Royal Air Force News Friday, November 3, 2023 P19
News
Final two Guinea Pig Club veterans die at age of 101 Tracey Allen THE LAST members of The Guinea Pig Club, Flt Sgt Sam Gallop and Lieutenant Jan Stangryciuk-Black, have died, both aged 101. They were the final two surviving members of the illustrious club, formed in July 1941 to support aircrew who were undergoing reconstructive plastic surgery after receiving serious burn injuries during World War II. Surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe’s pioneering plastic surgery techniques restored function and gave hope to many young Servicemen with life-changing disfigurements. What began with 39 patients grew to 649 by the end of the war and included Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, French, Czechs and Poles. The RAF Benevolent Fund was among those paying tribute to Sam and Jan. A spokesperson for the charity said: “The Guinea Pig Club challenged the existing perception that disabilities were life-limiting and went on to mentor new generations of burns victims, including Service personnel injured in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.” Chairman of The Guinea Pig Club, Flt Sgt Gallop passed away last month. The spokesperson added: “Sam’s journey of resilience and indomitable spirit began in 1943 when he survived an air crash with severe injuries. On his admission to RAF Hospital Cosford, it was evident that Sam was no ordinary Serviceman; he was destined for greatness in the face of adversity. “His remarkable story of survival saw him transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, where he spent 18 months under the expert care of McIndoe and his dedicated team. “Over the years, Sam devoted much of his time and energy campaigning for the needs of the disabled, for which he was awarded his CBE.” East Grinstead became known as ‘the town that didn’t stare’ because McIndoe told his patients to mix with the local population to help destigmatise their injuries, recognising the need for their mental recovery from their lifechanging injuries. He promoted a relaxed atmosphere where they could take time away from the ward in between treatments. He had a piano and a barrel of beer installed in the ward and encouraged socialising and singing among the men. When they went out he encouraged them to wear their uniform to instil a sense of pride.
LAST OF THE CLUB: Polish veteran Lieutenant Jan Stangryciuk-Black, above, was living in Argentina when he volunteered for the RAF. He died five days after Flt Sgt Sam Gallop, above right
BURN INJURIES: Servicemen undergoing treatment at East Grinstead Hospital where surgeon McIndoe (inset below and above, next to pianist) encouraged a relaxed atmosphere for all
A statue of the trailblazing surgeon, by world-renowned sculptor Martin Jennings whose father was treated by McIndoe, was unveiled by the Princess Royal at Queen Victoria Hospital in 2014. New Zealand-born McIndoe, who often warned his patients that they might not live long, died aged 59 in 1960, said to be worn out by overwork. Sam founded Employment Opportunities, a UK-wide charity recruitment agency to get disabled people into work. He also founded Aim Hi, a charity for hearingimpaired students. He established the All-Party Parliamentary Limb Loss Group to influence emerging disability legislation and was involved with numerous charity boards. Polish veteran Lt StangryciukBlack also passed away last month, the final Guinea Pig Club member to die, five days after Sam. Born in eastern Poland he was living in
Argentina when he answered an RAF advert looking for volunteers. He served as the rear gunner in the Polish bomber squadron No. 300 ‘Land of Masovia’ during WWII. The RAFBF spokesperson
said: “Jan and 300 Sqn’s activities, during a time of great peril, were essential in defending British airspace. “On November 3, 1942, the Wellington Bomber he was flying aboard malfunctioned and crash-landed a few miles from base. When he regained consciousness, Jan tried to free his fellow airmen but was unable to before needing to get out himself, where he was helped by the local people. “Suffering with burns to his face, scalp and hands, he was admitted firstly to Nuneaton General Hospital, then RAF Hospital Cosford, before being transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital on January 4, 1943 where he underwent extensive surgery. “Jan become a proud
member of The Guinea Pig Club and was quoted later saying ‘the friendship I made with the Guinea Pigs will live with me for the rest of my days’.” The spokesperson added: “The legacy of The Guinea Pig Club is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of camaraderie in difficult times. “The Fund is proud to have supported The Guinea Pig Club since its inception and has provided assistance to many of its members over the years.” Sam requested donations, in celebration of his life, to be made to McIndoe’s Guinea Pigs Memorial Trust – one of the charities he helped to set up – which sponsors research into burns treatment and rehabilitation. l Go to: rafbf.org/allstations to listen to The Guinea Pig Club mini-series, the Benevolent Fund’s third series of its All Stations podcast.