Twitter Feed

•  <a href="http://rnzaf.proboards.