List of Guinea Pig Club Members

[James Castle]

Dear Franek
Thank you.
James

[paulmcmillan]

Flight Lieutenant Robert "Mac" Mathieson


https://www.rafbf.org/news-and-blogs...e-worth-living

[vrajm]

Hi,

Stirling III LJ477 OJ-M 149 Sqdn RAF - six members of the Guinea Pig Club

5/ 6 July, 1944
Aircraft took off Methwold 22:43 hrs on operation GONDOLIER 16, France and on return crashed 0452 hrs on attempting to land at Thorney Island, Sussex having jettisoned load due to problems

https://books.google.cz/books?id=K2h...lub%22&f=false

forum.ioh.pl/download.php?id=188443&sid=3f2abe9c926e96d1826b35c 55cd3a98e

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...rash-July-1944
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Searc...078805&T=P&S=4

(176554) P/O William Cyril HOLMES DFC - Pilot – injured RAF
R190691 F/Sgt D.R. or D. Bacon - Gunner – injured RCAF
544317 Sgt Charles Marjoram - Gunner – injured RAF
910065 F/Sgt Thomas Charles Frank Smith - Wireless Op – injured RAF
421411 F/O Harold Richardson Stannus RAAF - Air Bomber – injured RAAF
(175989) P/O C. Watkins - Flight Engineer – injured RAF
1396093 F/Sgt Frederick Leslie Alan White RAF- Navigator – killed RAF

http://www.unithistories.com/officer...icers_W01.html
http://sas.raf38group.org/forum/down...le.php?id=2062

F/O Stannus W or I in Action, Flight 9.11.1944, p. 513
F/Sgt Bacon W or I in Action, Flight 2.11.1944, p. 487 and the rest p. 486

Mojmir

[James Castle]

Dear Mojmir
That has to be a one in a million with all the survivors becoming Guinea Pigs. I expect that once they had received their initial treatment and had been made more comfortable, they would have led the spirit of the club with their camaraderie.
Best wishes
James

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Flight Engineer aboard No.149 Squadron Strirling III LJ477:

1869556 P/O Charles WATKINS (175989)

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/2922

Col.

[Jagan]

From http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...056#post121056

Argent Edward Wakely

technician in the Proctor on that fateful day. The 2 ground crew were burnt pulling my Father from the wreckage and received gallantry awards for their efforts (news cutting I've misplaced). Father along with the W/C went to Plymouth and were placed straight into a saline bath. After 50 operations over 5 years under the scalpels of the 2 famous 'face makers' he emerged into civilian life and joined the Guinea Pig Club

RMY CO-OPERATION COMMAND
Transit flight(?)
16 Squadron, RAF (Weston Zoyland, Somerset - 71 Group)
Proctor I P6256 - after visiting Roborough, Devon, crashed and burned out on take-off at 1730. The RAF ground crew passenger survived with minor burns, but the pilot suffered multiple injuries and died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, next day at 1330. He is buried at Lustleigh, Devon. .

[Paulwilliams]

Looking at list of members I think and hope that H Williams was my father Harry George Williams . Although not a serviceman dad was injured in a sodium fire at his job as a metallurgist in Birmingham. He often spoke about the GP club though I don't think he went to the meetings. J Biel also on the list was my polish godfather Joseph who was injured while flying spitfires and met dad at east grin stead . I plan to visit the hospital when renovations are complete and also the memorial in Staffordshire shortly.

[bruce dennis]

Hello Paul and welcome to the forum. There may be someone else who can be more specific, but 'H Williams' looks to be Harry Williams who was injured in Hamburg in 1946, joined the Ministry of Works after treatment and retired in 1977. Does this fit?

Regards,
Bruce

[Paulwilliams]

Hello Paul and welcome to the forum. There may be someone else who can be more specific, but 'H Williams' looks to be Harry Williams who was injured in Hamburg in 1946, joined the Ministry of Works after treatment and retired in 1977. Does this fit?

Regards,
Bruce

I thought it might be too good to be true, my father was Harry George injured in Birmingham in 1940 and treated at East Grinstead. I always thought that as he was in a reserved occupation and not the RAF he would not have been " entitled" to be a Guinea Pig and indeed he never claimed to be. When I saw the list for the first time earlier this year I guess I jumped to an erroneous conclusion. I will remain pretty sure about my godfather Joseph Biel being a true member of the club.

[bruce dennis]

You probably know, but the club started as a social club (read drinking club) and there were many who were part of the fun but did not, for various reasons, join the formal group once it was underway. In the time frame you mention the notion of the club had not emerged but since most burns cases required ongoing treatment your father may well have been re-united with his contemporary ward-mates on later dates as they revisited Queen Victoria Hospital. Many people had burns and received their treatment at East Grinstead without joining the GP Club but became bonded to the friends made in the wards, including GP members.

Regards,
Bruce