These documents come from a pension file for a man injured as result of the back fire of a gun during service and severely burned as result. Therefore, he was entitled to a pension for his injury. The documents detail his treatment and provide evidence that some form of plastic surgery was carried out on his eyelid, (Catalogue ref: PIN 26/12513).
Transcript
MINUTE SHEET
Ref: 11/11/93087
Decision of Entitlement
Name Rowland J Late R.G.A
Unverified injury: Burns Face, Hands and Sight
A 16/6 Main claims he sustained above burns through the back fire of a gun in France in October 1917
B103 Shows (W) Burns hands etc. 20.10.17
B178 verifies hospital entries and states caused by back fire of gun. No pre-war history of burns are shewn.
As the condition was present on discharge and there is no evidence man was to blame, it is recommended that the burns be accepted as “Due to” service.
J.W. Weightman 6.7.23
The burns described above may be accepted as attributable to service.
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Medical Report on a Soldier Boarded Prior to Discharge or Discharge …
- Unit and Corps G.A [Royal Garrison Artillery-branch of the Royal Artillery who were responsible for manning the heavy guns].
- No. 160238
- Rank [Gunner]
- Name Rowland John
- Age last birthday 38
- Posted for duty on 23/7/16 at Chichester
in category (or grade) A1
- Former Trade or Occupation Forman
7a. If the soldier claims previous service in Army he should state-
- Former Regiments or Corps with Regtl. Nos.
- Date of discharge
- Cause of discharge
- If the disability I an injury was it caused (a) in action Yes
…
Statement of Case
If brought forward for invaliding, disability in respect of which invaliding is proposed to be stated here
G.S.W. [gunshot wounds] burns-backfire from gun, face, hands, left leg
- Date of origin of disability 16.10.17
- Place of disability Ypres
- Give concisely the essential facts of the history of the disability in so far as it is recorded in the Medical History Sheet bearing on the case and in other relevant official documents.
Very severe burns over face, head and hands and thigh (left). Developed Erysipelas [acute infection usually with a skin rash]
- In all cases such as facial injuries, eye, ear, nose and throat, a specialist’s report is to be attached with radiographs [X rays] were possible and in cases of amputation the exact position should be stated
[Photographs are also included with these documents, not shown online]
- What is his present condition?
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Wounds all healed. Very severe facial deformity, epiphora [excessive watering of the eye] – both eyes. Deformity of both ears. Very severe burn of scalp. Destruction of all hair follicles. Burns of extensor aspects [muscles of the hand] both hands causing stiffness. Slight burn of left ext. aspect of thigh.
- Was an operation performed? If so when and what was its nature? Yes
Epithelial Outlays [First World War was important in the development of plastic surgery. This was a skin grafting technique developed by Gillies to treat burns to eye and eye lids]
- VI.18 Epithelial Outlay
26.3.19 Outlay
20.6.19 Plastic to left lower eyelid
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- Give particulars of any other disabilities existing, but not in themselves sufficient to cause invaliding. State whether or not they are attributable to or have been aggravated by service during the present war, and if so, to what or by what specific military conditions. Defective vision
- Do you recommend? That a wig be provided
(a) Discharge as permanently unfit
(b) Change to United Kingdom…