The Surgeon of Royaumont

In 2017 I researched the life of a nurse - Janet Muir Gaff - who served overseas during the First World War. This research was also part of an assignment for the Diploma of Family History, University of Tasmania. I have also read a number of novels about nurses during World War I. Consequently I was pleased when Better Reading sent me a copy of The Surgeon of Royaumont, a work of historical fiction set during the First World War, to read and review.

Clara Heywood trained as a doctor at the Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and worked, initially, in the children's ward. With the advent of war, surgeons were needed to work overseas treating wounded troops. However the Australian Army would not accept female doctors in their ranks. Also Clara's father, an army officer who had served in India, was adamant that no daughter of his would serve in Army medical units.

But Clara was determined to assist soldiers wounded during the war so when Clara heard of the Scottish Women's Hospital at Royaumont in France, which was run by women to treat wounded soldiers in France, she travelled to England and then to France to take up a position at the hospital. 

Treating severely wounded soldiers was an entirely new experience for Clara and it took some time for her to even begin to adjust to her new environment. Fortunately it would be three months before she would be expected to amputate limbs but treating other battle injuries could also be a challenge.

Trying to establish a role for herself in the medical profession, Clara constantly faced discrimination because she was not male. Overseas she also discovered, from time to time, discrimination because she was Australian. Clara soon discovered that discrimination also existed in a variety of other forms at the hospital.

Although working at Royaumont provided many challenges for the young doctor it allowed her to expand her medical knowledge and expertise. But it took time for her to accept that if a patient died it was not necessarily her fault. She still hoped to eventually work in Australian or British Army medical corps but until that became possible she would learn all that she could at Royaumont.

Although some of the staff made it clear that they did not want to work with young Australian female doctors, Clara did make good friends with many of the staff. Also, because of her previous experience with horses, she was allowed to check the condition of the working horses in the stables which provided a break from medical procedures involving men wounded in war. 

There was, however, another problem that had to be faced. Her father  now worked in England and ordered her to transfer to England or return to Australia. Her unofficial fiancé, also a doctor, had taken up a position in England and wanted her to join him. Clara had decisions to make about her future.

The Surgeon of Royaumont by Susan Neuhaus is a thought provoking novel about the challenges faced by women who wanted to serve their country overseas helping their countrymen wounded in battle. Australian women had achieved the right to vote in elections, however there was still a long way to go before equality with men would be possible. This book also provides an insight into the dedicated work of doctors, nurses and VADs in treating the injured with limited resources.

Many thanks to Better Reading and HQ Books for a preview copy of this book.

Additional information:

The Scottish Women's Hospital at Royaumont - Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Royaumont Abbey - Wikipedia 

Australian Women Doctors in World War I  - Australian Women at War

Remarkable Women - Janet Gaff

Books about Nurses during First World War in this blog.