Duke’s tribute to the Second World War’s ‘guinea pigs’

THE Duke of Sussex has appeared on The One Show via video link from Los Angeles, declaring his admiration for war veterans who survived life-changing injuries and went on to help and inspire others.

The Duke said it was particularly important to remember the lesser-known heroes of the Second World War, as he met the families of the Guinea Pig Club.

Praising their determination to overcome extensive combat injuries, he said their stories of how they helped others were “incredible and uplifting”.

The video call, recorded ahead of VE Day, was broadcast on The One Show last night as part of a look back at Friday’s commemorations.

The Guinea Pig Club was founded in 1941, made up of RAF war veterans who had suffered extensive injuries. Led by surgeon Sir Archibald Mcindoe, they underwent pioneering plastic surgery, paving the way for medical research and groundbreaking operations ever since.

The club had the Duke of Edinburgh as its president and continued to meet annually for camaraderie and friendship until 2007. A new version, named the Casevac Club after its members who experienced “casualty evacuation” when they were seriously wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq, has now been created, receiving seed funding from the Royal Foundation in 2019.

The Duke, speaking of VE Day, said: “It’s on days like this where its so important to remember the Guinea Pig Club and look forward to everything that the Casevac Club will achieve as well. Those individuals who signed up chose to serve and then had life-changing injuries, [but] they didn’t stop there.

“It’s incredibly impressive and at the same time so incredibly uplifting.”

Explaining his appearance on programme, he added: “The One Show got in touch and asked if I could shine a light on a group of veterans that lots of people might not know about.”